Virugambakkam
Encyclopedia
Virugambakkam is a residential neighbourhood of Chennai
, Tamil Nadu
, India
. It is an important residential area and is famous for its schools, market, residential colonies and residences of film artists. Virugambakkam has some of Chennai's oldest and biggest movie studios.
Virugambakkam is one of the newer localities of Chennai and owes its growth to the expansion of the city in the post-independence period. Prior to the establishment of residential colonies, Virugambakkam was covered by farmland. Virugambakkam was first included within the Chennai city limits in the 1970s. The region is an important source of clean ground water and has the only natural gas reserves in the city, apart from Avadi
.
Virugambakkam is well-connected with the heart of Chennai city through roads. Buses running through Arcot Road
link Virugambakkam with the more inner suburbs of Chennai city.
and 10 kilometres from Poonamallee
. It is bound by Vadapalani
to the east, Koyambedu
to the north and Alwarthirunagar
to the west and south-west and K.K. Nagar and Ramavaram, Tamil Nadu to the south-east. Its frontier with Alwarthirunagar forms the western limits of the Corporation of Chennai.
shifted his base from Karaikudi
. The locality has since become a haven for movie producers and cine artists.
Virugambakkam was one of the important places connected with the Anti-Hindi agitations of 1965. Aranganathan, a 32-year old employee with the Indian Postal Service immolated himself in protest against the imposition of Hindi. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
vigorously campaigned in the Virugambakkam region during the 1967 elections.
Till the 1970s, Virugambakkam was little more than an insignificant village. It formed a part of Saidapet taluk of Chingleput district. Apart from a few movie studios here and there, there were only a few sparsely populated settlements. The interior which makes up the middle-class residential colonies of our day were covered by paddy fields. The town had a population of 8,013 in 1971. During those times, the outlying suburbs of the city alongside Arcot Road had a reputation for insecurity and as the haunt of burglars. Till the early 1970s, the suburb of Kodambakkam formed the western frontier of Madras city. Virugambakkam was included in Madras city in 1973 along with the localities of Vadapalani
and Saligrammam. Since then, growth has accelerated peaking in the 1980s and 1990s. The good quality of ground water available in the Arcot Road suburbs was an important reason for the region's growth.
.
The Virugambakkam Canal separates Virugambakkam from suburbs as Koyambedu
which lie towards the interior. The canal runs for about 6 kilometres through the suburbs of Choolaimedu
, Arumbakkam
and Vadapalani before entering Virugambakkam. This canal originally served the purpose of irrigating farm lands. However, with the transformation of farmlands into residential localities the canal has converted into a drain. During the monsoons, the canal frequently overflows creating havoc for the residents of the nearby areas. Recently, desilting work had been carried out to deal with the situation.
considered to be one of Chennai's arterial roads. Virugambakkam lies on the Poonamallee-Vadapalani-Broadway bus route. The nearest bus terminuses are located at Saligrammam, Chennai Moffusil Bus Terminus (CMBT) and Vadapalani. The nearest suburban railway station is at Kodambakkam, 4 kilometres from Virugambakkam.It has many autorikshaw stands .
Airticket and Passport
Tour Packege
Near St Johns School/Axis Bank
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...
, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, 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 an important residential area and is famous for its schools, market, residential colonies and residences of film artists. Virugambakkam has some of Chennai's oldest and biggest movie studios.
Virugambakkam is one of the newer localities of Chennai and owes its growth to the expansion of the city in the post-independence period. Prior to the establishment of residential colonies, Virugambakkam was covered by farmland. Virugambakkam was first included within the Chennai city limits in the 1970s. The region is an important source of clean ground water and has the only natural gas reserves in the city, apart from Avadi
Avadi
Avadi is a suburb of chennai and a municipality in Thiruvallur district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Avadi is an acronym for "Armoured Vehicles and Ammunition Depot of India". Situated about 23 km north west of Chennai, it is surrounded by major defence establishments.-Geography:Avadi...
.
Virugambakkam is well-connected with the heart of Chennai city through roads. Buses running through Arcot Road
Arcot Road
Arcot Road , also known as N. S. Krishnan Salai ,is one of the main arterial roads of the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. It runs for nine kilometres and connects Nungambakkam with Porur...
link Virugambakkam with the more inner suburbs of Chennai city.
Location
Virugambakkam is situated at a distance of 12 kilometres from Fort St GeorgeFort 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...
and 10 kilometres from Poonamallee
Poonamallee
Poonamallee is a town in the Poonamallee taluk of the Thiruvallur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu...
. It is bound by Vadapalani
Vadapalani
-Murugan Koyil:Built about 125 years back, this much-hallowed and regularly frequented Lord Muruga sannidhi has emerged from a thatched shed, an unostentatious one enshrining a Murugan picture only, and established for itself a name on par with ancient places of worship...
to the east, Koyambedu
Koyambedu
Koyambedu is a locality in the South Indian city of Chennai. The Koyambedu area has become a major hub of activity in Chennai City after the inauguration of the market and the bus terminus...
to the north and Alwarthirunagar
Alwarthirunagar
Alwarthirunagar is a suburb of Chennai city. It adjoins the western limits of the Chennai corporation and is the first township on the Arcot Road between Chennai city and Poonamallee. The township was developed by Ms.City Lando Corporation, in the late 1960's...
to the west and south-west and K.K. Nagar and Ramavaram, Tamil Nadu to the south-east. Its frontier with Alwarthirunagar forms the western limits of the Corporation of Chennai.
History
The growth of Virugambakkam accompanied the expansion of Madras city during the years preceding independence. Virugambakkam was one of the many localities which cropped up during the Second World War. At that time, it was a part of the Kodambakkam-Saligramam-Puliyur residential district of Greater Madras. During the 1940s, Arcot Road was constructed connecting Nungambakkam with the Mount-Poonamallee Road. In 1948, the first movie studios made their appearance when Avichi Meiyappa ChettiarAvichi Meiyappa Chettiar
Avichi Meiyappa Chettiar , also known as A. V. Meiyappan or AVM was an Indian film producer, director and philanthropist who established the AVM Productions in Vadapalani, Chennai. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Tamil cinema, and one of three movie moguls of the South Indian film...
shifted his base from Karaikudi
Karaikudi
Karaikudi is a town in Sivaganga District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Chettinad literally 'Chetti land' in Tamil, is a collection of 76 villages/towns. Chettinad stretched from Ramnad District and Pudukottai State of 'British' India. The Chettiars, or more properly the Nattukottai...
. The locality has since become a haven for movie producers and cine artists.
Virugambakkam was one of the important places connected with the Anti-Hindi agitations of 1965. Aranganathan, a 32-year old employee with the Indian Postal Service immolated himself in protest against the imposition of Hindi. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a state political party in the states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, India. It is a Dravidian party founded by C. N. Annadurai as a breakaway faction from the Dravidar Kazhagam headed by Periyar...
vigorously campaigned in the Virugambakkam region during the 1967 elections.
Till the 1970s, Virugambakkam was little more than an insignificant village. It formed a part of Saidapet taluk of Chingleput district. Apart from a few movie studios here and there, there were only a few sparsely populated settlements. The interior which makes up the middle-class residential colonies of our day were covered by paddy fields. The town had a population of 8,013 in 1971. During those times, the outlying suburbs of the city alongside Arcot Road had a reputation for insecurity and as the haunt of burglars. Till the early 1970s, the suburb of Kodambakkam formed the western frontier of Madras city. Virugambakkam was included in Madras city in 1973 along with the localities of Vadapalani
Vadapalani
-Murugan Koyil:Built about 125 years back, this much-hallowed and regularly frequented Lord Muruga sannidhi has emerged from a thatched shed, an unostentatious one enshrining a Murugan picture only, and established for itself a name on par with ancient places of worship...
and Saligrammam. Since then, growth has accelerated peaking in the 1980s and 1990s. The good quality of ground water available in the Arcot Road suburbs was an important reason for the region's growth.
Geography
The soil is extremely fertile and productive as is evident from the fact that paddy fields once covered the area. However, paddy fields have completely disappeared. Natural gas was discovered near Virugambakkam in 1966. Till date, Virugambakkam is the only known source of natural gas in Chennai city apart from AvadiAvadi
Avadi is a suburb of chennai and a municipality in Thiruvallur district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Avadi is an acronym for "Armoured Vehicles and Ammunition Depot of India". Situated about 23 km north west of Chennai, it is surrounded by major defence establishments.-Geography:Avadi...
.
The Virugambakkam Canal separates Virugambakkam from suburbs as Koyambedu
Koyambedu
Koyambedu is a locality in the South Indian city of Chennai. The Koyambedu area has become a major hub of activity in Chennai City after the inauguration of the market and the bus terminus...
which lie towards the interior. The canal runs for about 6 kilometres through the suburbs of Choolaimedu
Choolaimedu
Choolaimedu is a large residential commercial locality in Chennai, India. It borders Kodambakkam, Vadapalani, M.M.D.A.Colony, Aminjikarai, Mahalingapuram and Nungambakkam...
, Arumbakkam
Arumbakkam
Arumbakkam is primarily a residential locality in Chennai.Notable landmarks in Arumbakkam are D G Vaishnav College, Speed Medical Centre & Hospitals, Daniel Thomas School, Kola Perumal School,sri Panchali Amman Temple,sivan temple and the Ford Showroom...
and Vadapalani before entering Virugambakkam. This canal originally served the purpose of irrigating farm lands. However, with the transformation of farmlands into residential localities the canal has converted into a drain. During the monsoons, the canal frequently overflows creating havoc for the residents of the nearby areas. Recently, desilting work had been carried out to deal with the situation.
Localities
Virugambakkam extends for about 2 kilometres from Arunachalam Road to Vembuliamman Koil. Starting from the most far flung locality, Dasarathapuram, Virugambakkam extends alongside Arcot Road adjacent to the nearby town of Saligrammam. State Bank Colony and Baskar Colony are some of the important residential areas. Kaaliamman Koil Street and Arunachalam Road are the main arterial roads.Important landmarks
Virugambakkam is known for its movie studios and schools. It is also the home to a large number of film actors, music composers and other artists. Some of the important schools in Virugambakkam are Vani Vidyalaya, A. V. M. Matriculation Higher Secondary School,St John's Matriculation Higher Secondary School and Balalok Matriculation Higher Secondary School. The Meenakshi Engineering College and the Meenakshi Dental College is one of the primary colleges in Virugambakkam with acres of land. The Virugambakkam market which lies to the west is a source for fresh vegetables. Some important temples are Vembuliamman Koil, Kaliamman Koil and Raghavendra temple. There is also a mosque and numerous churches. Virugambakkam also has a number of hospitals which along with the schools and departmental stores cater to the needs of the residential colonies. Important cinema studios located in Virugambakkam are AVM Studios, L. V. Prasad Studios and Vijaya Vauhini Studios. The most important cinema theatre located in Virugambakkam is AVM Rajeswari, which is owned by AVM Productions.Transport and Communication
Virugambakkam is well-connected with the heart of Chennai city as it lies on the Arcot RoadArcot Road
Arcot Road , also known as N. S. Krishnan Salai ,is one of the main arterial roads of the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. It runs for nine kilometres and connects Nungambakkam with Porur...
considered to be one of Chennai's arterial roads. Virugambakkam lies on the Poonamallee-Vadapalani-Broadway bus route. The nearest bus terminuses are located at Saligrammam, Chennai Moffusil Bus Terminus (CMBT) and Vadapalani. The nearest suburban railway station is at Kodambakkam, 4 kilometres from Virugambakkam.It has many autorikshaw stands .
Media
The head office of the Arcot Road Times, the main local newspaper in situated in Virugambakkam. This newspaper caters to Virugambakkam and neighbouring suburbs as K. K. Nagar, Ashok Nagar and Valasaravakkam. Vadapalani has its own local newspaper, the Vadapalani Times.AIR TRAVELS AGENCY
Fly World Air TravelsAirticket and Passport
Tour Packege
Near St Johns School/Axis Bank
Areas Near Virugambakkam
- AlwarthirunagarAlwarthirunagarAlwarthirunagar is a suburb of Chennai city. It adjoins the western limits of the Chennai corporation and is the first township on the Arcot Road between Chennai city and Poonamallee. The township was developed by Ms.City Lando Corporation, in the late 1960's...
- SaligramamSaligramamSaligramam is a residential locality situated in the western part of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. Saligramam is surrounded by Vadapalani in the East Virugambakkam in the West, KK Nagar in the South and Koyambedu in the north. Saligramam was having the Majority of Film Studios...
- VadapalaniVadapalani-Murugan Koyil:Built about 125 years back, this much-hallowed and regularly frequented Lord Muruga sannidhi has emerged from a thatched shed, an unostentatious one enshrining a Murugan picture only, and established for itself a name on par with ancient places of worship...
- NerkundramNerkundram-Demographics: India census, Nerkundram had a population of 39,544. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Nerkundram has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 65%...