British Architecture Walk in Chennai

Chennai, formerly known as Madras, was the capital of the Southern British India. Many great monuments were built during the British rule and several of them continue to dominate the skyline of Chennai even today. In this walking tour, we will visit some of the prominent landmarks of Chennai, which were built during the British era in an architectural style blending British as well as Indian elements. We will start at the Central Railway Station and walk to Ripon Building, Southern Railway Headquarters, Victory Memorial, Fort St George, Naper Bridge and finish at Madras University building.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Egmore Railway Station, 37H5+3J, Gandhi Irwin Rd, Egmore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600008, India

The Egmore railway station is more than a 100 years old and one of the earliest buildings built in Indo-Saracenic styke. Designed by the legendary Henry Irwin to be larger than Charring Cross station of London, the Station was built by Samynatha Pillai. The building is a fine blend of Gothic and Dravidian design styles. It is the ideal place to start our walk about British Architecture in Chennai.

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Chennai Central Railway Station, General Hospital Rd Kannappar Thidal, Periyamet, Chennai (Madras) 600003 India

The Central Railway Station was built in 1873 in Gothic Revival style by British architect George Harding. It was modified by Robert Chisholm who added the central clock tower and Travancore caps on the main towers. Today, this station handles more than 350000 passengers every day.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Victoria Public Hall, 11/33, Evr Salai, Park Town, Kannappar Thidal, Poongavanapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600003, India

Victoria Public Hall was opened to the public in 1887 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The hall, named after the queen herself, had been a venue for various events like public meetings, and even film screenings. The hall was designed by British architect Robert Chisholm and it is an excellent example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. Namberumal Chetty, who had by then constructed various public structures in the city of Madras, built the structure.


Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Greater Chennai Corporation Office, 53, Raja Muthiah Rd, Kannappar Thidal, Periyamet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600003, India

British Architecture Walk continues to Ripon Building which was commissioned in 1913. Designed by G.S.T. Harris. and built by Loganatha Mudaliar, the Ripon building is named after Lord Ripon, a Governor-General of British India who was famously known as the father of local self-government in Chennai. Today this building is the office of Mayor of Chennai.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Southern Railway Headquarters, 37MG+2VH, Poonamallee High Rd, NGO Annexe, Park Town, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600003, India

We next walk to the headquarters of Southern Railways in India. Built in Indo–Saracenic style, this building was designed by N. Grayson and built by Samynada Pillai. It was completed in the year 1921. The Southern Railway headquarters was one of the earliest buildings in India to be built with reinforced concrete.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Napier Bridge, Chennai (Madras) 600005 India

Napier Bridge was built in 1869 across the Coovum river and is named after the British governor of Fort St George, Francis Napier. It connects the Marina to the Fort St George. The narrow bridge was broadened and converted into a concrete structure and was opened to general public in July 1943. This bridge is often used by Media to represent the city of Chennai!

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: University of Madras, Marina Campus, Chennai (Madras) India

The Senate House is the administrative center of the University of Madras. It is situated along the Marina Beach. Constructed by Robert Chisholm , the Senate building is considered a great example of the Indo-Saracenic style with a harmonious blend of Byzantine architectural features. This masterpiece was constructed between April 1874 and 1879. It has a convocation hall, porticos, a parapet, meeting halls and a library.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Victory War Memorial, South of Fort St. George, Chennai (Madras) 600009 India

The Victory War Memorial, formerly called the Cupid’s bow, is a memorial constructed to commemorate the victory of the Allied Armies during World War I (1914–1918). It later became the victory war memorial for World War II (1939–1945), erected in the memory of those from the Madras presidency who lost their lives in the wars.

Duration: 15 minutes

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