A
Walk along the Marina
Chennai's seashore hosts one of India's largest urban beaches, stretching
for 13km (8miles) along the city's eastern flank. The marina, connecing
Fort St George with San Thome Basilica almost 5 kms away, was built
by Mounstuart Elphinstone grant-Duff, the governor between 1881
and 1886. Described by architectural historian Philp Davies as "
One of the most beautiful marine Promenads in the World". it
is a favourite place for chennai's citizens to escape the humid
heat of the city and enjoy the sea breeeze. The walk along Kamarajar
Salai ( earlier known as south beach Road) takes in parks, tree-lined
cobbled streets, spectacular colonical and Indo-Saracenic Buildings.
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Anna Park
The Walk starts from the Victory War Memorial which marks the north
end of Kamarajar Salai. This Memorial originally commemorated the
victory of the allied armies during World War I and was later dedicated
to the memory of those soldiers from the Madras Presidency who lost
their lives in World WarII. To its south, in Anna park, is the Anna
Samadhi, a Memorial erected in honour of CN Annadurai, the former
Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, who introduced significant political
and social reforms in the state. Further south is the MGR samadhi
a commemorative garden with gateways and pathways built in honour
of the popular Tamil film icon and Chief Minister, MG Ramachandran.
An array of souvenir shops and eateries can be found along this
stretch of the beach, attracting tourists from the rest of the state,
particulary interesting is the sunday market with its curious jumble
of goods.
North
Marina
Across Kamarajar Salai is a series of imposing red brick buildings
built in a combination of architectural styles, which include Indian
and Moorish feaures. The Indo-Sarcenic Madras University was founded
in 1857, making it one of the oldest universities in India. An architectural
marvel the Senate House was designed by Robert Chisholm in a mixture
of Byzantine and Saracenic styles. This became the headquarters
of Madras University in 1879. These buildings now stand in what
was once the sprawling estate of the old chepauk palace. This splendid
indo Saracenic structure, on Wallajah Road, was once the home of
the Nawab of Arcot. Though the palace was built in 1768, Chisholm
added the extensions, including the tower that once connected the
two wings. It now houses government offices. Chepauk Stadium, Chennai's
famous cricket ground, lies behind the palace. Further down the
road is Presidency College, the first institution in South India
for higher education founded in 1840. This rather austere structure
has aribbed dome with four clocks on its surface. Among the famous
alumni of the college are 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 inpressive landmark on Kamarajar Salai is the
statue. This sculpture was created by Debi Prasad Roy Chowdhary,
who became the first Indian Principal of the Madras School of Arts
and Crafts in 1929. West of the main road, off Annie Besant road,
is the Ice House. In the 1840s, this circular building with a stone
pineapple perchd on its roof, was a storehouse for ice, which was
imported all the way from New England. It was also the site from
which Swami Vivekanda delivered his speeches when he visited the
city. It has now been handed over to the Ramakrishna Mission which
has plans to restore it. Further south is Queen Mary's College,
today the Madras College for Women. Opened in July 1914, this was
Chennai's first women's College. A bust of the queen still graces
the entrance of the building. An imposing lighthouse marks the southern
end of the Marina. |
