Heritage structures in Chennai

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}

{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}

Chennai, with historically rich records dating at least from the time of the Pallavas, houses 2,467 heritage buildings within its metropolitan area (CMA), the highest within any metropolitan area limit in India.{{cite news

| last = Mariappan

| first = Julie

| title = Long history of service

| location = Chennai

| date = 10 July 2012

| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-10/chennai/32617423_1_heritage-buildings-building-plans-cmda

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103085018/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-10/chennai/32617423_1_heritage-buildings-building-plans-cmda

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 3 January 2013

| newspaper = The Times of India

| access-date = 12 Nov 2012}} Most of these buildings are around 200 years old and older.[http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/heritage-building-gets-a-breather/article4013950.ece Heritage building gets a breather] Chennai is home to the second largest collection of heritage buildings in the country, after Kolkata.{{cite news

| last = Ravishankar

| first = Sandhya

| title = No fire safety norms at Chennai heritage buildings

| newspaper = IBN Live

| location = Chennai

| publisher = CNN IBN

| date = 6 September 2007

| url = http://ibnlive.in.com/news/no-fire-safety-norms-at-chennai-heritage-buildings/48155-3-1.html

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103111402/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/no-fire-safety-norms-at-chennai-heritage-buildings/48155-3-1.html

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 3 January 2013

| access-date = 20 Nov 2012}} The official list of heritage buildings was compiled by the Justice E. Padmanabhan committee.{{cite news

| last = Ravi

| first = Bhama Devi

| title = Tamil Nadu's shameful disregard for heritage buildings

| newspaper = Sify News

| location = Chennai

| date = 18 April 2012

| url = http://www.sify.com/news/tamil-nadu-s-shameful-disregard-for-heritage-buildings-news-columns-mesoTOafgdg.html

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120419025713/http://www.sify.com/news/Tamil-Nadu-s-shameful-disregard-for-heritage-buildings-news-columns-mesoTOafgdg.html

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 19 April 2012

| access-date = 12 Nov 2012}} The Tamil Nadu Assembly passed the Heritage Commission Act in 2012 to preserve old heritage structures.{{cite news | last = Sharma | first = Reetu | title = Chennai turns 375: Things you should know about 'Gateway to South India' | newspaper = One India | location = Chennai | pages = | language = | date = 23 August 2014 | url = https://www.oneindia.com/feature/chennai-turns-375-years-old-things-you-should-know-1507481.html | access-date = 20 March 2021}}

The structures will be categorised into three grades, namely, Grades I, II, and III. Grade I structures will be prime landmarks upon which no alterations will be permitted. Under Grade II, external changes on structures will be subject to scrutiny. Buildings under Grade III may be changed for 'adaptive reuse' with suitable internal and external changes.

Heritage activism

Heritage buildings are defined as notified structures of historical, architectural, or cultural significance. The heritage activism in the city began with the erstwhile Moore Market building fire in 1985.{{cite news

| last = Sriram

| first = V.

| title = To market, to market...

| newspaper = India Today

| location = Chennai

| date = 10 October 2008

| url = http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/In+the+city/1/17270.html

| access-date = 29 Nov 2012}} In 1997, the state government initiated action to conserve heritage buildings. In 1998, a committee headed by Director of Town and Country Planning was constituted by the government to investigate aspects related to enactment of the Heritage Act.{{cite news

| title = Conserving Chennai's Past

| newspaper = The Hindu

| location = Chennai

| date = 3 July 2018

| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/conserving-chennais-past/article24317534.ece

| access-date = 15 July 2018}} In 1999, the committee submitted the draft of Tamil Nadu Heritage Conservation Act. In the same year, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) constituted a Heritage Conservation Committee to draft regulations to conserve heritage buildings and precincts in the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA). After the second master plan for the city was approved by the government on 2 September 2008, special rules for conservation of heritage buildings/precincts came into force.{{cite news

| last = Xavier Lopez

| first = Aloysius

| title = 42 government buildings among 70 vying for heritage status

| newspaper = The Hindu

| location = Chennai

| date = 6 February 2013

| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/42-government-buildings-among-70-vying-for-heritage-status/article4383165.ece?ref=sliderNews

| access-date = 11 Feb 2013}} In 2010, the criteria for listing the heritage structures in the CMA region was finalised, and in 2011, the process of assessment and documentation of heritage structures began. A 17-member Heritage Commission was set up in May 2012 to maintain these structures, after a fire accident in Kalas Mahal, a 244-year-old heritage building in front of Marina beach.{{cite news

| last = Srivathsan

| first = A

| title = Heritage commission remains on paper

| newspaper = The Hindu

| location = Chennai

| date = 19 September 2013

| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/heritage-commission-remains-on-paper/article5142861.ece

| access-date = 20 Sep 2013}} As per the Commission's mandate, heritage buildings that are listed will get incentives, such as exemption from payment of taxes, and offenders who deface or destroy them will face penal action.

In 2012, a list of heritage buildings was released by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) under the heritage conservation committee's (HCC) supervision. Criteria considered for notification as heritage structure include period of construction, exhibited trend, events or persons associated with the structure, and design, style, designer, physical condition, and design integrity for architecturally significant buildings. The CMDA was expected to clear the first list of 70 heritage buildings compiled by the HCC. However, in 2013, the process of notification was delayed after 65 owners objected to the inclusion of their premises in the list. The Heritage Conservation Committee, however, overruled their objections. Of the structures/precincts that figure on the list, 42 are government buildings and the remaining are private ones. The government buildings include the main building of the College of Engineering Guindy under Anna University, Madras High Court, General Post Office, Music and Dance College, Saidapet Teachers' College and King Institute of Preventive Medicine. Theosophical Society is one of the private premises that are expected to get listed as a heritage structure. When a building is notified as a heritage structure, the onus of repair and maintenance of the heritage structure will be on the structure's owner. In July 2018, documentation of the last phase covering 192 of the 467 buildings listed by Justice E. Padhmanaban Committee began.

Grading of heritage structures

The heritage structures have been classified into three grades, viz. Grade I, II, and III. Grade I includes buildings and precincts of national or historical importance, with excellence in architecture, style and design. These structures remain the chief landmarks of the city. Save for some minimal changes approved by the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC), no intervention, both on the interior and on the exterior, will be permitted in these structures. Grade II includes those structures of regional or local importance with special architectural or aesthetic merit, cultural or historical value. Although internal changes to the structures and adaptive reuse are allowed, here, too, external changes are allowed after scrutiny by the HCC. Extension or construction of additional buildings in the same plot are permissible as long as they are in harmony with the existing structure, especially in terms of facade and height. Grade III includes structures of importance for town spaces. These structures evoke architectural or aesthetic interest, but not as much as the Grade II structures. Changes to both external and internal portions of the buildings are generally permissible for Grade III buildings.

Structures listed by the HCC

Prominent buildings on the HCC's list include:

Structures that remain to be documented include:

Buildings on the heritage list that do not exist any more include:

List of heritage structures

{{row numbers|

class="wikitable sortable"
S.No

!Building

!Architectural style

!Year of
construction

!Architect

!Neighborhood

! style="width:300px;"| Notes

!Image

_row_count

|Parthasarathy Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|c. 6th century CE

|

|Triplicane

|Built by Narasimhavarman I. Considered the oldest structure in Chennai.{{cite book |last=Sullivan|first=Sullivan|title=Historical Dictionary of Hinduism|year=1997|publisher=Scarecro Press INC.|location=England|isbn=81-250-2800-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cvhGP8NRx4QC&q=parthasarathy+temple&pg=PA126|page=126}}

|150px

_row_count

|Vedapureeswarar Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|Before 7th century CE

|

|Thiruverkadu

|Built by the Cholas

|150px

_row_count

|Descent of the Ganges

|Dravidian architecture

|c. 7th century CE

|

|Mahabalipuram

|One of the Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram that were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/249/|title=Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=2007-03-03

}}

|150px

_row_count

|Kapaleeshwarar Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|c. 7th century CE

|

|Mylapore

|Built by the Pallava kings.

|150px

_row_count

|Thyagaraja Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|c. 7th century CE

|

|Tiruvottiyur

|Built by the Pallava kings.

|150px

_row_count

|Marundeeswarar Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|c. 7th century CE

|

|Thiruvanmiyur

|Expanded during the Chola dynasty.{{Citation |last=Hodgetts|first=Jim Brayley|title=Madras Matters At Home in South India |year=2008|publisher=Hodgetts |isbn=978-1-4357-0887-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jTbDI2N2lL4C&q=marundeeswarar+temple&pg=PA56|ref=Hodgetts}}

|150px

_row_count

|Porur Ramanatheswarar Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|c. 700 CE

|

|Porur

|Built by Kulothunga Cholan II during the Chola dynasty.

|

_row_count

|Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|Before 820 CE

|

|Thirunindravur

|Built during the Pallava's reign.{{cite book|title=Vishnu Temples of South India Volume 1 (Tamil Nadu)|first=Chithra|publisher=Chithra Madhavan| last=Madhavan| isbn=978-81-908445-0-5| year=2007|page=36| ref=Madhavan}}

|150px

_row_count

|Dhenupureeswarar Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|c. 957–970 CE

|

|Madambakkam

|Built during the reign of the Chola king, Parantaka Chola II, father of Raja Raja Chola I, who constructed the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur. Consolidated with stones during the reign of Kulothunga Chola I.{{cite news |author=Rohini Ramakrishnan |title=Walking through history |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-youngworld/walking-through-history/article478650.ece |work=The Hindu |date=22 June 2010 |access-date=2014-07-24 }}{{cite news |author=Chitra Madhavan |title=Ancient Chola temple at Madambakkam |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/09/26/stories/2003092601940800.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031206191220/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/09/26/stories/2003092601940800.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 December 2003 |date=26 September 2003 |work=The Hindu |access-date=2014-07-23 }}

|150px

_row_count

|Masilamaniswarar Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|c. 9th or 10th century CE (before 970 CE)

|

|Thirumullaivoyal

|Built during the Chola era.{{cite book|title=Madras, Chennai: A 400-year Record of the First City of Modern India, Volume 1|editor-last=S.|editor-first=Muthiah|page=107|publisher=Palaniappa Brothers|year=2008|isbn=9788183794688}}{{cite book|title=Early Chola temples Parantaka I to Rajaraja I (AD. 907-985)|last=S.R.|first=Balasubramanyam|year=1975|publisher=Thomson Press (India) Limited|url=http://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/49443.pdf|pages=209–14}}

|150px

_row_count

|Thiruporur Kandaswamy temple

|Dravidian architecture

|c. 10th century CE

|

|Thiruporur

|Built during the Pallava era.{{cite news|title=Rs 100 cr Kandaswamy temple lands recovered|url=http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130712/news-current-affairs/article/rs-100-cr-kandaswamy-temple-lands-recovered|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928005629/http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130712/news-current-affairs/article/rs-100-cr-kandaswamy-temple-lands-recovered|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 September 2016|publisher=Deccan Chronicle|last=J.V.|first=Siva Prasanna Kumar |date=12 July 2013|accessdate=5 November 2015}}

|150px

_row_count

|Tirusoolanathar Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|11th century CE

|

|Tirusulam

|Built by Kulothunga Chola I around 11th century CE.{{cite web|url=http://www.tamilbrahmins.com/temples-pilgrimage/14934-tirusula-nathar-temple-trisulam-chennai-suburb.html|title=Tirusula Nathar Temple, Trisulam, Chennai suburb (திருசுல நாதர்)|work=tamilbrahmins.com}}

|150px

_row_count

|Tiruvalithayam Tiruvallesvarar Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|c. 11th century CE

|

|Padi

|The temple dates back to several centuries earlier. The presiding deity of the temple is revered in the 7th-century Tamil Shaivite canonical work, the Tevaram.{{cite web|title=Thiruvalithayam|publisher=Dharumapuram Adheenam|url=http://thevaaram.org/thirumurai_1/koil_view.php?koil_idField=246|date=25 April 2020}} Existing structure built during the reign of the Chola dynasty around 11th century CE.

|150px

_row_count

|Velveeswarar Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|c. 11th century CE

|

|Valasaravakkam

|Constructed by Kulothunga Chola I (reigned c. 1070–1122 CE).

|

_row_count

|Mylapore Karaneeswarar Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|c. 12th century CE

|

|Mylapore

|

|150px

_row_count

|Kundrathur Murugan Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|12th century CE

|

|Kundrathur

|Built by Kulothunga Chola II (r. 1133–1150 CE).

|150px

_row_count

|Kurungaleeswarar Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|12th century CE

|

|Koyambedu

|Dates back to the Kulothunga Chola period (c. 1133–1150 CE).

|

_row_count

|Saidapet Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|c. 12th century CE{{cite book | last = Muthiah | first = S. | title = Madras, Chennai: A 400-year Record of the First City of Modern India | publisher = Palaniappa Brothers | volume = 1 | edition = | date = 2008 | location = Chennai | pages = 105 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=tbR_LLkqdI8C&dq=sri+prasanna+venkata+narasimha+perumal+temple+saidapet&pg=PA105 | doi = | id = | isbn = 9788183794688 | mr = | zbl = | jfm =}}

|

|Saidapet

|Constructed by the Balija Chetty community under the aegis of the Vijayanagara monarchs.{{cite news | last = Madhavan | first = Chithra | title = A shrine where the image of Rama was worshipped first | newspaper = The New Indian Express | location = Chennai | pages = | language = | publisher = Express Publications | date = 7 November 2017 | url = https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2017/nov/07/a-shrine-where-the-image-of-rama-was-worshipped-first-1694962.html | access-date = 23 January 2023}}

|

_row_count

|Kundrathur Kandhalheeswarar Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|Before 1241 CE

|

|Kundrathur

|Details of temple renovations from time to time are found in epigraphic findings dating back 1241 CE during the Rajaraja Chola period.{{Cite web|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=1566|title= Sri Kandhazheeswarar temple|last=|first=|date=n.d.|website= Dinamalar Temples|publisher=Dinamalar |access-date= 26 October 2021}}

|150px

_row_count

|Kundrathur Nageswarar Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|12th century CE

|

|Kundrathur

|Built by Sekkilar during 12th century CE.{{cite news| last = Madhavan | first = Chithra | title = A Rahu sthalam built by devotee at Kundrathur| newspaper = The New Indian Express| location = Chennai| pages = | language = | publisher = Express Publications| date = 27 July 2016| url = https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2016/jul/27/a-rahu-sthalam-built-by-devotee-at-kundrathur-944821.html| access-date = 5 January 2023}}

|

_row_count

|Ekambareswarar–Valluvar Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|Before early 16th century CE

|

|Mylapore

|Also known as the Thiruvalluvar Temple. Built on an older structure that is said to be in existence since antiquity.{{cite book|first=Joanne Punzo |last=Waghorne|title=Diaspora of the Gods: Modern Hindu Temples in an Urban Middle-Class World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IZNODwAAQBAJ&dq=Mylapore+temple+processions+Valluvar&pg=PT218 |date= 2004|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-19-515663-8}}{{Rp|120–125}}

|150px

_row_count

|Church of Our Lady of Light

|Herrerian

|1516

|

|Mylapore

|Built by Portuguese explorers in Mylapore Chennai and has a oldest Madonna Painting of Mary with Jesus up in the Altar.

|File:Luz church, Chennai.jpg

_row_count

|Fort St. George

|

|1640

|

|George Town

|First major British settlements in India, leading to the foundation of the city of Madras. One of the 163 notified areas (megalithic sites) in the state of Tamil Nadu.{{cite news | last = Madhavan | first = D. | title = National Institute of Siddha modifies expansion plan | newspaper = The Hindu | location = Chennai | publisher = Kasturi & Sons | date = 20 December 2012 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/national-institute-of-siddha-modifies-expansion-plan/article4218676.ece | access-date = 23 Dec 2012}}

|150px

_row_count

|Kalikambal Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|c. 1640

|

|George Town

|Originally located by the seashore and was relocated to the current site in 1640 CE. Visited incognito by the Maratha warrior Shivaji on 3 October 1667.{{cite news

| title = Chennai High: Where history beckons

| location = Chennai

| date = 27 August 2010

| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-08-27/chennai/28292743_1_pillars-fort-st-george-madras/2

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130216064735/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-08-27/chennai/28292743_1_pillars-fort-st-george-madras/2

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 16 February 2013

| work = The Times of India

| access-date = 20 Jan 2013}}{{cite book | last = Muthiah| first = S. | author-link = S. Muthiah | title = Madras Rediscovered| publisher = EastWest | date = 2014 | location = Chennai | pages = | isbn = 978-93-84030-28-5}}{{Rp|384}}

|150px

_row_count

|St Mary's Co-Cathedral

|

|1658{{cite book | title=Madras Rediscovered| last=Muthiah| first=S.| year=2004| authorlink=S. Muthiah| publisher=East West Books (Madras) Pvt Ltd| isbn=81-88661-24-4}}

|

|George Town

|

|150px

_row_count

|Kandaswami Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|c. 1670s

|

|George Town

|Built by Maari Chettiar. The existing stone reinforcement was made during the early 1800s.{{Cite web|url=http://kandhakottam.tnhrce.in/history.html|title=History of Kandha kottam temple|last=|first=|date=|website=Kandha kottam temple official website|publisher=|access-date= 26 January 2017}}

|

_row_count

|St. Mary's Church

|

|1680

|

|Fort St. George

|

|150px

_row_count

|Dargha of Sufi Saint Syed Moosa Sha Khaderi

|

|17th century

|

|Anna Salai

|

|150px

_row_count

|Kachchaleswarar Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|1725

|

|George Town

|Built by Kalavai Chetty, a 'dubash' working for the British East India Company, on a land belonging to him.{{Rp|383}}

|150px

_row_count

|Chennakesava Perumal Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|1762

|

|George Town

|Originally dates back to 1646, along with Mallikesvarar Temple as twin temples. Rebuilt in a new location in 1762.{{Cite web|url=http://chennakesavaperumaltemple.tnhrce.in/|title=Chenna kesava perumal temple, Chennai.|last=|first=|date=|website=Official temple website|publisher=|access-date=30 January 2017}}{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article2960548.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | first=S. | last=Muthiah | title=The 'Town Temple' resurrected | date=4 March 2012}}

|150px

_row_count

|Mallikesvarar Temple

|Dravidian architecture

|1762

|

|George Town

|Originally dates back to 1646, along with Chennakesava Perumal Temple as twin temples. Rebuilt in a new location in 1762.

|150px

_row_count

|Chepauk Palace

|Indo-Saracenic

|Around 1764

|

|Chepauk

|The official residence of the Nawab of Arcot from 1768 to 1855

|150px

_row_count

|Triplicane Big Mosque

|Mughal

|1765

|

|Triplicane

|

|150px

_row_count

|Madras Club (Moubray's Cupola)

|

|1780s

|

|Adyar

|Originally a spacious colonial bungalow, known as Moubray's Cupola, set in 105 acres of parkland and later became the Adyar Club. Built by George Moubray on the banks of the Adyar in the 1780s.{{cite web

| url = https://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/m/019pho0000472s1u00007000.html

| title = Mowbray Road, Madras

| last =

| first =

| date = n.d.

| website = British Library

| access-date = 10 January 2023

| quote = }}

|

_row_count

|Government Museum Buildings

|Indo-Saracenic

| 1789

|Henry Irwin

|Egmore

| Constructed between 1789 and 1890

|150px

_row_count

|Amir Mahal

|Indo-Saracenic

|1798

|

|Royapettah

|

|150px

_row_count

|Government Central Press

|

|1807

|

|George Town

|

|

_row_count

|Thousand Lights Mosque

|

|1810{{cite journal | last1 = Priya | first1 = R. Sasi Mary | last2 = Radhakrishnan | first2 = V. | author-link = | title = The art and architectures along the Tamil Nadu coast | journal = International Journal of Art & Humanity Science | volume = 3 | issue = 2 | pages = 43 | date = March–April 2016 | language = | url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313763972 | jstor = | issn = 2349-5235 | doi = | id = | mr = | zbl = | jfm = | access-date = 18 December 2021}}

|

|Anna Salai

|

|150px

_row_count

|Egmore Eye Hospital

|

|1819

|

|Egmore

|

|

_row_count

|St Andrew's Church

|Georgian church architecture

|1821

|Major De Havilland

|Egmore

|Built at a cost of 20,000 UK pounds

|File:St_Andrews_Church_-_The_Kirk.jpg

_row_count

|Police headquarters

|

|1839

|

|Mylapore

|Renovated in 1993.{{cite journal | last = Iyengar | first = Pushpa | title = Cornered Stones | journal = Outlook India | publisher = Outlook India.com | date = 2 June 2008 | url = http://www.outlookindia.com/printarticle.aspx?237561 | access-date = 19 May 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110219142022/http://outlookindia.com/printarticle.aspx?237561 | archive-date = 19 February 2011 | url-status = dead }}

|150px

_row_count

|Tamil Nadu Police Museum

|Indo-Saracenic

|1842

|

|Egmore

|{{cite news | last = Balasubramanian | first = Roshne | title = New police museum in Chennai is a place of pride for peacekeepers | newspaper = The New Indian Express | location = Chennai | pages = | language = | publisher = Express Publications | date = 10 October 2021 | url = https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2021/oct/10/new-police-museum-in-chennai-is-aplace-of-pride-for-peacekeepers-2370078.html | access-date = 13 December 2021}}

|

_row_count

|Christ Church

|

|1844

|

|Anna Salai

|Possibly the first congregation outside Fort St George.

|

_row_count

|Higginbotham's

|

|1844

|

|Anna Salai

|The first and the oldest existing book shop in India.

|150px

_row_count

|Anderson Church

|

|1845

|

|Parry's Corner

|

|150px

_row_count

|Government College of Fine Arts and Crafts

|Indo-Saracenic

|1850

|Robert Fellowes Chisholm

|Egmore

|The first school of arts in Asia

|File:Govt Fine Arts College Madras.jpg

_row_count

|Royapuram railway station

|

|1853

|

|Royapuram

|Designed by William Adelpi Tracey. Third oldest railway station in the country and the oldest in South India.{{cite news |title=Third oldest railway station in country set to turn 156 |newspaper=Deccan Chronicle |location=Chennai |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/south/third-oldest-railway-station-country-set-turn-156-518 |access-date=27 Jun 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629014508/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/south/third-oldest-railway-station-country-set-turn-156-518 |archive-date=2012-06-29}}

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|The Mail

|

|1868

|

|Anna Salai

|

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|Chennai Central railway station

|Gothic Revival

|1873

|George Harding

|Park Town

|Built as a second terminus to decongest the Royapuram harbour station, which was being utilised for port movements. Built in a combination of styles, namely, Gothic and Romanesque.{{cite news| last = Kurian| first = Nimi| title = Long history of service| location = Chennai| date = 18 August 2006| url = http://www.hindu.com/yw/2006/08/18/stories/2006081803360100.htm| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060820133544/http://www.hindu.com/yw/2006/08/18/stories/2006081803360100.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 20 August 2006| newspaper = The Hindu | access-date = 3 Nov 2012}}

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|Senate House, University of Madras

|Indo-Saracenic

|1879

|Robert Fellowes Chisholm

|Chepauk

|Incorporates many elements of the Byzantine style.Srinivasachari, Introduction, p 262 The great hall of the Senate House is of immense height and proportions, considered to be the finest of its kind in India.Srinivasachari, Introduction, p xxxiv

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|P Orr & Sons

|

|1879

|

|Anna Salai

|

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|Deputy Inspector General of Registration

|

|1880

|

|George Town

|Housed registration department offices. Spread over 20,000 sq ft.{{cite news | last = K. | first = Lakshmi | title = 3 historic buildings to rise from the ruins | newspaper = The Hindu | location = Chennai | pages = 2 | publisher = Kasturi & Sons | date = 13 December 2017 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/3-historic-buildings-to-rise-from-the-ruins/article21560245.ece | access-date = 17 December 2017}}

|

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|Theosophical Society Headquarters Building

|

|1882

|

|Adyar

|

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|The Hindu

|

|1883

|

|Anna Salai

|

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|General Post Office

|Victorian Architecture

|1884

|Robert Fellowes Chisholm

|George Town

|Built at a cost of {{INR}} 680,000.{{cite news | last = Muthiah | first = S. | title = Madras miscellany — The Madras G.P.O. beginnings | newspaper = The Hindu | location = Chennai | publisher = Kasturi & Sons | date =30 October 2011 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article2579909.ece | access-date = 10 Mar 2012}}

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|Victoria Public Hall

|Indo-Saracenic

|1888-1890

|Robert Fellowes Chisholm

|Park Town

|The venue of the first cinema show in Chennai.

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|Madras High Court

|Indo-Saracenic

|1892

|J. W. Brassington, Henry Irwin

|George Town

|The court buildings are believed to be the second largest judicial complex in the world after the one in London. The complex also houses the largest number of courts in Asia.{{cite web | url=http://chennai.bsnl.co.in/chennai/hicourt.html | title=Madras High Court | publisher=BSNL | access-date=2 March 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130065529/http://www.chennai.bsnl.co.in/chennai/hicourt.html | archive-date=30 January 2012 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.chennai-directory.com/tourist/touristplaces.php?places=highcourtbuilding.html&menu=23 | title=High Court Building | publisher=CHENNAI-DIRECTORY.COM | access-date=2 March 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605225809/http://www.chennai-directory.com/tourist/touristplaces.php?places=highcourtbuilding.html&menu=23 | archive-date=5 June 2013 | url-status=dead }}{{cite news | last = Chandru | first = K. | title = Some thoughts around the Madras High Court | newspaper = The Hindu | location = Chennai | publisher = Kasturi & Sons | date = 26 Nov 2011 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article2660141.ece?homepage=true | access-date = 27 Nov 2011}}

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|St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai

|Gothic revival architecture

|1896

|Caption J. A. Power

|Santhome

|Built over the reputed tomb of Saint Thomas the Apostle by Portuguese explorers in 1523, and later rebuilt by the British in 1893. It is considered to be the oldest church in Chennai.

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|Bharat Insurance Building

|Indo-Saracenic

|1897

|

|Anna Salai

|Originally known as Kardyl Building

|

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|State Bank of India Building

|Victorian Architecture

|1897

|Col. Samuel Jacob

|George Town

|

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|Red Fort building at the Madras Medical College

|

|1897

|

|Park Town

|{{Cite news | last = Josephine M. | first = Serena | title = 'Red Fort' at Madras Medical College to reopen as museum | newspaper = The Hindu | location = Chennai | date = 1 August 2018 | url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/red-fort-at-madras-medical-college-to-reopen-as-museum/article24567367.ece | access-date = 5 August 2018}}

|

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|King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research

|

|1899

|

|Anna Salai, Guindy

|

|

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|Dobbin Hall

|

|1904–05

|

|

|Madras Veterinary College (now located opposite) started functioning.

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|National Art Gallery

|Indo-Saracenic

| 1906

|Henry Irwin

|Egmore

|

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|Egmore Railway Station

|Indo-Saracenic

|1908

|Henry Irwin

|Egmore

|

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|Madras Record Office

|Indo-Saracenic

|1909{{Cite web|url=http://www.tnarchives.tn.gov.in/aboutus.html|title = Archives and Historical Research Department}}

|G. S. T. Harris

|Egmore

|Currently known as Tamil Nadu Archives/Department of Archives & Historical Research

|

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|Royapuram fire temple

|

|1910{{cite news | last = Muthiah | first = S. | title = Madras Miscellany: The century-old Parsi temple | newspaper = The Hindu | location = Chennai | date = 4 July 2010 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/madras-miscellany-the-centuryold-parsi-temple/article499975.ece | access-date = 27 Apr 2014}}

|Hormusji Nowroji

|Royapuram

|The first and the only fire temple in the city.

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|Ripon Building

|Indo-Saracenic

|1913

|G.S.T Harris

|Park Town

|Built at a cost of {{INR}} 750,000.

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|Kilpauk Water Works

|

|1914

|

|Kilpauk

|First water treatment facility with 80 mld capacity.{{cite news | title = Kilpauk water works facility goes hi-tech | newspaper = The Hindu | location = Chennai | publisher = Kasturi & Sons | date = 18 December 2017 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/kilpauk-water-works-facility-goes-hi-tech/article21828476.ece | access-date = 7 January 2018}}

|

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|Gove Building (formerly Cuddon Building)

|

|1916

|

|Anna Salai

|

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|Egmore court complex

|

|1916

|

|Egmore

|Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. Spread over 8,640 square feet, it housed the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, three additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate courts and 10 magistrate and fast track courts. Restored in 2018 at a cost of {{INR}} 48 million. The same year, a new 6-storied 71,200-square-feet building, with 12 court halls, was constructed at the premises as additional court complex.{{Cite news | last = Lakshmi | first = K. | title = New court complex in Egmore will be ready by month-end | newspaper = The Hindu | location = Chennai | date = 2 March 2018 | url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/new-court-complex-in-egmore-will-be-ready-by-month-end/article22912363.ece | access-date = 19 August 2018}}

|

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|College of Engineering

|Indo-Saracenic

|1920{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/survivors-of-time-college-of-engineering-guindy/article2671458.ece | title= Survivors of time – College of Engineering (Guindy) | date=29 November 2011 | first=Anusha | last=Parthasarathy | newspaper=The Hindu | access-date=28 July 2018 }}

|

|Guindy

|Designed by consulting architect W. H. Nicholls and later by chief engineer F. J. Wilson.{{Cite web |last=Venkataraman |first=G. |last2=Shanthi |first2=A. Anne |title=History of Historical Building and Monuments in and around Chennai |url=https://www.cmdachennai.gov.in/pdfs/seminar_heritage_buildings/History_of_Historical_Monuments_in_and_around_Chennai.pdf |website=www.cmdachennai.gov.in}}

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|Southern Railway headquarters

|Indo-Saracenic

|1921

|N. Grayson

|Park Town

|Originally built as the new Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway Company (MSMR) headquarters (successor of Madras Railway Company), replacing the general office of MSMR at Royapuram Railway Station. Built for the first time in India in reinforced concrete in classical and Dravidian styles.{{cite web | last = Venkataraman | first = G. |author2=A. Anne Shanthi | title = History of Historical Building and Monuments in and around Chennai | publisher = CMDA Chennai | url = http://www.cmdachennai.gov.in/pdfs/seminar_heritage_buildings/History_of_Historical_Monuments_in_and_around_Chennai.pdf | access-date = 10 May 2012}}

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|Suguna Vilasa Sabha

|

|1936

|

|Anna Salai

|Possibly one of the earliest drama theatres with stalwarts like Pammal Sambanda Mudaliar — now called SVS Club.

|

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|Bharathi Illam

|

|

|

|Triplicane

|

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See also

References

Further reading

  • {{cite news | last = Balasubramanian | first = Roshne | title = Documenting the Art Deco designs | newspaper = The New Indian Express | location = Chennai | pages = | language = | publisher = Express Publications | date = 29 April 2021 | url = https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2021/apr/29/documenting-the-art-deco-designs-2296030.html | access-date = 17 December 2021}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Heritage structures in Chennai}}

Category:Buildings and structures in Chennai

Category:Chennai-related lists

Chennai, Heritage

Category:Tourist attractions in Chennai

Category:Lists of buildings and structures in Tamil Nadu