Madras Day: A look at Chennai's enduring landmarks and changing streetscapes
Every year on August 22, Madras Day marks the founding of the city now known as Chennai. The occasion prompts residents to reflect on how much the metropolis has changed—and what has remained reassuringly familiar. From the crowded sands of Marina Beach to the age-old arches of Royapuram railway station, The Hindu's archives offer a visual journey through time.
Opened in 1873, Chennai Central railway station served as the terminus for the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway, handling all northern and western traffic. It was built on land that once belonged to a Portuguese merchant, with the aim of decongesting the older Royapuram station. In an archival photograph from 1925, passengers are seen boarding private buses to reach important parts of the city—a practice that continues in a modernised form today.
Spencer's Plaza, built on the skeleton of a department store in the 1980s, is recognised as the oldest mall in India. Since it opened in 1991, it has been a third space for children of the eighties and nineties, and has featured as a backdrop in many iconic Kollywood songs. Directly opposite the plaza stands the Old Curiosity Shop, a unique antique store that offers visitors a glimpse into a bygone era.
The people of Madras, driven by the city's tropical heat, have long taken refuge at the Marina Beach in the evenings. A photograph from 1961 shows a traffic policeman in a uniform of those times regulating vehicles, alongside a Standard Motor car—both reminders of a vanished era. Yet the beach remains as popular as ever for families seeking the sea breeze.
Parry's Corner, a bustling commercial area in the heart of Chennai, is known for its relentless noise—the honks of cars, the rumble of engines, and the loud calls of shopkeepers. In a rare 1985 image, the buzzing corner appears unusually deserted, with only a few pedestrians and cyclists moving quietly through the streets.
Sixty kilometres from Chennai lies the temple city of Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram. The Pallavas left behind this ancient coastal town filled with stone monuments, most notably the Shore Temple. For generations of city dwellers, it has been a weekend getaway, with many memories of climbing the rocks jutting into the Bay of Bengal after a long drive on the East Coast Road.
Royapuram railway station, opened to traffic in 1856 and still functional, is the oldest surviving railway station in the Indian subcontinent. It served as Chennai's main station until 1907. Morning and evening crowds continue to throng the old platform from which the first train from Madras Presidency departed, bound for Arcot.
The Thiru Vi Ka Bridge, also known as the Adyar Bridge, sits a stone's throw from Besant Nagar and the Theosophical Society. An archival photograph from 1973 shows the bridge when it was first opened to the public. Today, those crossing the bridge might spot a rare bird drifting on the Adyar River or witness a spectacular sunset—moments that transcend time.
The Triplicane High Road, celebrated today for its midnight food scene, has long been a lively artery of the city. An archival picture from 1987 captures its character. As Madras Day reminds us, cities grow and morph, but their spirit endures in the landmarks and daily rituals that bind people to place.
