A mural depicting various landmarks of Chennai.
Guindy Engineering College, Chennai Metro HO, LIC, Central Station, Lighthouse, Museum Theatre, Madras University, Anna Nagar Tower, Valluvar Kottam, Napier Bridge, Ripon Building, etc.
Namma Chennai
Category: architecture
Dance Baby, Dance
At the Thiru-vi-Ka Park, Shenoy Nagar
From the Chennai Photowalk #238, Shenoy Nagar
Sony ILCE 6400 with Sony E 18-135mm f 3.5-5.6 OSS @39mm
f/7.1, ss 1/640, ISO 100
Church Gopuram
Many churches in South India have started adopting many elements from Hindu temples. Flagpoles (dwajastambham) and lamp pillars (deepastambham) are very common. This church even has a facade resembling a temple gopuram.
From The Chennai Photowalk : Besant Nagar
Which is the Main Entrance?
Have you thought about this? The ‘main’ entrance through the Eastern Rajagopuram is not the ‘front’ entrance to Kapali temple? It is actually the back entrance!
The Lord faces West and the Dwajastambahm is also on the West. So the entrance from the West facing the tank is the front of the temple. The Eastern Gopuram is tall and there is Ganapathy at that entrance. This makes us assume that this is the front.
This was highlighted by Dr Chitra Madhavan in her talk about the 3 temples of Mylapore on Sunday, 8th January as part of the Mylapore Festival 2023.
This is something which we see but never think of.
Modern Architecture
Though Chennai is one of the top Metros of India and is clocking growth in business, infrastructure, and structures, one does not see many attractive architectures in the new buildings.
Occasionally, you come across some architectural features which catch your eye.
I shall attempt to document these, like the one from ELCOT- SEZ, Sholinganallur.
ELCOT SEZ
We went to the Special Economic Zone of ELCOT in Sholinganllur for birding.
This architectural feature of the pathway shelter also caught our attention.
Thirupporur Temple
The Kandaswmy temple at Thirupporur also known as Thirupporur Murugan Koil is an ancient temple tracing its origin to the Pallava period. The temple was renovated in the 18th century and later.
Though Thirupporur is only about 25 Kms from my place in Chennai, I could have darsan only recently. Fortunately, another occasion followed.
The temple is the abode of Lord Muruga and his consorts, Valli and Devanai.
The gopuram seen above is seven-storied and rises to a height of 70 feet.
Vaikashi Vishakam (May-June) is an important festival in this temple.
Gajalakshmi
A stucco bas releif of Gajalakshmi on an old building in Mannady, Chennai. Wonder how long this old building can withstand the onslaught of development!
The two cherubs with wings (angles?) look rather unusual in an Indian design. Or do they?
Blue Skies
One of the few days when we have blue skies.
Seen from the Napier Bridge
Madras-upon-Cooum
Spiral Staircase
The Tamil Nadu Police Museum. The old heritage building of the Police Commissioner in Egmore has been tastefully restored and converted into a police museum. A laudable initiative. The curator and staff were very enthusiastic and took us around and explained the various exhibits and the background.
From the Chennai Photowalk #150
Madras Nalla Madras. A photo blog on Madras, that is Chennai 