National Highway 544 (India)
National Highway 544, commonly referred to as NH 544, is a 340-kilometre-long (210 mi) National Highway in South India connecting Salem city in Tamil Nadu to the city of Kochi in Kerala. It is also called the Salem-Kochi Highway. The highway runs through the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, connecting various important cities and towns such as Salem, Erode, Coimbatore, Palakkad, Thrissur and Kochi. It is a spur of National Highway 44, which forms the North South Corridor of the National Highway network of India.It passes south of Coimbatore. NH544 is the only highway in kerala which is fully 4lane including kuthiran Road Tunnel. It was formerly designated National Highway 47.
NH 544 Expressway at Chithode near Erode, between Salem and Coimbatore
Salem, natively spelt as Selam, is a major city in Salem district, located on the banks of the Thirumanimutharu river in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu surrounded by mountains. Salem is the fifth largest urban agglomeration in the state, exceeded by Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Tiruchirappalli, and third largest metropolitan region in the state only after to Chennai and Coimbatore metropolitan regions. The city is 124 km2 (48 sq mi) large. Major products of Salem include silver anklets, sago, mangoes, steel, and textiles.
Clockwise from top left: Mookaneri Lake, Modern Theatres, Trumpet Exchange Flyover, Salem Collectorate and Salem Steel Plant
Mookaneri Lake in the city
Salem City, view from Yercaud hills
Salem City, view from Oothumalai hills