IIT Campus, Madras

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IIT Campus in Madras is one of the best-kept secrets, which is one of the very few sites that boast greenery in the city, otherwise a concrete jungle.

I would call IIT Campus a small town within the city with a lot of greenery. Some of the city's oldest and most enormous trees are found on this campus. It is spread over 250 hectares of lush green forest. It is unimaginable to find such a vast area with so many avenues in the heart of this congested city.



Those who live on the campus may have a different experience of the city. They may say the city is fantastic with many large trees, much cleaner pathways, less population, beautiful birds chirping, deer crossing the roads, and no noise pollution. The experience on the campus is definitely unique.



One of the best things about this beautiful site is the lake. This lake which occupies an area of around 8 acres, is the temporary home for many migratory birds. The site which has the most minor human disturbance obviously attracts the birds. The waterbody is surrounded by thick forests on both sides. It also has a canal as an extension.



It is definitely one of the best lakes in the city. However, it has its share of a sad old story. The lake initially extended up to 130 acres. When IIT was formed in 1959, it shrunk to its current size. More than 90% of the lake had been lost.



The campus has a 400-year-old temple of Durga Peeli Amman. The temple was there even before the IIT came up in this area. The temple enshrines Goddess Durga Peeli in the sanctum. The other deities, such as Ganesha, Murugan, Muneeswara, and the sacred tree, are also found on the temple premises.



The roads give a breathtaking view with large and old trees on both sides. The branches of the more enormous trees form a canopy over the adjoining paths. Even the bus stops are artistically beautiful. Deer are spotted often. We need to be a little careful of the monkeys found in large numbers, though.





I am sure the students of IIT Madras are luckier than the other IITs as they get to enjoy the forest life.

Happy travelling.


Location: Indian Institute Of Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036, India

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