Indian Columbus

Royapuram Railway Station in  Chennai  (erstwhile Madras) city of South India, is the oldest railway station in India that still survives. Royapuram Railway Station is located in the Royapuram locality of North Chennai and is one of the neglected local railway stations today where we can hardly find passengers. However, not many people, even in Chennai, know that this was the second central railway station built in India and is the oldest railway station in India that still survives. Royapuram Railway Station On 16th April 1853, the British government started the first railway line in India between Bori Bunder and Thane. Neither the Bori Bunder nor the Thane stations survive in the original. (Bori Bunder has become the famous Bombay Victoria Terminus). However, Royapuram, from where India's second railway line started, still survives to some extent. The railway line which linked Madras (Royapuram) to Arcot (now Wallajahpet) was opened on 1st July 1856 AD. (The work start...

Ashok Nagar's locality in  Chennai  is one of the city's busiest areas. A famous temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman in this area. Hanuman temple is located on 53rd street in Ashok Nagar. This temple was built recently; however, it has become popular in the last few years in this locality. Hanuman Temple, Ashok Nagar, Chennai The presiding deity, the 20-feet tall Hanuman, is enshrined in the main shrine. A small shrine for Ganesha is found. An unusual feature of the temple is the sculpture of Bharat Mata (Mother India), who is also worshiped as a deity. She has a separate shrine. Happy travelling. Visit my site,  krishnakumartk.com , to know more about the travel guides and other books that I have written.

Ashok Nagar, one of the busiest localities of  Chennai , has a beautiful small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, which remains unknown. It is Swarna Pureeswarar temple. Swarnapureeswarar Temple, Ashok Nagar, Chennai Behind the Hotel Saravana Bhavan restaurant near Ashok Pillar, the temple of Swarna Pureeswarar is located on a small street (45th street corner). The temple is around 40 years old and well-maintained. The presiding deity is Swarna Pureeswarar in the form of a Shiva Linga. It is unusual to find Goddess with two arms in and around Chennai (Tondai mandalam). However, Swarnambikai, the elegant Goddess of the temple graces with two arms, in the standing posture. This small temple also has other deities such as Nava Siddhi Vinayaka, Anjaneya, Ayyappa, Vallabha Ganapati (ten-armed Ganesha with his consort), Lakshmi, Bala Murugan, Navagraha and Kalyana Murugan (Subramanya with his consorts Valli and Devasena).  The main shrine's wall has niche images of Nardana Gan...

Ashok Nagar is a prominent locality in  Chennai . Almost all Chennaites would know about this busy locality and the area's famous landmark, Ashok Pillar. However, hardly anybody knows about the Mallikeswarar temple near the Ashok Pillar. Inside the Police training college complex, opposite Hotel Saravana Bhavan restaurant, this old temple of Mallikeswarar temple is located. Mallikeswarar temple is also called Thoppaswamy temple, as this temple was worshipped by a Siddha named Thoppaswamy. Thoppaswamy lived from 1780 - 1830 CE, and this temple of Mallikeswarar is believed to be at least 300 years old.  Mallikeswarar Temple, Ashok Nagar, Chennai The presiding deity  Mallikeswarar in the form of Shiva Linga. Maheswari is the primary Goddess. You name one deity, and you can surely find him/her in the temple. It enshrines many deities such as Shakti Vianayaka, Vishwanatha Linga-Vishalakshi, Ganesha, Murugan, Surya, Chandra, Bhairava, Hanuman, Shani, Iyappa, Rama-Sita-La...

St. Mary's Church is one of the oldest British buildings in India, and it is also considered the oldest Anglican Church East of Suez. The British East India Company, which entered India around 1600 AD for trading activities, slowly occupied the entire nation and started ruling the county.  Chennai , the erstwhile Madras, was one of the cities occupied by the British East India Company in their earlier years.  Fort St. George  was constructed by the British in the year 1639. The Secretariat of the Tamil Nadu state government is inside the fort. Apart from the secretariat building and various offices, the buildings having tourism importance are Museum and St. Mary's Church. St. Mary's Church, Chennai The British East India Company constructed St. Mary's Church in 1678-1680 AD. Similar to Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, there is a group called Anglicanism in the Christianity religion. The St. Mary's Church, located inside the Fort St. George of Madras/Chenna...

Egmore  is a popular area in  Chennai , the gateway to South India. Egmore is popular mainly due to its Railway Station that connects to many major cities in India. About one km from Egmore Railway station, near the famous Dasprakash Hotel on Poonamallee High Road, the ancient temple of Ardhanareeswarar Temple is located. The following small lane after Dasaprakash Hotel will take you to this ancient temple. Egmore Ardhanareeswarar Temple, Chennai Even though it is believed that the famous saint Tirunavukkarasar has sung about this temple, it rem ains unknown to most Chennai citizens today. However, the temple's current structure does not seem too old, but the presiding deity is ancient. It seems Tirunavukkarasar refers to this place as 'Ezhum Oor', meaning 'awakening'. Hence, this temple becomes a Devara Vaippu Sthalam. The main shrine temple enshrines Shiva, named Ardhanareeswara, in the form of Linga. The name of the Goddess is Tiripura Sundarai. There is a...

Chennai , the gateway to South India, the capital city of Tamil Nadu state of India, has two main railway stations that connect to all major parts of India. One is Central Railway Station. The second important railway station of Chennai (the erstwhile Madras) is Egmore Railway Station. Egmore Railway Station Egmore is an anglicized form of Ezhumbur. Ezhumbur was a small village acquired by the British and made a part of Madras city. The British East India Company built many landmarks in the Egmore area, such as Egmore Railway Station, Egmore Museum, etc. Egmore Railway station was constructed and inaugurated in the year of 1908 AD. It is still the second most important railway station in Chennai and remains one of the city's prominent landmarks. It is also a heritage building, which serves as a fine example of India's architecture of the British period. Happy travelling. Egmore Railway Station Visit my site,  krishnakumartk.com , to know more about the travel guides a...

St. Andrew's Church, also known as the Kirk, is one of Chennai's oldest and most famous churches. This architectural marvel was built by the British East India Company for its Scottish population in 1821 AD. In the Scottish language, the word "Kirk" means Church. Hence, it is affectionately called "The Kirk". The Kirk, Chennai, India The Church is located at Poonamallee High Road, diagonally opposite Egmore Railway Station.  This Church is considered one of Asia's finest examples of Georgian architecture. The interior, having many wooden works, is circular in shape and very elegant. The highlight of the Church is its tall dome with a diameter of 52 feet. 16 circular pillars support the dome. The walls are exceptionally decorated. The church compound is surrounded by well-maintained greenery, which increases its beauty. This two centuries-old Church built exclusively for the Scottish community of Chennai (erstwhile Madras) is worth visiting. Don'...

If you are from South India and wish to visit a Buddhist temple, don't worry. You don't need to travel to Sri Lanka or Tibet. You don't even have to travel to Gaya or Sarnath. In  Chennai , the capital city of Tamil Nadu state of South India, you can find a temple for Lord Buddha. That too, this temple is located well at the heart of the city. Egmore Railway station is one of Chennai's two main railway stations. Buddha temple is situated on a small lane named Kenneth lane just opposite Egmore railway station. It hardly takes a five-minute walk from the railway station. Buddha Temple, Egmore, Chennai This small temple of Lord Buddha is situated inside the building of the Maha Bodhi Society of India. It belongs to Sri Lankan Buddhists. The Maha Bodhi Society of India was founded by Anagarika Dharmapala in May 1891 to restore the ancient Buddhist shrines at places such as Gaya and Sarnath. He founded the Society's first center at Buddha Gaya and in various other ci...