Sowcarpet

The neighbourhood derives its name from the term "sowcar" which comes from the Hindi word sahukaar, originally meaning merchant or native banker. The term now refers to a money-lender.{{cite journal | last = Venkatraman | first = Vijaysree | title = A virtual walk through Sowcarpet | journal = Madras Musings | volume = 28 | issue = 5 | pages = | publisher = | location = | date = June 16–30, 2018 | url = https://www.madrasmusings.com/vol-28-no-5/a-virtual-walk-through-sowcarpet/ | access-date = 9 January 2023}}

Sowcarpet is often referred to as "Little North India" owing to the presence of a predominantly North Indian population. The neighbourhood is home to the city's first North-Indian Jain temple. It is also flanked with shops and eateries offering north Indian foods and delicacies.

In his book Madras Rediscovered, Chennai city chronicler S. Muthiah writes that Gujarati immigrants from Saurashtra who established themselves as a weaving community in Madurai and Tirunelveli arrived in the Sowcarpet neighbourhood in the 17th century. The diamond and silk merchants, who gave the neighbourhood its name, arrived in the 18th century from Gujarat. Other settlers in the neighbourhood includes the Marwaris from Rajasthan, who arrived later.

Sowcarpet is considered a shopper's paradise owing to the presence of shops and outlets selling a wide range of finished goods. Most streets in Sowcarpet are rather narrow, with a few exceptions like Mint Street{{cite web | url=https://www.travelmag.co.uk/2013/02/hot-mint-in-chennai-welcome-to-india/ | title=Hot mint in Chennai: welcome to India | first=Colin | last=Todhunter | publisher=TravelMag | date=14 February 2013 | access-date=29 October 2018 }} and nearby area.{{cite web | url=https://www.travelmag.co.uk/2013/10/keeping-it-clean-on-mint-street-chennai/ | title=Keeping it Clean on Mint Street, Chennai | first=Colin | last=Todhunter | publisher=TravelMag | date=17 October 2013 | access-date=29 October 2018 }} The buildings in the streets are so close to each other that they look like they share a common wall. The sight is typical of the crowded bazaars of Indian cities – a potpourri of different vendors and artisans, trading and making a variety of articles. The wholesale markets for several goods are in Narayana Mudali street, Govindappa Naicken street and Rattan Bazaar. The area around Kasi Chetty street and Mint street is famous for shopping and for small eateries serving traditional North Indian, chiefly Gujarati and Marwari, chaat and other delicacies. Patni Plaza and Naidu Plaza are some of the well known shopping malls in the area. Kakada Ramprasad and Novelty Tea House, both started in 1958, are some of the notable eateries in the neighbourhood.{{cite news | last = Samyuktha | first = Nair | title = Sowcarpet: Chennai’s Little-Known North Indian Settlement | newspaper = Ed Times | location = Chennai | pages = | language = | publisher = | date = May 2018 | url = https://edtimes.in/sowcarpet-chennais-little-known-north-indian-settlement/ | access-date = 9 January 2023}}{{cite news | last = Venkatesh | first = Vidya Gowri | title = Know Your City: From Bombay-style bhel puris to hot crispy jalebis, don’t miss these five snack points in Chennai | newspaper = The Indian Express | location = Chennai | pages = | language = | publisher = Express Publications| date = 28 December 2022 | url = https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/know-your-city-bombay-style-bhel-puris-hot-crispy-jalebis-five-snack-points-chennai-8346861/ | access-date = 9 January 2023}}

The neighbourhood is known for its Holi and Raksha Bandhan celebrations.

It has been estimated that the turnover of the neighbourhood is anywhere between {{INR}}100,000 million and {{INR}}150,000 million a year.{{cite news

| last = Kandavel

| first = Sangeetha

| title = A melting pot of cultures and trades

| newspaper = The Hindu

| location = Chennai

| pages =

| language =

| publisher = Kasturi & Sons

| date = 28 August 2019

| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/a-melting-pot-of-cultures-and-trades/article61579268.ece

| access-date = 9 January 2023}}

• George Town
• Parry's Corner
• History of Chennai

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{{Neighborhoods of Chennai}}

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Category:Neighbourhoods in Chennai

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