Parantharami Mani

Glimpses of Ther Festival 1969 of Kapaliswar Temple, Madras

Spencers junction  in Madras in the year 1936. The Cupola like structure was there upto early 50s i suppose.  Neil statue can be seen by the side of the structure. Perhaps it was removed after Congress govt came to power in 1937. This is a view from Club house road.

Glimpses of Kapaliswar Temple annual Brahmotsavam 87 years ago in the year 1932. Pic: BFI

A view of the second and third light house of Madras from the level crossing of the suburban line near the present  RBI subway. The level crossing used to be opened for the north bound traffic. The RBI subway was opened in 1965 perhaps the oldest subway of Madras.  It has come in some Hindi movies of 1960s. Pic : alamy

A different photograph of Chepauk Palace. Where was this water body situated. Definitely not on the East. Looks like on the North side where the centenary auditorium is situated now.  Any different opinions.

Government House Madras        After the rendition of Madras back to the British in 1749 the British wanted to  have a suitable Garden House away from Fort St. George for  the Governor.  In August 1753 the council under the Presidentship of Thomas Saunders passed a resolution for acquiring a suitable house from Mrs Lewis de Madeiros .  The identified  house was on the road to St.Thome after the Triplicane bridge costing 3500 pagodas.        A survey was ordered which found the house worth the amount. In November 1753 a bill to the effect for 3500 pagodas was placed before the council of Fort St. George and passed and the house acquired.  From then on it was the Garden House of the Governors of Fort St.George  till 1823 when it was moved to Guindy.

A handsome picture of Marine villa which was inside the chepauk palace compond. It was the bathing pavilion of Nawab Mohammed Ali Wallajah constructed in late 18th century. It also used to be called "Nabob's Octagon". Lord Clive stayed here when he was the Governor of Madras (1798-1803) when the Governor General Wellesley stayed in madras supervising the Mysore War in 1799.       Later on it was handed over the Madras University who demolished it in 1930 to build the University Library.  The place where the Senate house and Madras University buildings are now situated was saluting  grounds of the Chepauk palace where cannons used to give a gun salute whenever any important dignitary visits the Nawab.

       Poonamalle High Road from the junction of Waltax Road. This  road was developed in the middle of 18th century as a military road leading to Arcot via  Poonamalle,  Sriperumbudur and Wallajapet to  Arcot.  Until early 19th century  there was a Land  custom office near St . Andrew Church  junction.  The Andrew  Church came up in 1821. The  Egmore redoubt was also there behind  the  Egmore railway  terminus. Poonamalle was also a military  outpost  for rest and recuperation of East India  Company soldiers.   This  road was the  one  taken by Hyder Ali in 1768 when  he almost reached the gates of  Madras.         In the  picture the Ramaswamy  Mudaliar  Choultry and Siddique Sarai along with the steeple of St Andrews Kirk can be seen.