Mambalam
Encyclopedia
Mambalam is a working class residential and commercial area in the heart of Chennai
(Madras), India
. It is best known for its shops, bazaars and Hindu temples. It is bounded by Kodambakkam to the north and Saidapet
to the south. T. Nagar
and Nandanam
stretch all along its eastern frontiers while K. K. Nagar
lies to its west. The Ayodhya Mandapam
is an important landmark.
Prior to its inclusion in the then city of Madras, Mambalam was a village in the Saidapet taluk of Chingleput district
. The oldest surviving reference to Mambalam is believed to be in a 1726 stone plaque commemorating the construction of the Marmalong Bridge (now known as Maraimalai Adigal bridge) across the Adyar river
by the merchant Coja Petrus Uscan
. The bridge is believed to have been named after the village of Marmalong or Marmalan identified with Mambalam. The village was, then, a zamindari administered by zamindars belonging to a Telugu-speaking Reddi family, tikkavarapu krishnaveni ammal.
Urbanisation of Mambalam was started in 1911 with the construction of the Mambalam railway station on the Madras-Kanchipuram railroad. The Long Tank, which formed the western frontier of Madras city, was drained out in 1923. The same year, the administration of Mambalam was handed over to the British by its zamindar.The township of Theagaraya Nagar, popularly known as T. Nagar, was constructed in the southern part of the zamindari during 1923-25. The townships of Mambalam and Theagaraya Nagar covering an area of 1.008 sq. miles were included in the Mambalam division of Madras city. These outlying residential suburbs were connected to the rest of the city by an effective bus service.The areas surrounding Arya Gowda Road were obtained from Badaga
leader and politician H. B. Ari Gowder.It has wide range of eateries where people storm up to have their piece of share . The most popular one's are 1) Venkaramana Poli stall ( one of the oldest ) 2) Venkateshwara Poli Stall 3) Moms soup (original trend setter one Near city stationeries ) 4) Mamis soup 5) Hot 'N' Chat (Jubilee Road corner) . Coming to hotels it has many noticeable hotels which provide hygienic food 1) Data udipi hotel ( near subway ) 2) Bhakya hotel ( near railway station ). For bachelors they can find their food at reasonable rates 3) Gnanambiga mess 4) Tanjore mess.It houses many schools which produce excellent results 1) SBSM Jain School, 2) Ahobila Mutt Oriental School 3) JGHV school 4) Sitaram vidhyalaya 5) Anjugam 6) little oxford ( all the above mentioned are state board ) 7) Sri Narayana Mission Sr Sec School (Co-ed CBSE) 8) SB Motha School (Girls CBSE) and 9) SRM Nightingale. You can also find students busy running to tuition. To mention a few masters in the vicinity are T. M. Soundarajan (Maths -aho princi ) and Rasarasan (Physics ) Swaminathan (Chemistry ) to name a few .West Mambalam contains a railway station(most busiest station after central and tambaram ) , providing access to Chennai Central and tambaram . Many buses travel through West Mambalam. They have to goto tnagar for bus terminus ( one can go by 11g 11h and get down at panagal park and walk to bus terminus in 15 minutes ) Arya Gowda Road and Thambiah Reddy Road both host many shops.This area contains a large vegetable market. There are many historical temples which are more than 100 years old and ayodhya mandapam which is said to be the place of vocalist offers place for many cultural events and many more for those who find to be religious. Temples 1. Sathya Narayana Kovil,2. Kasi Viswanathar Koil3. muragashramam4. Kali bari temple are few remarkable landmarks in West Mambalam.
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...
(Madras), 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...
. It is best known for its shops, bazaars and Hindu temples. It is bounded by Kodambakkam to the north and Saidapet
Saidapet
Saidapet is an important neighbourhood in Chennai , India. The Saidapet Court, the only other court of judicature in Chennai city apart from the Madras High Court and the Saidapet bus depot are located here...
to the south. T. Nagar
T. Nagar
Theagaraya Nagar , popularly known by its abbreviated form T. Nagar, is a neighbourhood in the city of Chennai, India. Though originally conceived as a residential locality, it is presently one of the principal shopping districts of the city....
and Nandanam
Nandanam
Nandanam is a neighborhood in Chennai, India. It is a busy location and is home to many commercial institutions. This locality also offers a calm residential location...
stretch all along its eastern frontiers while K. K. Nagar
K. K. Nagar
KK Nagar is a small township located in the southern part of Chennai, India. This is situated west of Ashok Nagar and the Chennai Airport is around 5 km south of this place. KK Nagar was a locality developed in the 1970s and early 1980s...
lies to its west. The Ayodhya Mandapam
Ayodhya Mandapam
Ayodhya Mandapam is common meeting hall type of building-structure specifically made for the purpose of Sath-Sangham at West Mambalam, Chennai, India. It was constructed in the year 1964 and initially it was thrown open to the Iyers of Mambalam...
is an important landmark.
History
Mambalam derives its name from "Mabilam" meaning of forest of Mango trees in Sanskrit. Mambalam used to covered with Mango trees, till very recently.Prior to its inclusion in the then city of Madras, Mambalam was a village in the Saidapet taluk of Chingleput district
Chingleput District (Madras Presidency)
Chingleput district was a district in the Madras Presidency of British India. It covered the area of the present-day districts of Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur and parts of Chennai city. It was sub-divided into six taluks with a total area of...
. The oldest surviving reference to Mambalam is believed to be in a 1726 stone plaque commemorating the construction of the Marmalong Bridge (now known as Maraimalai Adigal bridge) across the Adyar river
Adyar River
Adyar or Adayar, originating near the Chembarambakkam Lake in Chengalpattu district, is one of the two rivers which winds through Chennai , South India, and joins the Bay of Bengal at the Adyar Estuary. The 42.5 km-long river contributes to the estuarine ecosystem of Chennai. Despite the high...
by the merchant Coja Petrus Uscan
Coja Petrus Uscan
Coja Petrus Uscan was an Armenian merchant and leader of the Armenian community of Madras who was known for his immense wealth and unflinching devotion and loyalty to the British during the French occupation of Madras....
. The bridge is believed to have been named after the village of Marmalong or Marmalan identified with Mambalam. The village was, then, a zamindari administered by zamindars belonging to a Telugu-speaking Reddi family, tikkavarapu krishnaveni ammal.
Urbanisation of Mambalam was started in 1911 with the construction of the Mambalam railway station on the Madras-Kanchipuram railroad. The Long Tank, which formed the western frontier of Madras city, was drained out in 1923. The same year, the administration of Mambalam was handed over to the British by its zamindar.The township of Theagaraya Nagar, popularly known as T. Nagar, was constructed in the southern part of the zamindari during 1923-25. The townships of Mambalam and Theagaraya Nagar covering an area of 1.008 sq. miles were included in the Mambalam division of Madras city. These outlying residential suburbs were connected to the rest of the city by an effective bus service.The areas surrounding Arya Gowda Road were obtained from Badaga
Badaga
Badaga may refer to:*The Badaga people, an indigenous people inhabiting the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, India.*The Badaga language, spoken by the Badagas....
leader and politician H. B. Ari Gowder.It has wide range of eateries where people storm up to have their piece of share . The most popular one's are 1) Venkaramana Poli stall ( one of the oldest ) 2) Venkateshwara Poli Stall 3) Moms soup (original trend setter one Near city stationeries ) 4) Mamis soup 5) Hot 'N' Chat (Jubilee Road corner) . Coming to hotels it has many noticeable hotels which provide hygienic food 1) Data udipi hotel ( near subway ) 2) Bhakya hotel ( near railway station ). For bachelors they can find their food at reasonable rates 3) Gnanambiga mess 4) Tanjore mess.It houses many schools which produce excellent results 1) SBSM Jain School, 2) Ahobila Mutt Oriental School 3) JGHV school 4) Sitaram vidhyalaya 5) Anjugam 6) little oxford ( all the above mentioned are state board ) 7) Sri Narayana Mission Sr Sec School (Co-ed CBSE) 8) SB Motha School (Girls CBSE) and 9) SRM Nightingale. You can also find students busy running to tuition. To mention a few masters in the vicinity are T. M. Soundarajan (Maths -aho princi ) and Rasarasan (Physics ) Swaminathan (Chemistry ) to name a few .West Mambalam contains a railway station(most busiest station after central and tambaram ) , providing access to Chennai Central and tambaram . Many buses travel through West Mambalam. They have to goto tnagar for bus terminus ( one can go by 11g 11h and get down at panagal park and walk to bus terminus in 15 minutes ) Arya Gowda Road and Thambiah Reddy Road both host many shops.This area contains a large vegetable market. There are many historical temples which are more than 100 years old and ayodhya mandapam which is said to be the place of vocalist offers place for many cultural events and many more for those who find to be religious. Temples 1. Sathya Narayana Kovil,2. Kasi Viswanathar Koil3. muragashramam4. Kali bari temple are few remarkable landmarks in West Mambalam.