NUNGAMBAKKAM TANK 1909

Lost Lake of Madras-2

The original extent of the tank is not clearly recorded, but from the old maps it is possible to guess that it was roughly bounded by the present Tank Bund, Valluvar Kottam, Kodambakkam High and Mahalingapuram Main roads. Once a vast waterbody serving the needs of the Nungambakkam village, but the years it had shrunk, and now there is no tank, only a congested clutter of buildings just as what you’ll see where the other important tanks of the city were none of them exist in today’s concrete jungle.

A part of the reclaimed land came to house the first Corporation High School, inaugurated in 1926. In 1958, a part of the lake land was allotted to Bala Bhavan, a school founded by the Nungambakkam Ladies Recreation Club. In 1963, the school renamed itself the Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan and became the nucleus of the PSBB chain. At the westernmost end of the Tank, 54 acres were reclaimed earlier for the Loyola College campus and in 1974 what was left of the Tank was reclaimed to give the city the Valluvar Kottam campus alongside Tank Bund Road. 😱

Source: V.Sriram | The Hindu | DSAL | S.Muthiah

Long Tank – Lost Lake of Madras

The Long Tank was a boomerang-shaped lake, about 6 km in length from the southernmost tip of what was called the Mylapore Tank to the westernmost tip of the tank it flowed into, the Nungambakkam Tank. The Mylapore Tank stretch was one of the early venues (1870s-90s) of the Madras Boat Club.

Mambalam’s urbanisation started in 1911 when the government constructed a railway station there, as a stop on the Madras-Kanchipuram line. Until 1923, the Long Tank was considered the western limit of the city. In 1923, the Town Planners decided that growing Madras needed more land for housing and proposed the Mambalam Housing Scheme for whose 1600 acres it became necessary to breach the Long Tank and let its waters into the Adyar. The breaching was done in 1930, and the development of Theogaraya Nagar (T’Nagar) began. Then, in 1941, the ‘Lake Area’ was developed on part of the Nungambakkam Tank and was followed by 54 acres being given for the campus of Loyola College. The last vestiges of the tank were handed over, in 1974, for the Valluvar Kottam complex.

Source: S.Muthiah | The Hindu | Sriram.V |dsal.uchicago.edu

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-arts/chen-history-and-culture/Madras-Miscellany-The-Battle-of-the-Adyar/article15616870.ece

Rambling in West Mambalam … with Janaki Venkataraman

The Church of Christ King

The CHURCH OF CHRIST KING situated within the Loyola college campus is surely an awe-inspiring architectural masterpiece. The unique cathedral was designed and built in 1931 by Architect S.A.Gnana Pragasam Pillai at the behest of Rev. Fr. Francis Bertram S.J., founder of Loyola College. ✝️The church resembles the style of lancet gothic architecture which is highly used in Italian and English ( Salisbury) cathedrals.

The 157 feet tall single German spire  rising on the central portal along with the slender needle pinnacles set as corner elements, on the piers and the fliers of the buttress gives the church a flamboyant elevation. The church does not have a vast area or height but its pine like structure is very impressive.
The structure appears like a like the bow of an ancient Roman ship to those who view it from outside. The interior is so simple and less chromatic without stained glass paintings which is a common feature in most churches.

Source: loyolacollege.edu | Bjshailu.

வள்ளுவர் கோட்டம், 1976

Valluvar Kottam in Nungambakkam was constructed as a tribute to ancient Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar. Valluvar Kottam was the conception of then chief minister M. Karunanidhi and it was inaugurated on April 15, 1976.One of the stunning features of this complex is the 101 feet tall magnificent granite chariot weighing around 2700 tonnes. There is a life-size statue of Thiruvalluvar seated in the chariot, is the replica of the famed temple chariot at Thiruvarur. The bottom portion of the chariot is sculpted in bas relief and depicts the 133 chapters of Thirukkural. More than 3000 blocks of granite from Thiruvannamalai were used in the construction of this structure. There is also a central auditorium which can seat upto 4000 people. It was supposed to be the biggest in Asia at the time of construction. The Thirukkural’s 133 chapters and 1,330 verses are immortalised by being inscribed in the 133 pillars in the second-level corridor above the hall. On its roof is a terraced garden with two large pools in which one can observe the reflection of the chariot. The entire construction was orchestrated by acclaimed Architect Ganapati Sthapati who incidently also constructed the Thiruvalluvar statue in Kanyakumari.
The once majestic complex is now a sorry state of affairs owing to a variety of political and financial reasons. The valluvar kottam thrives on the meagre allowances which come from the handicrafts and clothes exhibitions. It is saddening that a monument for one of the greatest poets of tamilnadu is left unattended. It is high time we set aside political differences and revive Valluvar Kottam as the art and culture stronghold it was meant to be.
Source: Madras Rediscovered | The Hindu