Page 574 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

572  SOUTH INDIA

7 A Walk along the Marina structure, on Wallajah Road, was Fort
once the home of the Nawab of St George
Chennai’s seashore hosts one of India’s largest urban beaches, Arcot. Though the palace was THE ISLAND
stretching for 13 km (8 miles) along the city’s eastern flank. built in 1768, Chisholm added
The Marina, connecting Fort St George with San Thomé the extensions, including the
Basilica almost 5 km (3 miles) away, was built by Mounstuart tower that once connected
the two wings. It now houses
Elphinstone Grant-Duff, the governor between 1881 and government offices. Chepauk
1886. Described by architectural historian Philip Davies as Stadium, Chennai’s famous cricket SWAMI SIVANANDA ROAD
“one of the most beautiful marine promenades in the world”, ground, lies behind the palace. Cooum (Kuvam)
it is a favourite place for Chennai’s citizens to escape the Further down the road is
humid heat of the city and enjoy the sea breezes. The walk Presidency College 7, the first
institution in South India for
along Kamarajar Salai (earlier known as South Beach Road) higher education, founded in
takes in parks, tree-lined cobbled streets and spectacular 1840. This rather austere structure WALLAJAH ROAD ANNA
PARK
colonial and Indo-Saracenic buildings. has a ribbed dome with four Chepauk
clocks on its surface. Among the BABU JAGAJEEVANRAM ROAD
CHIDAMBARM
famous alumni of the college are STADIUM
KAMARAJAR SALAI ( SOUTH BEACH ROAD)
the first Indian governor-general,
C Rajagopalachari, and the
Nobel Prize-winning physicists,
CV Raman and his nephew,
S Chandrasekhar.
South Marina
Further south, an BHARATHI SALAI
impressive landmark on
Kamarajar Salai is the VENKATRANGAM STREET PILLAI STREET VICTORIA HOSTEL ROAD
Tiruvellikeni
statue Triumph of
Labour 8. SINGARACHARI STREET WENLOCK
PARK
The Indo-Saracenic Presidency College, nucleus of Madras University CAR STREET
Anna Park the beach, attract ing tourists
The walk starts from the from the rest of the state. Bay of
Bengal
Victory War Memorial 1, Particularly interesting is the M a r i n a P r o m e n a d e a n d B e a c h
which marks the north end of Sunday market, with its curious
Kamarajar Salai. This memo rial jumble of goods.
originally commemorated the I GRAMANI STREET G LALA ST
victory of the Allied armies North Marina
during World War I, and was Across Kamarajar Salai is a series
later dedicated to the memory of imposing red-brick buildings,
ANNIE BESANT ROAD
of those soldiers from the built in a combi nation of
Madras Presidency who lost architectural styles, which
their lives in World War II. To include Indian and Moorish
its south, in Anna Park, is the features. The Indo-Saracenic VENKATRANGAM PILLAI STREET
Anna Samadhi 2, a memorial Madras University 4 was
erected in honour of CN founded in 1857, making it DR NATES AN R OA D AVVAI SHANMUGHAM SALAI
Annadurai, the former one of the oldest
chief min ister of Tamil universities in India.
Nadu, who introduced An architectural
significant political and marvel, the Senate Lighthouse
social reforms in the House 5 was B uckingham Canal
state. Further south is designed by Robert RADHAKRISHNAN SALAI
the MGR Samadhi 3, Chisholm in a
a commemorative harmonized blend
garden with gate ways of Byzantine and
and pathways, built Saracenic styles.
in honour of the Victory War Memo rial, This became the
popular Tamil film Kamarajar Salai headquarters of
icon and chief Madras University in KARANEESWARAR PAGODA STREET
minister, MG Ramachandran 1879. These buildings now stand
(see p571). An array of souvenir in what was once the sprawling
shops and eateries can be estate of the old Chepauk Palace San Thomé
found along this stretch of 6. This splendid Indo-Saracenic Basilica
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p702 and p717

572-573_EW_India.indd 572 26/04/17 11:48 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm