Chennai Lighthouse

Lighthouse in India

Chennai Lighthouses

Location| Chennai, India
Coordinates| 13°02′N 80°17′E﻿ / ﻿13.04°N 80.28°E﻿ / 13.04; 80.28
Current light
Construction| reinforced concrete
Height| 45.72 m (150.0 ft)
Shape| triangular prism
Markings| red and white
Operator| Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships
First lit| 10 January 1977
Focal height| 57 m (187 ft)
Lens| 375 mm 3rd order revolving optic inside 2.5 m dia lantern house
Intensity| 110V 3000W incandescent lamp
Range| 28 nmi (52 km; 32 mi)
Characteristic| Fl(2) W 10s
First light
Constructed| 1796
Power source| coconut oil
Deactivated| 1844, 1841
Focal height| 99 ft (30 m)
Range| 25 mi (40 km)
Second light
Constructed| 1838
Construction| granite
Height| 38 m (125 ft)
Shape| truncated cone
First lit| 1 January 1844
Deactivated| 1894
Focal height| 117 ft (36 m)
Range| 20 mi (32 km)
Third light
Power source| kerosene
First lit| 1 June 1894
Deactivated| 1977
Intensity| 18,000 candela

There have been at least four lighthouses named Chennai Lighthouse (Tamil: சென்னை கலங்கரை விளக்கம்) or Madras Lighthouse, which face the Bay of Bengal on the east coast of the Indian Subcontinent in Chennai, India.

The current lighthouse is a landmark on the Marina Beach, which was built by the East Coast Constructions and Industries in 1976, and opened in January 1977. It also houses an office of the meteorological department. On 16 November 2013, it was reopened to visitors. It is one of the few lighthouses in the world with an elevator.[1][2] It is also the only lighthouse in India within the city limits.[3] It is powered by a solar panel.[4]

## Location

[edit]

The lighthouse is located on Kamarajar Salai (Beach Road) opposite the office of the Director General of Tamil Nadu Police and All India Radio's Chennai station. The lighthouse marks the end of the promenade on the northern half of the Marina Beach. It is also the junction where Kamarajar Salai, Santhome High Road and Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai meet. The lighthouse and the surrounding areas are served by the Light House MRTS station located nearby on Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai 13°02′42″N 80°16′36″E﻿ / ﻿13.0450°N 80.2768°E﻿ / 13.0450; 80.2768.

## History

[edit]

By the end of the 18th century, the Madras Presidency encompassed much of south India and also Ceylon. As its capital, the city of Madras served as the nerve centre of the sea trade controlled by the British East India Company. Ships approaching the shore of Madras after nightfall faced the risk of running aground on the shoals of Covelong (Kovalam) in the south and the sand-banks of Armagaon and Pulicat in the north.[5]

The present lighthouse is the fourth lighthouse of Chennai. Before the end of the 18th century, when Madras was an open seashore, where goods were loaded and unloaded from boats, bonfire lit by fisherwomen was used to guide the menfolk to the shore. The arrangement of exhibiting light to assist British East India Company's vessels arriving at Madras and to enter the port during the 17th and 18th centuries is not known since no record is available. The first conventional lighthouse was proposed in 1795, the very year when the first census of the city was taken. In February 1795, maritime officials petitioned the British government to build a lighthouse at Fort St. George to serve as a navigational aid, allowing vessels to enter the open anchorage at all times. The request was approved and the steeple of St. Mary's Church was considered as the site for the new lighthouse. However, the proposal did not materialise due to opposition from the chaplains. Hence, the terrace of the officer's mess-cum-exchange building (the present day's Fort Museum) was chosen as the location for the new lighthouse, and the first lighthouse started functioning in 1796. It used a large oil-wick lantern to aid vessels approaching the port. Situated at 99 feet above sea level, it had 12 lamps fuelled by coconut oil.[5] Small country mirrors were used as reflectors.[6] The beam emanating from the lamp swept the sea as far as 25 miles from the shore. Signals were exchanged with the lighthouse by merchants on the ship, who would conduct all the transactions later in the Public Exchange Hall downstairs, which served as a meeting point for brokers, merchants, and commanders of ships. The first lighthouse functioned till 1841.[5]

The Chennai lighthouse as seen from the seashore

In 1834, further to the petition by vice-admiral Sir John Gore about the necessity to have a more advanced lighthouse, the East India Company asked Capt. T. J. Smith of the Corps of Engineers, then on home leave in England, to suggest alternatives. When Capt. Smith returned to Madras in 1837, he brought with him a new apparatus. By then, ships, which were anchored in front of the Fort thus far, started anchoring off First Line Beach. The old lighthouse was therefore considered a location too far to the south. Incidentally, in the early 19th century, the area west of Fort St. George was the buffer zone between the Black Town and the fort which has come to be known as George Town. A fire in 1762 destroyed this area including two temples, the Chenna Kesavapperumal temple and the Chenna Malleeswarar temple that flourished in the area. The colonial government took possession of this land and facilitated the construction of these temples near the Flower Bazaar. It then considered the construction of a new lighthouse on this land.[5] This led to the choosing of a site on the Esplanade "between the Fort and the offices of Parry & Co" as the location for the new lighthouse.[6] Thus, the second lighthouse was erected during 1838–1844 on the north side of Fort St. George. Work began in 1838 on a granite column in the compound of the present High Court.[5] The column was designed by Smith, who had by then been promoted to Major. The stone for the construction was sourced from quarries in Pallavaram.[6] Work was completed in 1840[5] at a total cost of ₹ 60,000,[6] on which the wick lamp was shifted as the supply of the new equipment by Stone Chance, Birmingham was delayed.[5] The apparatus cost a further ₹ 15,000 and was of the most sophisticated kind for its times. On 9 October 1843, a public announcement was made that the new Madras Light was completed and it would be fully functional from 1 January 1844. Major Smith was asked to remain in charge until a team was trained to take over the handling of the equipment. He handed over charge to the master attendant of the Madras Harbour on 6 October 1845. The lighthouse had a full complement of staff comprising a superintendent, a deputy, a headman and six lascars. The monthly operational cost, inclusive of 208 measures of oil was ₹ 227 and 3 annas. It was to be the Madras Light for the next 50 years until 1894, when the British government felt the height of this lighthouse was not sufficient and decided to build a new, taller lighthouse,[5] leading to the High Court's tallest dome becoming the third lighthouse of Madras.[6] Today, this second lighthouse is under the watch of the Department of Archaeology as a protected monument.[5][7]

In 1886, during the reconstruction of the Madras Port after a cyclone, the port officer wrote to the Madras government alerting them of a possible threat to vessel traffic in the region from a Tripasore reef spotted around 40 miles south of Madras near Seven Pagodas (now known as Mamallapuram). The port officer then recommended that a lighthouse be installed to alert ships about the impending danger. Responding to this, the government shifted this lighthouse equipment with lantern onto the dome of the new High Court building. This became the third lighthouse of Chennai and was functioning from the tallest dome of the Madras High Court. It started functioning on 1 June 1894, with argand lamps and reflectors manufactured by Chance Bros, Birmingham which had originally been installed in the 160-ft-tall lighthouse tower. This lighthouse later became crucial for the development of the Madras port.

The lighthouse used kerosene to produce light with an intensity equivalent to that emitted by about 18,000 candles.[5] This remained one of the primary reasons for attracting the attention of the German warship SMS Emden during World War I. The lighthouse was the main target of the attack in which the High Court campus was bombed on 22 September 1914. The attack became part of the local folklore. A ballad in Tamil, published by Vijayapuram Sabhapati Pillai in 1914, goes:

> To damage Fort and Light house too

> Hurl they did some bombs ...

> No damage, ha, no damage[5]

Chennai lighthouse during monsoon

An improvement of equipment was introduced in 1927.[8] In the 1970s, the lighthouse department sought a site opposite the Madras University buildings to construct a new lighthouse. However, this request was rejected by the state government. Thus, a new lighthouse was instead built at the southern end of the Marina in 1976.[5] The new lighthouse was unveiled on 10 January 1977. An electrical lighthouse equipment manufactured by BBT, Paris was installed on the new tower, which maintains a range of 28 nautical miles for vessels and is one of the tallest lighthouses in the country.[8]

Coconut oil was considered the best fuel for a lighthouse lamp because it made the light burn bright in the lighthouse. Gas lights were used later followed by dischargeable lamps. In the beginning, the lighthouse lamp had a steady flame. When ships began to confuse this with city lights, it was decided to use a flickering light in lighthouses. The lighthouses at Chennai and Mamallapuram use dischargeable lamps, which rotate inside a bowl of mercury. In recent days, LED lights are preferred.

## The towers

[edit]

### The entrance channel tower (date unknown)

[edit]

Chennai Lighthouse, as seen from the northern side

Located north of the port, the entrance channel tower is about 24 metres (79 ft) high with a focal plane of 26 metres (85 ft), flashing white, red and green lights, and the tower is visible only from a distance closer to the entrance channel. This tower was assigned an Admiralty number of F0938 and NGA number of 27074. This tower is still active.[9]

### The first tower (1796–1844)

[edit]

The first light at Madras is a lantern on the wall of the Fort St. George. With the growth of commercial activities of the English East India Company, the company built a lighthouse at the Fort in 1796. Functioning from the roof of the Officer's Mess, now housing the Fort Museum, it comprised a lantern with large oil-fed wicks.[4] The light has been inactive since 1844.

### The second tower (1844–1894)

[edit]

The former lighthouse with the Madras High Court campus

The second lighthouse was a tall granite Doric column erected in 1841 and is located within the compound of the Madras High Court to the north of Fort St. George. Work began in 1838 and was completed in 1843 at a cost of ₹ 75,000, and the lighthouse started functioning on 1 January 1844.[4] This round fluted stone tower with gallery is 38 metres (125 ft) tall.[4][10] Built on a base of 55-feet breadth, its column rises 84 feet with a tapering diameter—16 feet at the base and 11 feet at the top. The entire structure from base to tip has a height of 125 feet. The light was at 117 feet and was visible 20 miles into the sea. Illumination was by 15 "argand lamps with parabolic reflectors, arranged in three tiers." Unlike the earlier rotary model, it had a reciprocal type of light, with the ratio of bright-to-dark periods being 2:3 and with each unit of time being 24 seconds.[6] This tower was assigned an ARLHS number of IND-027. Given the inability of brick to withstand saline breeze of the sea, the surface of the tower was built with granite procured from quarries at Pallavaram. However, following the construction of the taller High Court building in 1892, mariners started having difficulty in identifying the tower during daytime. The tower became inactive since 1894 after the lighthouse was moved atop the dome of the main tower of the new High Court building. This Light House is renovated and inaugurated in September 2018.

### The third tower (1894–1977)

[edit]

History of the 4 Madras Lighthouses

The lantern from the second tower was moved to one of the tallest ornate towers of the Madras High Court building, which was constructed adjacent to the second tower in 1892. The lighthouse started functioning from 1 June 1894. According to I. C. R. Prasad's book Madras Lighthouse, the lantern room was erected on the gilded dome, with a cutting in the dome and the spiral staircase serving as entry to the top. The lighthouse used kerosene vapour lamps. The revolving light was supplied by Chance Brothers from Birmingham. The capillary lamp of this light was capable of producing 18,000 candelas power. It was assigned an ARLHS number of IND-026. This tower became inactive since 1977, after guiding British and Allied warships of both the world wars.[4]

### The fourth tower (1977–present)

[edit]

The present lighthouse is a triangular cylindrical, red-and-white-banded, concrete one with lantern and double gallery and is 11 stories high. The tower is attached to a three-story circular harbour-control building. The total height of the tower is 45.72 metres (150.0 ft) with the light source standing at a height of 57 metres (187 ft) from the mean sea level. The source consists of 440V 50 Hz main supply (with standby Genset), with a range of 28 nautical miles. It is functional since 10 January 1977.[4]

The base of the present lighthouse tower was damaged by the waves from the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004, but there were no reported casualties.

## The Chennai Lighthouse District

[edit]

The Chennai Lighthouse, along with 23 other lighthouses along the eastern, southern and western coast of the Indian peninsula, comes under the administration of the Chennai Lighthouse District. In accord with the Lighthouse Act of 1927 and the Lighthouse (Amendment) Act of 1985, the Chennai Lighthouse District comprises under its jurisdiction part of Kerala State which is south of latitude 9º00'N and state of Tamil Nadu, which is south of latitude 13º00'N and west of longitude 80º30'E and the union territory of Puducherry, which include the following lighthouses:[11]

The present lighthouse in Chennai Stairs inside the lighthouse

1\. Alleppey
2\. Kovilthottam
3\. Tangasseri Point (Quilon)
4\. Anjengo
5\. Vilinjam
6\. Muttam Point
7\. Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin)
8\. Manappad Point
9\. Pandiyan Tivu DGPS
10\. Kilakkarai
11\. Point Calimere
12\. Kodikkarai
13\. Ammapattinam DGPS
14\. Pasipattinam
15\. Rameswaram
16\. Pamban
17\. Nagapattinam DGPS
18\. Karaikal
19\. Porto Novo (Parangipettai)
20\. Cuddalore Channel Buoyage
21\. Pondicherry Lighthouse and DGPS
22\. Mahabalipuram
23\. Madras (Chennai)
24\. Pulicat DGPS

The director general at the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships located at Noida has under him or her four deputy director generals, namely, Jamnagar, Chennai, Kolkata and the headquarters. For administrative control, the entire coastline has been divided into seven districts having their regional headquarters at Jamanagar, Mumbai, Cochin, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata and Port Blair. The Chennai Lighthouse District is administrated under the Regional Director (Chennai), who along with the Regional Director (Cochin) comes under the deputy director general (Chennai).[12] The Regional Office at Chennai provides information on the geographical region between Alleppey Lighthouse to Pulicat Lighthouse. The union government is planning to build three new lighthouses in the Chennai Lighthouse District at an estimated cost of ₹ 25 million each.[13][14]

## Security

[edit]

The inundated Chennai Lighthouse during the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

The ninth floor of the tower has a viewing gallery where steel welded mesh panels have been erected for safety. This has been done to avoid suicide attempts, which were witnessed in the past. The tenth floor has a high-security radar installed and is not open to public. The elevator in the lighthouse will take the visitors directly to the viewing gallery on the ninth floor, and visitors will not be given access to any other floors.[15]

The lighthouse was open to the public until the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, following which it was shut down over fears that it would be the target of an attack. It was re-opened for visitors on 14 November 2013.[16]

## Developments

[edit]

Chennai Lighthouse is one of the 13 lighthouses in India that are identified as heritage centres to portray maritime history of India.[17] A lighthouse museum has been planned at a cost of ₹ 50 million.[18][19] The union shipping ministry is planning to build museums, rooms, cafeteria, souvenir shop, viewers gallery, 4D cinema hall, gaming zone and aquarium at the Chennai lighthouse.[20][21] The heritage museum will showcase the history of marine navigation, where oil-bearing large wicks, kerosene lights, petroleum vapour, and electrical lamps used in the past will be on display.[15]

Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships has planned the remote control and automation of lighthouses in Cochin, Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Kolkata directorates at a cost of ₹ 304.5 million.[22] As a first step towards automation of lighthouses, Radone, an equipment that can detect radar signals from ships and helps captains identify the location, has been installed on most lighthouses. The automation of lighthouses in the Chennai Lighthouse District is estimated to cost about ₹ 50 million during the 11th Five-Year Plan.[23] The 22 lighthouses in the Chennai Lighthouse district will be monitored and controlled from conveniently located positions termed as Remote Control Stations (RCSs). These RCSs will be ultimately linked to Master Control Station, proposed to be located at Chennai for effective control.

## See also

[edit]

* Chennai Port
* Mahabalipuram Lighthouse
* List of lighthouses in India

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Lighthouses in India". Lighthouse Depot. Retrieved 15 August 2011.[permanent dead link]
2. ^ "Chennai lighthouse open to visitors after 22 years". NDTV. 14 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
3. ^ TNN (22 September 2013). "Marina lighthouse to be opened for kids from Nov 14". The Times of India. Chennai. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
4. ^ a b c d e f Padmanabhan, Geeta (19 September 2017). "To the lighthouse". The Hindu. Chennai: Kasturi & Sons. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Shivam, Pushkal (21 July 2013). "The glowing tale of Chennai's lighthouses". The Hindu. Chennai. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
6. ^ a b c d e f Sriram, V. (8 October 2013). "170 years of a modern lighthouse". The Hindu. Chennai. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
7. ^ Chandru, K. (26 November 2011). "Some thoughts around the Madras High Court". The Hindu. Chennai. Archived from the original on 28 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
8. ^ a b Janardhanan, Arun (17 February 2011). "From an oil wick lamp to LEDs: A long way for seafaring tradition". The Times of India. Chennai. Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
9. ^ Rowlett, Russ (n.d.). "Lighthouses of India: Tamil Nadu and Puducherry". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
10. ^ "High Court Building". Chennai-Directory.com. n.d. Archived from the original on 5 June 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
11. ^ Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships (n.d.). "Lighthouse Act". Government of India, Ministry of Shipping. Archived from the original on 21 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
12. ^ Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships (n.d.). "Organisation Chart". Government of India, Ministry of Shipping. Archived from the original on 21 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
13. ^ "TN coast to soon boast of three new lighthouses". The New Indian Express. 13 February 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
14. ^ "Automatic identification: Ministry to safeguard coastline". Maritime Gateway. n.d. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
15. ^ a b Mariappan, Julie (24 September 2013). "Grille balcony to keep visitors safe at lighthouse". The Times of India. Chennai: The Times Group. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
16. ^ "Marina lighthouse reopened to visitors". The Hindu. 14 November 2013. Archived from the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
17. ^ "India: Project for Promotion of Tourism in Lighthouses". MarineBuzz.com. 17 February 2011. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
18. ^ "New project to promote tourism in lighthouses". Business Line. Chennai: The Hindu. 12 February 2011. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
19. ^ "Modernization programme for Aguada lighthouse". The Times of India. Chennai. 13 February 2011. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
20. ^ Ayyappan, V. (17 February 2011). "Now, holiday at a lighthouse". The Times of India. Chennai. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
21. ^ "Lighthouses across the Country to be Developed as Tourist Attractions for Maritime History of India". Rang 7. 14 February 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
22. ^ Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships (n.d.). "New Projects". Government of India, Ministry of Shipping. Archived from the original on 5 December 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
23. ^ "The Working Group Report on Shipping and Inland Water Transport for the Eleventh Five Year Plan" (PDF). Working Group Report on Shipping and IWT. Planning Commission, Government of India. n.d. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 December 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lighthouses in Chennai.

* Chennai Lighthouses on the World List of Lights
* Chennai Lighthouse in Lighthouse Digest's Lighthouse Explorer Database
* Photo of the original lighthouse
* The Hindu – The second longest beach?

* v
* t
* e

Chennai

History

| Early history (pre-1500)|

* Sangam period
* Thomas the Apostle
* Pallava Dynasty
* Chola Dynasty
* Vijayanagar Empire

|

Colonial period (1500–1947)|

* São Tomé de Meliapore
* Raja of Chandragiri
* Agency of Fort St George
* 1721 Madras cyclone
* Carnatic Wars
* Madras
* Adyar
* Chingleput
* Anglo-Mysore Wars
* Madras Presidency
* Arbuthnot Bank Crash
* Besant v. Narayaniah
* Bombardment of Madras by SMS Emden
* De La Haye scandal
* 1921 Buckingham and Carnatic Mills Strike
* Neil Statue Satyagraha
* 1928 South Indian Railway Strike
* 1932 Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway Strike
* 1943 Chennai floods

Modern period (1947–present)|

* Madras Manade
* Anti-Hindi agitations
* R. S. S. Chennai bombing
* 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
* 2013 Anti-Sri Lanka protests
* 2015 South India floods
* 2023 Chennai floods

Geography and wildlife

| Regions|

* Chennai Metropolitan Area
* Central Chennai
* North Chennai
* South Chennai

|

Waterways|

* Adyar River
* Buckingham Canal
* Coovum River
* Kosasthalaiyar River
* Otteri Nullah

Lakes|

* Adambakkam Lake
* Ambattur Lake
* Ayanambakkam Lake
* Chembarambakkam Lake
* Chetput Lake
* Chitlapakkam Lake
* Cholavaram aeri
* ICF Lake
* Korattur Aeri
* Long Tank
* Madambakkam Lake
* Madhavaram Lake
* Maduranthakam Lake
* Mangal Lake
* Manali Lake
* Pallavaram Lake
* Paruthipattu Lake
* Perungudi Lake
* Porur Lake
* Pulhal Lake
* Porur Lake
* Red Hills Lake
* Retteri
* Thervoy Kandigai reservoir
* Tiruninravur Lake
* Velachery Lake
* Veeranam
* Vilinjiyambakkam Lake
* Villivakkam lake

Islands|

* Kattupalli Island
* Quibble Island
* The Island

Zoological parks|

* Arignar Anna Zoological Park
* Chennai Snake Park
* Guindy National Park
* Madras Crocodile Bank
* Marine Kingdom

Reserve Forests|

* Nanmangalam Reserve Forest
* Vandalur Reserve Forest

Marshlands|

* Adyar Creek
* Ennore Creek
* Pallikaranai Wetland

Heritage
monuments|

* Amir Mahal
* Bharat Insurance Building
* Brodie Castle
* Chennai Central Prison
* Chepauk Palace
* LIC Building
* Lighthouse
* Police headquarters
* Port Trust Building
* Rajaji Hall
* Ripon Building
* Royapuram railway station
* University of Madras Senate House
* Southern Railway headquarters
* Valluvar Kottam
* Victoria Public Hall
* Anna Nagar twin arches

Statues|

* Marina Beach Statues
* Thomas Munro
* Triumph of Labour

Memorials|

* Anna Memorial
* Gandhi Mandapam
* M.G.R. and Amma Memorial
* Madras War Cemetery
* Rajiv Gandhi Memorial
* Victory War Memorial
* Vivekanandar Illam

Administration and politics

| Districts|

* Chennai District
* Tiruvallur District
* Kanchipuram District
* Vellore District

|

Taluks|

| Chennai District|

* Aminjikarai
* Ayanavaram
* Egmore
* Guindy
* Mambalam
* Mylapore
* Perambur
* Purasaiwalkam
* Tondiarpet
* Velachery

|

Tiruvallur district|

* Tiruvottiyur
* Madhavaram
* Ambattur
* Avadi
* Maduravoyal
* Ponneri
* Poonamallee
* Tiruvallur
* Gummidipoondi
* Uthukottai
* Tiruttani
* Pallipattu

Kanchipuram district|

* Alandur
* Sholinganallur
* Pallavaram
* Tambaram
* Chengalpattu
* Thiruporur
* Tirukalukundram
* Sriperumbudur
* Walajabad
* Kanchipuram
* Uthiramerur
* Madurantakam
* Cheyyur

Vellore District|

* Arakkonam

Constituencies|

| Parliamentary |

* Chennai Central
* Chennai North
* Chennai South
* Sriperumbudur
* Thiruvallur

|

Assembly|

* Alandur
* Ambattur
* Anna Nagar
* Avadi
* Chengalpattu
* Chepauk
* Egmore
* Harbour
* Kolathur
* Madhavaram
* Maduravoyal
* Mylapore
* Pallavaram
* Perambur
* Ponneri
* Poonamallee
* RK Nagar
* Royapuram
* Saidapet
* Sholinganallur
* Sriperumbudur
* T.Nagar
* Tambaram
* Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar
* Thiruvottiyur
* Thousand Lights
* Tiruvallur
* Villivakkam
* Virugambakkam
* Velachery

Nodal agencies|

* Greater Chennai Corporation
* Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority
* Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board
* Chennai Police Commissionerate
* General Post Office
* Greater Chennai Police
* Madras High Court
* Sheriff
* Tamil Nadu Electricity Board
* Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services

Economy

| Business
districts|

* Burma Bazaar
* Entertainment Corridor
* Kothawal Chavadi
* Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex
* Panagal Park
* Parry's Corner
* Pondy Bazaar
* Ranganathan Street
* Ritchie Street

|

SEZ|

* Ambattur Industrial Estate
* Automotive Corridor
* Chennai ITIR
* DLF Cybercity
* EMS Corridor
* Guindy Industrial Estate
* International Tech Park
* MEPZ
* Olympia Tech Park
* Ramanujan IT City
* SEZ Corridor
* Mahindra World City
* SIPCOT IT Park
* TIDEL Park
* TIDEL Park, Pattabiram
* World Trade Center

Companies and
institutions|

* Aavin
* Ashok Leyland
* Basin Bridge Gas
* Blue Dart Aviation
* Chettinad Group
* Chennai Trade Centre
* EID Parry
* Ennore Thermal
* GMR Vasavi
* Heavy Vehicles Factory
* Higginbotham's
* Indian Bank
* Indian Overseas Bank
* Integral Coach Factory
* Madras Atomic Power Station
* Madras Rubber Factory
* Madras Stock Exchange
* Murugappa Group
* North Chennai Thermal
* Reserve Bank of India
* Royal Enfield
* Sun Group
* The Hindu
* The New Indian Express
* TI Cycles of India
* TVS Motors
* Vallur Thermal
* World Bank office

Industry|

* Automotive
* Electronics
* Retail
* Software

Culture and recreation

| General|

* Architecture of Chennai
* Broadcasting in Chennai
* Kollywood
* Madrassi
* Madras Bashai
* Madras School
* Tourism in Chennai

|

Beaches

* Covelong
* Elliot's Beach
* Golden Beach
* Marina Beach

Parks|

* Anna Nagar Tower Park
* Dr. Annie Besant Park
* May Day Park
* Natesan Park
* Panagal Park
* People's Park
* Semmozhi Poonga
* Secretariat Park
* Tholkappia Poonga

Cinemas|

* Cinépolis
* INOX
* PVR Cinemas
* Mayajaal Multiplex
* Shanti Theatre

Periodic events|

* Chennai Book Fair
* Chennai International Film Festival
* Chennai Sangamam
* Lit for Life
* Madras Day
* Madras Music Season
* Saarang
* Techofes

Theme parks|

* MGM Dizzee World
* Queens Land
* VGP Universal Kingdom
* Dash N Splash
* Kishkinta
* Mayajaal

Shopping malls|

* Abhirami Mega Mall
* Alsa Mall
* Ampa Skywalk
* Chandra Mall
* Chennai Citi Centre
* Coromandel Plaza
* Express Avenue
* Gold Souk Grande Mall
* Phoenix Market City
* Ramee Mall
* Spectrum Mall
* Spencer Plaza
* Forum Vijaya Mall

Clubs|

* Gymkhana Club
* Madras Boat Club
* Royal Madras Yacht Club

Religion

| Temples|

* Adikesava Perumal Temple
* Anantha Padmanabhaswami Temple
* Anjaneya Temple, Nanganallur
* Ayyappan Temple
* Ashtalakshmi Kovil
* Bodyguard Muniswaran Temple
* Dandeeswarar Temple
* Devi Karumariamman Temple
* Ekambareswarar Temple
* ISKCON Temple Chennai
* Kalikambal Temple
* Kamakshi Amman Temple
* Kapaleeswarar Temple
* Kundrathur Murugan Temple
* Kalikambal Temple
* Madhya Kailash
* Marundeeswarar Temple
* Mundaka Kanni Amman Temple
* Parthasarathy Temple
* Prathyangira Devi Temple
* Ravishwarar Temple
* Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
* Vadapalani Andavar Temple
* Varasiddhi Vinayaka temple

|

Churches|

* Armenian Church
* Church of Our Lady of Light
* St. Andrew's Kirk
* St. George's Cathedral
* St. Patrick's Cathedral
* Santhome Basilica
* St. Mary's Church

Others|

* Madras Synagogue
* Mahabodhi Centre
* Thousand Lights Mosque
* Triplicane Big Mosque

Transport

| Air|

* Chennai International Airport

|

Sea|

* Chennai Port
* Ennore Port
* Kattupalli Shipyard
* Royapuram fishing harbour

Rail|

Railways

* Chennai Metro
* Chennai Metrolite
* Chennai MRTS
* Chennai Suburban Railway
* Southern Railway

|

Stations|

* Chennai Central
* Chennai Egmore
* Tambaram
* Others

Road|

Roads and
expressways

* Anna Salai
* Cenotaph Road
* Chennai Bypass
* Chennai Port - Maduravoyal Expressway
* China Bazaar Road
* East Coast Road
* Inner Ring Road
* Outer Ring Road
* Poonamallee High Road
* Rajiv Gandhi Salai
* Sardar Patel Road

|

Grade separators
and flyovers

* Anna Flyover
* Chennai Airport Flyover
* Chrompet Flyover
* Irumbuliyur Junction
* Kathipara Junction
* Koyambedu Junction
* Madhavaram Junction
* Maduravoyal Junction
* Moolakadai Junction
* Padi Junction

Others|

* Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus
* Chennai Contract Carriage Bus Terminus
* Kilambakkam bus terminus
* Madhavaram Mofussil Bus Terminus
* Metropolitan Transport Corporation
* State Express Transport Corporation

Sport

| Venues|

* Guindy Race Course
* Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
* M. A. Chidambaram Stadium
* Madras Motor Race Track
* Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium
* MRF Pace Foundation
* Mudaliarkuppam boat house
* Muttukadu boat house
* Rajarathinam Stadium
* SDAT Tennis Stadium

|

Teams|

| Badminton|

* Chennai Superstarz

|

Cricket|

* Chennai Super Kings
* Chepauk Super Gillies

Field hockey|

* Chennai Cheetahs
* Chennai Veerans

Football|

* Chennai City F.C.
* Chennaiyin FC

Kabaddi|

* Tamil Thalaivas

Tennis|

* V Chennai Warriors

Table tennis|

* Chennai Lions

Volleyball|

* Chennai Spartans
* Chennai Spikers
* Chennai Blitz

Others|

* Chennai Open
* M. J. Gopalan Trophy
* Madras Presidency Matches

Institutions

| Education|

* Alliance Française de Madras
* Anna Centenary Library
* Birla Planetarium
* Cholamandal Artists' Village
* Connemara Public Library
* DakshinaChitra
* Government Museum
* Tamil Nadu Police Museum
* Kalakshetra
* KM Music Conservatory
* Madras Music Academy
* Schools in Chennai

| Universities|

* Anna University
* University of Madras
* Dr MGR Medical University
* Dr Ambedkar Law University
* Indian Maritime University
* Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
* VIT University Chennai
* SRM Institute of Science and Technology
* B S Abdur Rahman University
* Tamil Nadu Open University
* Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University
* Vels University
* Hindustan University

|

Engineering

* Indian Institute of Technology Madras
* College of Engineering, Guindy
* Madras Institute of Technology
* Alagappa College of Technology

Medical|

* Madras Medical College
* Stanley Medical College
* Kilpauk Medical College
* Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute
* National Institute of Siddha

Arts and
science

* Loyola
* Madras Christian College
* Presidency College
* Queen Mary's (Women)
* Vivekananda
* Pachaiyappa's College
* Stella Mary's (Women)
* DG Vaishnav
* MOP Vaishnav (Women)
* Women's Christian College

Research|

* Central Leather Research Institute
* National Institute of Ocean Technology
* Institute of Mathematical Sciences
* Chennai Mathematical Institute
* Regional Meteorological Centre
* Structural Engineering Research Centre
* Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (India)

Diplomatic
missions

* American Consulate
* British Deputy High Commission
* Malaysian Consulate
* Russian Consulate
* German Consulate
* Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission
* Royal Thai Consulate
* South Korean Consulate

Hospitals|

* Government General Hospital
* Government Multi Super-speciality Hospital
* Royapettah Hospital
* Stanley Hospital
* Kilpauk Medical College Hospital
* Perambur railway hospital
* Apollo Hospitals
* Egmore Eye Hospital
* Sir Ivan Stedeford Hospital
* Sankara Nethralaya
* Madras Medical Mission
* Voluntary Health Services
* MIOT Hospital
* Tambaram TB Sanatorium
* Government Dental Hospital
* Hindu Mission Hospital
* Fortis Malar Hospital
* Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Hospital
* Sundaram Medical Foundation

Hotels|

* Taj Coromandel
* The Park
* Le Royal Meridien
* Hyatt Regency
* Chola Sheraton
* Taj Mount Road
* The Leela Kempinski
* ITC Grand Chola
* Hilton Chennai
* Taj Connemara
* Fisherman's Cove
* Trident Hilton
* Park Sheraton & Towers
* Radisson GRT
* Accord Metropolitan
* JW Marriott
* Park Hyatt
* Radisson Blu City Centre
* Raintree Hotel St Mary's Road
* The Raintree Hotel Anna Salai
* Savera Hotel
* Residency Towers
* Westin Chennai
* Kohinoor Asiana

Localities

| North|

* Aamullaivoyal
* Aathur
* Agaram
* Alamathi
* Andarkuppam
* Angadu
* Anuppampattu
* Arambakkam
* Arani
* Ariyalur
* Arumandhai
* Assisi Nagar, Chennai
* Athipattu
* Athipattu New Town
* Athivakkam
* Attanthangal
* Avurikollaimedu
* Ayanavaram
* Azhinjivakkam
* Bandikavanoor
* Basin Bridge
* Chinnasekkadu
* Chettimedu
* Edapalayam
* Edayanchavadi
* Ennore
* Elandanur
* Elanthancherry
* Elavur
* Ernavoor
* Erukkancherry
* Gnayiru
* Gounderpalayam
* Grant Lyon
* Gummidipoondi
* Janapanchatram
* Jawahar Nagar
* Kadapakkam
* Kaladipet
* Kalakkral
* Kalpalayam
* Kanniammanpettai
* Kannigaipair
* Karanodai
* Kathirvedu
* Kathivakkam
* Katupalli
* Kavangarai
* Kavaraipettai
* Kasimedu
* Kattur
* KK Thazhai
* Kaviarasu Kannadhasan Nagar
* Kodipallam
* Kodungaiyur
* Kolathur
* Kondithope
* Korukkupet
* Kosappur
* Kottai Karai
* Kumaran Nagar
* Lakshmipuram
* Madhavaram
* Madhavaram Milk Colony
* Madharpakkam
* Madiyur
* Mahakavi Bharathi Nagar
* Manali
* Manali New Town
* Manjambakkam
* Mathur
* Mettu Surapedu
* Mettu Thandalam
* Minjur
* Moolachatiram
* Moolakadai
* Muthialpet
* Nallur
* Nandiambakkam
* Napalayam
* Naravarikuppam
* New Erumai Vetti Palayam
* Old Erumai Vetti Palayam
* Orakadu
* Padianallur
* Pallipattu
* Panchetti
* Payasambakkam
* Pazhaverkadu
* Perambur
* Peravallur
* Periapalayam
* Periyamullavoyal
* Periyar Nagar
* Periyasekkadu
* Perungavur
* Ponneri
* Ponniammanmedu
* Pothur
* Puthubakkam
* Puduvoyal
* Pulli Lyon
* Puthagaram
* Puzhal
* Red Hills
* Retteri
* Royapuram
* Sadayankuppam
* Sathangadu
* Sathyamoorthy Nagar (Tiruvottiyur)
* Sathyamoorthy Nagar (Vyasarpadi)
* Seemavaram
* Selavayal
* Sembilivaram
* Sembium
* Sembiyamanali
* Sholavaram
* Siruvapuri
* Sirunium
* Sowcarpet
* Sothuperumbedu
* Surapet
* Thadaperumbakkam
* Thatchoor
* Thathaimanji
* Theerthakariampattu
* Theeyampakkam
* Thervoy Kandigai
* Thirunilai
* Thiruvellavoyal
* Thiru Vi Ka Nagar
* Tiruvottiyur
* Tollgate
* Tondiarpet
* Uthukottai
* Vadagarai
* Vadamadurai
* Vadaperumbakkam
* Vaikkadu
* Vallalar Nagar
* Vallur
* Vannipakkam
* Vazhuthigaimedu
* Vellivoyalchavadi
* Vengal
* Vichoor
* Vijayanallur
* Vilakupattu
* Vilangadupakkam
* Villivakkam
* Vinayagapuram
* VOC Nagar
* Voyalur
* Vyasarpadi
* Washermanpet
* Wimco Nagar

|

West|

* Adayalampattu
* Alwarthirunagar
* Ambattur
* Aminjikarai
* Athipet
* Andankuppam
* Anna Nagar
* Anna Nagar West
* Annanur
* Arakkambakkam
* Aranvoyal
* Ashok Nagar
* Arakkonam
* Arumbakkam
* Avadi
* Ayanambakkam
* Ayapakkam
* Ayathur
* Beemanthangal
* Chembarambakkam
* Choolaimedu
* Egattur
* Gerugambakkam
* Govardhanagiri
* ICF Colony
* Irungattukottai
* Iyyapanthangal
* K. K. Nagar
* Kadambathur
* Kadavur
* Kakkalur
* Kakkalur Industrial Estate
* Kallikuppam
* Karambakkam
* Karayanchavadi
* Kattupakkam
* Kilkondaiyur
* Koduvalli
* Koladi
* Kolapakkam
* Konnur
* Korattur
* Kovur
* Koyambedu
* Kumananchavadi
* Kundrathur
* Kuthambakkam
* Maduravoyal
* Malayambakkam
* Manapakkam
* Manavala Nagar
* Melkondaiyur
* Mettu Kandigai
* MGR Nagar
* Mogappair
* Morai
* Moulivakkam
* Mugalivakkam
* Muthapudupet
* Nandambakkam
* Nandambakkam
* Narasingapuram
* Nazarathpettai
* Nemam
* Nemilichery
* Nesapakkam
* Nerkundram
* Nolambur
* Noombal
* Oragadam
* Padi
* Pakkam
* Pandeswaram
* Pandur
* Paraniputhur
* Parivakkam
* Paruthipattu
* Pattabiram
* Pattaravakkam
* Perambakkam
* Periyapanicheri
* Perumalpattu
* Poochi Athipedu
* Poonamallee
* Poondi
* Poonthandalam
* Porur
* Pudhur
* Putlur
* Ramapuram
* Ramavaram
* Sekkadu
* Seneerkuppam
* Sevvapet
* Shenoy Nagar
* Sorancheri
* Sriperumbudur
* Sunguvarchatram
* Surapet
* Tamaraipakkam
* Thandalam
* Thandurai
* Thathankuppam
* Thirumangalam
* Thirumazhisai
* Thirumullaivoyal
* Thiruninravur
* Tiruvallur
* Tiruverkadu
* Valasaravakkam
* Vanagaram
* Veerapuram
* Vellanur
* Vellavedu
* Velappanchavadi
* Vengathur
* Venkatapuram
* Veppampattu
* Vilinjiyambakkam
* Virugambakkam

Central|

* Alwarpet
* Broadway
* Burma Bazaar
* Chennai Central
* Chepauk
* Chetput
* Chintadripet
* Choolai
* Egmore
* Foreshore Estate
* George Town
* Gopalapuram
* Greenways Road
* Kilpauk
* Kodambakkam
* Kosapet
* Kothawal Chavadi
* Kotturpuram
* Mandavelli
* Mannady
* Mambalam
* MRC Nagar
* Mylapore
* Nandanam
* Nochikuppam
* Nungambakkam
* Otteri
* Panagal Park
* Park Town
* Parry's Corner
* Pattalam
* Periamet
* Pondy Bazaar
* Pudupet
* Pulianthope
* Purasawalkam
* Quibble Island
* Raja Annamalai Puram
* Royapettah
* Saidapet
* Saligramam
* Santhome
* T Nagar
* Teynampet
* The Island
* Triplicane
* Trustpuram
* Vadapalani
* Vepery
* West Mambalam

South|

* Adambakkam
* Adyar
* Agaramthen
* Alandur
* Anakaputhur
* Besant Nagar
* Chitlapakkam
* Chromepet
* Chengalpattu
* Egattur
* Ekkaduthangal
* Erumaiyur
* Gowrivakkam
* Guduvancheri
* Guindy
* Guindy TVK Estate
* Devaneri
* Hasthinapuram
* Illalur
* Injambakkam
* Irumbuliyur
* Jafferkhanpet
* Jaladampet
* Kanathur
* Kandanchavadi
* Kannivakkam
* Karanai
* Karapakkam
* Karumbakkam
* Kattankulathur
* Kazhipattur
* Kizhkalvoy
* Keelkattalai
* Kelambakkam
* Kottivakkam
* Kovalam
* Kovilambakkam
* Kovilanchery
* Madambakkam
* Madhuvankarai
* Madipakkam
* Mamallapuram
* Manimangalam
* Mannivakkam
* Maraimalai Nagar
* Medavakkam
* Meenambakkam
* Melkalvoy
* MEPZ
* Mettukuppam
* Mudichur
* Muttukadu
* Nandivaram
* Nanganallur
* Nanmangalam
* Navalur
* Neelankarai
* Nellikuppam
* Noothancheri
* Okkiyam
* Okkiyampet
* Oragadam
* Ottiambakkam
* Padappai
* Palavakkam
* Palavanthangal
* Pallavaram
* Pallikaranai
* Pammal
* Panaiyur
* Paranur
* Pattipulam
* Payanur
* Pazhanthandalam
* Peerkankaranai
* Perumbakkam
* Perumathunallur
* Perungalathur
* Perungudi
* Perunthandalam
* Ponmar
* Polichalur
* Potheri
* Pudupakkam
* Puzhuthivakkam
* Rajakilpakkam
* Rathinamangalam
* Selaiyur
* Sembakkam
* Semmencherry
* Sholinganallur
* Singaperumalkoil
* Siruseri
* Sithalapakkam
* Somangalam
* St. Thomas Mount
* Tambaram
* Tambaram Sanatorium
* Thaiyur
* Tharamani
* Tharapakkam
* Thirumudivakkam
* Thiruneermalai
* Thiruporur
* Thiruvanmiyur
* Thiruvidandhai
* Thuraipakkam
* Tirusulam
* Ullagaram
* Urapakkam
* Uthandi
* Vadanemili
* Vandalur
* Vanuvampet
* Velachery
* Vengaivasal
* Vettuvankeni

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