The city of Madras (Chennai) was founded by Francis Day of British East India Company on a three square mile strip of land, on 22nd July 1639. Immediately afterwards his boss Andrew Cogan laid foundation of Fort St George and established seat of the Company’s Agency in the Fort on 24th September 1641. Madras became the capital of Madras Presidency controlling whole of south India except a few princely states.Madras enjoyed the status of Capital ever since.Madras was renamed as Chennai in 1996.The first conventional lighthouse was the oil wick lamp placed on the roof of the officer’s Mess cum Exchange building in 1796. The building is now known as Fort Museum.
The present modern Lighthouse was built in 1976 at Marina Beach and Electrical Lighthouse equipment manufactured by BBT, Paris was installed on it which started functioning with effect from 10th January 1977.
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| Present Light House at Marina Beach |
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Vivekananda House
Vivekananda House on the Marina Beach, Chennai, built 158 years back, has a long and interesting history. It was meant to store ice and hence it got its popular name, the Ice House. In 1842 Mr. Frederic Tudor, the 'Ice King', built a house in Chennai to keep ice under proper insulation so that it could be stored for months together. Tudor maintained his business in Chennai from 1842 upto around 1880. After the invention of making ice by 'steam process' in India, his business collapsed He sold Ice House to Mr.Biligiri Iyengar, a prosperous advocate of the Madras High Court. He remodeled the house adding circular verandahs and provided it with many windows to make it fit as residential quarters. Also he named the house 'Castle Kernan,' as a tribute to his friend, the famous Justice Kernan of the Madras High Court.
this landmark was re-christened Vivekananda House in 1963 in remembrance of Swami Vivekananda's brief sojourn and stay here for over a year in 1897 when he delivered seven historic lectures at Chennai.
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| Statue of Vivekananda - The Wandering Monk |
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| Lady Mounted Police at Marina Beach |
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| Freshly made corn soup: For the benefit of morning walkers |
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| Walkers at Marina Beach (wife Shobha & friends) |
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| Breakfast at Idli Vilas on Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai. The items on the banana leaf are Guntur Idli with a variety of chutneys. This was followed by crisp & hot vadas made from freshly made batter. |
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| Shobha sampling the mini coffee served in steel davara tumbler |
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| The art of Vada making |
that ice house is impressive!
ReplyDeletei think i missed those "Guntur Idlis" last time when i was there...i will try that next time for sure...thanks for sharing this colorful post about chennai Sir.
ReplyDeleteI was there at Anna Salai last week. It was afternoon and people adviced not to go to the beach! Looks like you had a great breakfast. Yummy vada.
ReplyDelete@Kusum: Yes the beach is deserted in the afternoons and hence not safe unless you are in a group.
ReplyDeleteThe building is beautiful! :)
ReplyDeleteNice post. Yet to visit Marina.
ReplyDeletehttp://rajniranjandas.blogspot.in
The iced cake Vivekanada building is amazing. Your breakfast looks interesting,I love to see different(for me)foods,even better to taste them!
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
Ruby
Lovely pictures of swami Vivekananda and breakfast with friends!
ReplyDeleteI have heard of this unique restaurant 'Annalakshmi' in Chennai where they don't give you a bill but you pay what you feel like! The waiters who come there are doctors and lawyers who deem it as a service.Their decor seems to be very authentic. If you or any friends know about this, please tell us of your experience..
Thanks.
ERR
http://www.annalakshmi.com.au/
You put so many fascinating things in one post! Interesting history on the lighthouse and I love that ice house. Selling corn in the street is new to me...
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! When you say the beach is not safe, is that because others would do you harm?
Re your question on The Villages...the store is a Hallmark Card Store which sells greeting cards and little trinkets.
Great and interesting post, as always.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful building the Vivekananda House is.
Thanks for sharing.
Have a great weekend.
Mette
@Lowell:Afternoons are not safe because of dangers of sexual molestation,robbery,etc.
ReplyDelete@ERR: Yes I have been to Annalakshmi on Mount Road,Chennai as well as in Coimbatore,Singapore & Kuala Lumpur.Good ambiance and good food. I don't know if the practice of "pay what you like" still exists.And yes people who wait & serve are professionals from various walks of life:)It is an unique experience.
ReplyDeleteAh! Marina - many memories. It is my fantasy to do a thenga/manga/pattani/sundal stand with the kids during one of our days on the beach here. Only where I live, the beach is a 5 hr drive :(
ReplyDeleteLovely pics. Guntur Idli ?Hmm...sounds interesting and going by the dark color, I'm guessing it is added spice that gives it the name ?
@Mom with a dot: Yes.It is smeared with chilli powder & oil !
ReplyDeletei miss chennai :(
ReplyDeleteGreat story, I love Madras although I have never been there, their Madras make is a curry, hot and spicy, yum.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post and wonderful shots.
ReplyDeleteGreat trip. Thanks for the history of the house.
ReplyDeleteduring my south india tour in january this year, boarded train from chennai while going back but did not get time to sight see...maybe next time im gonna hit marina beach!!
ReplyDeletehttp://sushmita-smile.blogspot.in
Awww Marina beach...cant forget the famous thenga,manga,pattani sundal..!!interesting details on LightHouse,awesome Vivekananda House,yummy breakfast ,asathal SR..super..:)
ReplyDeleteA shrine near my house had ice house,too. But we can't see polices on horses. I heard ice was precious thing in the old days.
ReplyDeleteThe food like a doughnut tempts me. Thank you for sharing.
Have a great weekend!
About 20 minutes from my home is a huge Indian community that I love to frequent for food and jewelry :))) Guess what Ram?! Today, I'm doing just that!! I'm in the mood for some tikka masala, chutney, garlic naan, and yummy samosa!!! Can't wait :)))
ReplyDeleteMy brother Ram,
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are so clear and rich that sometimes I feel I am right in it (smile). Great shots and yes, great story line. I personally learn so much from you my friend. Thank you.
Loved the post and would love to get the first wada which ought to have been very crispy.
ReplyDeleteimpressive post with nice cliks...
ReplyDeletenowadays, can't go to beach often in the fear of tsunami & rain showers..!
Tasty Appetite
I love fried foods! Yummy! Your wife looks very beautiful, Ram. Glad you enjoyed your tour.
ReplyDeleteI would absolutely love to eat those idli's and vada's!! To eat on the Banana leaves is just so fascinating!
ReplyDeletevery informative
ReplyDeletelovely captures
Greetings, Ram...re you question on The Villages: I believe that Fifi is a toy poodle. Not sure, though.
ReplyDeleteAnd re your answer to my question here: The beach sounds like a scary place!
Such an interestung peek inro indian life! I know a bit about Vivekanada, as i'm practising Yoga. Such a fierce and interesting character. Hope your sunday is sunny and lovely!
ReplyDeleteNamaste.....
ReplyDeleteVivekananda House is beautiful, what an attractive building.
Vada looks like donut.
thanks for sharing as always
Delightful images.
ReplyDeletewow those are beautiful pictures, and the lady police officers look Fit as do the horses .. :)
ReplyDeleteall that food has made me hungry too now :)
had visited chennai in 1992 that is a long long time back :)
Bikram's
Guntur idlis..shall remember...Moving over there Ramakrishnan...very soon:)) hence busy..
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing assortment of photos! Thank you for such a delightful tour!
ReplyDelete@Chitra: Moving to Guntur or Chennai ?
ReplyDeleteA perfect combo of nice travel and food in Chennai! Very refreshing post:)
ReplyDeleteGreat set of shots. Love the banana tree leaves used as plates.
ReplyDeleteThat must have been a big oil-wick lamp. I'm curious to see what it looks like. I'm going to try doing a search. That new lighthouse too does look different.
ReplyDeleteI will have to try out those Guntur idlis sometime. Is that coated with the chilli-lentil podi or is it just chilli powder?
Interesting post and beautiful pictures!
ReplyDelete@Divya: Chilli-Lentil powder !
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are very beautiful and some of them are amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteYum! there's a place in Bangalore that serves those button idlis (with this idli podi on them ) as appetizers. :)
ReplyDeleteLove Marina beach! That ice house is impressive, and those idlis and vadas are making my mouth water! :)
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ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteMarina Beach is a natural urban beach in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, along the Bay of Bengal. The beach runs from near Fort St. George in the north to Foreshore Estate in the south, a distance of 6.0 km, making it the longest natural urban beach in the country.
Very interesting post, we enjoyed each and everything as per written in your post. Thank you for this article because it’s really informative. If you are planning for your holiday and searching for the beautiful place to spend your time then you can wander around this vibrant city. It really helps people to plan for future trips. If anyone want go to visit these places book your online bus tickets advance in Vivegam Travels and get more offers.
Hi
ReplyDeleteMarina Beach is a natural urban beach in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, along the Bay of Bengal. The beach runs from near Fort St. George in the north to Foreshore Estate in the south, a distance of 6.0 km (3.7 mi), making it the longest natural urban beach in the country. The Marina is primarily sandy, unlike the short, rocky formations that make up the Juhu Beach in Mumbai. The average width of the beach is 300 m (980 ft)[6] and the width at the widest stretch is 437 m (1,434 ft). Bathing and swimming at the Marina Beach are legally prohibited because of the dangers, as the undercurrent is very turbulent.
Very interesting post, we enjoyed each and everything as per written in your post. Thank you for this article because it’s really informative. If you are planning for your holiday and searching for the beautiful place to spend your time then you can wander around this vibrant city. It really helps people to plan for future trips. If anyone want go to visit these places book your online bus tickets advance in Vivegam Travels and get more offers.
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