Parantharami Mani

       The  Cave temple in the  historic heritage site of Mahabalipuram 50 km south of Madras. This place being situated in the  trade route between Madras Pondicherry and Cuddalore  was visited by many Britishers including  John Golding ham in 1798 Benjamin  Babington in 1828 and a host of Missionaries who have mentioned about it in their travelloids.  It used to  be visited by many using the Buckingham Canal. The  Dolotsava  Mandapam outside Sthala sayana Perumal temple here is worth mentioning. Photo courtesy : V & A Museum

      The  Director General of Police  office in South Beach Road. This is the second oldest building on beach road after  Cappers House in QMC. It was built in the year 1839 as Masonic Lodge.  The  North portion is the oldest part of the building and southern wing was added later.  The  police department intially hired the building on rent and later purchased it. It was extensively renovated  in 1906. The  twin collanaded arches on the  long verandah fronting the sea  adds to the beauty of the building.   It survived the hammer due to public protest and court ruling.

      A different view of  Sannidhi Street  My lapore in early 20th  century with the name board of the  street seen on the  walls of the staircase leading to the Ther.  The  old tiled house on the  right side of 16 kaal mandapam is still surviving which is now a show room for  silk sarees of Kanchi. This house is more than 160 year old as evidenced by the  inscription I found in the  house dated saka era 1775 corresponding to 1853 AD mentioning about  endowmentsome made. For the first time  I found Murugan with his consorts in such type of inscriptions.

   The  nearly 200 year old Ther of Kapali Temple,  Mylapore in early 20th century. It must have been Brahmotsavam time since the Horses, Yali and the Kalasam are in position.  The  Mada Veethis  in which the  Ther winds was broadened and developed around  1740s  when  Kumarappa Mudali  was the  Dharmakartha of the  temple. The  preparation for the  procession of Ther begins on the  third day of the  festival  with the  Asthana Achari  of the temple making the Muttu Katais ( used for stopping the Ther) in his  Pattarai behind  Navagraha Sannidhi. The  various Bommais will be installed one by one  and finally the Kalasam on sixth day night. The  Ther is an excellent specimen of Davidian architecture

      The 150 feet  flag mast at Fort St George  flying the Union  Jack flag. This  more than 300 year old wooden flag mast was intially erected near the  sea bastion  and later shifted to  ramparts of the  Fort on the  Sea side in 1687. Eihu Yale Governor of Madras hoisted the Union Jack flag in that year. Due to vagaries of weather the mast got damaged and a metal flag mast was erected some 20 years back in 1990s.

        A washer man with his Donkey in early 20th century Madras.

      Anna Square in 1968 with Senate  House in the background. Black Taxis of Fiat and Standard models with  Red buses of state  transport.  A picture perfect  postcard. Senate House seems to look in better condition.

    The   Santhome Gate  Fort St.George  with a lonely policeman standing guard. The  Fort. St. George  had six gates Sea Gate in the  East, Santhome  Gate in the  south,  Walajah Gate in South West,  St.George gate in North West, Middle  Gate and Choultry  Gate in North. The  Nawabs  of Arcot  used to enter the  Fort through the  Santhome Gate. The  gate was closed when the  Garrison  Hospital  came up on the  South side of the  Fort.

   Stumbled upon this Kalvettu dated 1911 AD today during  Teppam festival of Kapaleeswarar which mentions about the donations made by Kumaraswamy Bhaktar of Thandarai Vaidhyar family of Mylapore for constructing 36 steps of 5 feet breadth. It may be mentioned here that the same family was responsible for making the Adhikaranadhi.

      The borders of Black Town in early 19th century map of Madras.  The Armenian Church, Portugese Church and General Hospital are well marked.  The Hospital bridge and Elephant Gate bridge constructed in 1805 and 1807 can also be seen alongwith the 17 bastions of Black Town wall constructed around 1770s

   Mount Road opposite Bata Show Room at the turn of the century.   Mount Road built around 1795 was the happening place and fashionable quarter of Madras in 19th century  There were many important Shops and Clubs like Higginbothams, Pharaoh & Co, Misquith &Co, Whiteway & Laidlaw, De engelis Hotel, Wiele & Klein, Gymkhana Club, Cosmopolitan Club and Electric Theatre.  It remained so till 1970s when the shopping area of Madras shifted to T.Nagar.

     The  YMCA  building on Esplanade around 1940s from the stone arched windows of Madras  High Court. This  building was inaugurated in 1900 by  Governor  Arthur  Havelock.  The  Architect was G.S.T.Harris  but  the  Jaipuri architecture was preferred by Havelock.  Namberumal Chetty the contractor of the period constructed the building. The  major attraction of the building are it's richly designed facade,  stone arches, parapet walls with stone jallis. The  Red sandstone facade was said to be mined  from nearby Tada.

 Sannidhi Street,  Mylapore  in 1950s with the old  premises of Radha  Silk emporium.  The old  tiled houses of 1920s have given way to  Madras  Terraced  houseso.  The  present  three storeyed premises of Rasi was inaugurated in 1968.

   A street scene in  Madras around 1920s. The  building on the  right seems to be familiar and the  tram tracks can be seen.  May be a market in Pycrofts road or Royapettah.

 The  Hospital bridge constructed in the  year 1807 near Central Station with a passenger boat idling it's way in Cochrane canal. A perfect composition for the photograph.

  Kapaleeswarar Temple  Sannidhi  Street  with tiled houses around 1920s. A village like appearance.