CHENNAI: OF MERCHANTS AND CARNATIC CULTURE

LEFT BY THE BRITISH: Fort Saint George is an archaeological wonder

The city has been known as chennai for decades, but the group conducting walks in it is still called the Madras Heritage Walks (MHW). A relatively new concept but walking is nonetheless already an organised business here and are priced at Rs 150 per head.

A popular place for walks is George Town, the ‘Black Towne’ of the city, where the merchants of the erstwhile East India Company had once prospered. It later became a wholesale market and still has old Indian-style buildings. Another place is Fort Saint George, built by the Britons. It began as an English hut settlement in 1639 and formed the crust of the city.

Mylapore, which according to Vincent D’ Souza, founder of MHW, predates Madras and was part of an old village, is another popular place for walks. It is now the hub of the Tamil Brahmin community, their life and colonies, and is the destination for temple festivals, Carnatic music and classical dance.

The railway station tour has enthusiasts walking to see the three heritage rail destinations — Royapuram, Central and Egmore. The over 150-year-old Royapuram station is one of the oldest stations of the Indian Railways. The second station — Chennai Central — was built in 1870 in Gothic style to decongest Royapuram, which was being used more for port traffic. The third, Egmore, also over 100 years old, has a platform that allows vehicles to be driven almost up to the train.

OLD TOWN: Maylapore is one of the main areas in the city