Top 9 places to visit in Salem

Salem is a small city located in Tamil Nadu, South India. Salem is famous for its ancient temples and colonial-era churches spread around the city. This beautiful yet peaceful city lies on the Thirumanimuthar Rivera and invites tourists all year round.

How to reach Salem?

By air: There are three airports located near Salem. The Tiruchirapalli (TRZ) Airport is the closest airport, which is only 113 km away from the main city. You can also travel to Salem from Coimbatore Airport and Bengaluru Airport.

By rail: Salem is well connected by railways, and the main station here is the Salem Junction. The station is connected to major cities nearby like Coimbatore and Bangalore.

By road: You can travel to Salem by the Coimbatore-Salem National Highway, which connects these major cities. Additionally, you can also choose to travel from Erode, Palakkad, Thrissur and Cochin through national highway 544. 

9 best places to visit in Salem 

Salem is the perfect city for tourists who want to take a religious trip to ancient temples of the South. Nature lovers will also find a wide variety of places to visit in Salem. If you are considering visiting Salem, you need to look at these top Salem tourist places before planning your trip.

Kalangi Siddhar Temple

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The Kalangi Siddhar Temple is located near the city of Salem, about 17 km away, in North India. The temple belongs to a series of 18 Tamil Siddha temples. The site is connected by the Steel Plant Road and Siddhar Kovil Road, which run from the main city to the temple. The temple is a pilgrimage site in the city and is visited by countless tourists who come here to learn about its well-known medicinal herbs. 

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and regular pujas are conducted every day. The temple is surrounded by several wells, reservoirs and even small waterfalls, making it a tranquil destination.

You can easily reach the temple by roads which lead to the foot of Kanja Malai and explore the temple premises. 

Kandaswamy Temple

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The Kandaswamy temple, also known as the Thiruporur Murugan temple, is located in Thiruporur, only 25 km from Salem and can be reached by NH544. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan and dates back to the 16th century. The temple reflects Dravidian style of architecture and contains many ancient pictorial depictions excavated from Thiruporur.

The temple consists of a five-tiered gateway tower, pillared halls, and a single sanctum. This temple is one of the top Salem tourist places open to tourists who come here to worship Lord Murugan.

Mookaneri lake

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Mookaneri Lake, or the Kannankurichi Lake, is situated in Kannankurichi, in the Salem taluk. This beautiful lake covers an area of 23.5 hectares and is the ideal picnic spot near Salem city. Nestled in the Shevaroy Hills, this rain-fed lake also contains 47 artificial islands. 

The lake is surrounded by greenery, with hills appearing on the horizon, which gives the place a serene ambience. You can take a short trip to the lake and spend your evening enjoying it with your family while watching the sunset over the horizon.

Kottai Mariamman Temple

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The Kottai Mariamman Temple is located within Salem city and is one of its most important temples. This temple is a top pilgrimage spot in the city, with several tourists and locals coming here to offer worship and catch a glimpse of the main deity. The temple has an intricately designed sanctum housing the main deity with several smaller temples surrounding it. 

Tourists at Salem can easily reach the temple by public transport, which is readily found in the area. You can also participate in the regular pujas and offer worship here at the temple.

Oothumalai Hill

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The Oothumalai Hill lies only six km from the main city of Salem and is well connected by roads. This hill houses several Hindu temples and continues to be one of the top places to visit in Salem. This peaceful hill has green surroundings and a peaceful atmosphere which is ideal for worship and meditation. Additionally, the temple clusters amplify the religious significance of the Oothumalai hills and add to its tourism. 

Sri Balasubramanian Temple is among the important temples in the area, along with the Sathyanarayana Temple, which lies in close proximity. You can reach the destination using the Seelanaickenpatti bypass road from Salem. 

Kurumbapatti Zoological Park

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The Kurumbapatti Zoological Park lies on the green foothills of the Servarayan Hills. Located about ten km from Salem city, the zoo also has a small museum dedicated to wildlife. Today, the zoo is home to many species of wildlife along with a wide variety of flora. The park is surrounded by areas of bamboo and woodland and has small streams flowing through its heart. 

The zoo will be a great place to visit with family, especially if you have young children. Children will enjoy taking a tour of the zoo and playing around in the children’s playground, which is located within its premises. To reach the destination, you can take the Kurumbapatti road from Salem, which directly leads to the zoo.

Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM

Entry fees: Rs 5 for children and Rs 10 for adults. Camera and video charges are separate.

1008 Lingam Temple 

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The 1008 lingam temple is situated in Ariyanoor, which is a suburb of Salem city. This unique temple has 1007 shiv lingam, which surrounds the main temple of Shiva and the main Shivling in the centre. It was commissioned by Vinayaka Mission, and the entire construction was completed in 2010. 

Tourists who come to this temple need to take a short ride through the Sankagiri to Salem highway and reach this holy place. You can make a day tour at the temple site and roam around its vast area after offering worship at the main sanctum. 

Mettur Dam

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The Mettur Dam is among India’s largest dams and continues to be among the best Salem tourist places. This dam is also the largest in Tamil Nadu and lies on the Kaveri river, about 51 km away from Salem. The dam was constructed in 1934; it took nine years to complete. This majestic dam stands at 214 feet and is a top tourist attraction for its beauty and elegance. The dam is surrounded by green woods and provides some breathtaking views from the top. 

You can easily travel to the dam and have a nice picnic by the river while marvelling at its great beauty. To reach Mettur Dam, you can take the NH544 highway, which connects the destination to Salem city.

Kiliyur falls

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Kiliyur Falls is a quaint waterfall located in the Servarayan hill range about 30 km near Salem city. The waterfall originates at Yercaud Lake and falls from a height of  300 ft into the Kiliyur Valley. This beautiful waterfall is at its full capacity during the monsoons and is one of the best places to visit in Salem. Tourists often come here to spend some time in peace and quiet and enjoy the nature around the waterfall. 

The spot is also famous among birdwatchers and wildlife photographers seeking rare migratory birds in the wooded areas near the waterfall. Tourists need to use the SH188 road or take a bus from the Salem bus stand to reach Kiliyur falls. 

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