Salem ( pronunciation ) city is a part of Salem district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located about 160 kilometres (100 mi) northeast of Coimbatore, 186 kilometres (116 mi) southeast of Bangalore and about 340 kilometres (210 mi) southwest of the state capital, Chennai. Salem is the fifth largest city in Tamil Nadu in terms of population, after Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Tiruchirappalli respectively, and fifth in terms of urbanization. The area of the city is 100 km² (39 sq mi). It is the fifth municipal corporation and urban agglomeration commissioned in Tamil Nadu after Chennai (Madras) (1919), Coimbatore (1981), Madurai (1971) Tiruchirappalli (1994) and Tirunelveli (1994).