Chepauk Palace
Encyclopedia
Chepauk Palace was the official residence of the Nawab of Arcot from 1768 to 1855. It is situated in the neighbourhood of Chepauk
in Chennai
, India
and is constructed in the Indo-Saracenic
style of architecture.
, the previously independent kingdom of the Carnatic had virtually become a protectorate of the British East India Company
. The Nawab Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah
was a close friend and ally of the British and was dependent on Company troops for his protection. So, in 1764, he thought of constructing a palace for himself within the ramparts of Fort St George
. However, due to space constraints, Wallajah was forced to abandon his plans and instead constructed a palace at Chepauk
, a few miles to the south of the fort.
When the principality of Carnatic was abolished in 1855 as per the Doctrine of Lapse
, the Chepauk Palace was brought to auction to pay off the Nawab's debts and was eventually purchased by the Madras government.The palace functioned as the office of the revenue board and the Public Works Department
(PWD) Secretariat. In 1871, Robert Chisholm
constructed a new records office and a revenue board building.
Chepauk
Chepauk is a locality in Chennai , in India. The name Chepauk is popularly used to refer to the M. A. Chidambaram International Cricket Stadium also known as Chepauk Stadium. It is also home to the Chepauk palace, built in the Indo-Saracenic style...
in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and is constructed in the Indo-Saracenic
Indo-Saracenic
The Indo-Saracenic Revival was an architectural style movement by British architects in the late 19th century in British India...
style of architecture.
History
By the end of the Carnatic WarsCarnatic Wars
The Carnatic Wars were a series of military conflicts in the middle of the 18th century on the Indian subcontinent...
, the previously independent kingdom of the Carnatic had virtually become a protectorate of the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. The Nawab Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah
Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah
Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah was the Nawab of Arcot in India and an ally of the British East India Company. Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah was born to Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan, by his second wife, Fakhr un-nisa Begum Sahiba, was a niece of Sayyid Ali Khan Safavi ul-Mosawi of Persia, sometime Naib suba...
was a close friend and ally of the British and was dependent on Company troops for his protection. So, in 1764, he thought of constructing a palace for himself within the ramparts of Fort St George
Fort St George
Fort St George is the name of the first English fortress in India, founded in 1639 at the coastal city of Madras, the modern city of Chennai. The construction of the Fort provided the impetus for further settlements and trading activity, in what was originally a no man's land...
. However, due to space constraints, Wallajah was forced to abandon his plans and instead constructed a palace at Chepauk
Chepauk
Chepauk is a locality in Chennai , in India. The name Chepauk is popularly used to refer to the M. A. Chidambaram International Cricket Stadium also known as Chepauk Stadium. It is also home to the Chepauk palace, built in the Indo-Saracenic style...
, a few miles to the south of the fort.
When the principality of Carnatic was abolished in 1855 as per the Doctrine of Lapse
Doctrine of lapse
The Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy purportedly devised by Lord Dalhousie, who was the Governor General for the British in India between 1848 and 1856...
, the Chepauk Palace was brought to auction to pay off the Nawab's debts and was eventually purchased by the Madras government.The palace functioned as the office of the revenue board and the Public Works Department
Public Works Department
Many governments worldwide have had departments or ministries referred to as the Public Works Department either formally or informally.In Australia: -New South Wales -*Office of Public Works and Services, New South Wales...
(PWD) Secretariat. In 1871, Robert Chisholm
Robert Chisholm (architect)
Robert Fellowes Chisholm was a British architect who pioneered the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture in Madras.- Early life :Chisholm was born in London on January 11, 1840 and had his early education in the United Kingdom...
constructed a new records office and a revenue board building.