Story of Chennai through British Buildings

Story of Chennai through British Buildings

This tour is led by a cultural evangelist who will explain the history of these buildings as well as the fate of their masters.

Chennai was an important power centre during the British rule in India. Listen to the Chennai story through the buildings built in that period.

Over the 3 hours appreciate the harmony in blending of Victorian Gothic, Indo-Saracenic and Byzantine styles of architecture.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Chennai Central Railway Station, General Hospital Rd Kannappar Thidal, Periyamet, Chennai (Madras) 600003 India

The Railways is a British Legacy left behind after the fall of imperialism. Today the Indian Railways binds this vast country together. The Central Railway Station was built in 1873 in Gothic Revival style by British architect George Harding handles more than 350000 passengers every day.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Ripon Building, 53, Raja Muthiah Rd, Kannappar Thidal, Periyamet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600003, India

Built in the year 1913, the Ripon Building is the official seat of the Chennai Corporation and is painted white as a representation of Indo-Saracenic architecture. It is named after Lord Ripon, a Governor-General of British India. Our Cultural Evangelist will explain how Ripon introduced local self Government in India. Today this building is the office of Mayor of Chennai and features a charming Westminster Chiming Clock.

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Southern Railway Headquarters, George Town, NGO Annexe, Park Town, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600003, India

The Southern Railway headquarters was one of the earliest buildings in India to be built with reinforced concrete. Learn about how the British introduced Railways to hasten troop movement and helped keep the Colony under the control of the British Empire. After independence this symbol of colonialism became a unifying agent of Modern India with various provinces spread far away from each other.

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Victory War Memorial, South of Fort St. George, Chennai (Madras) 600009 India

The Victory War Memorial, formerly called the Cupid’s bow, is a memorial constructed to commemorate the victory of the Allied Armies during World War I

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Fort St. George, St. George Street, Chennai (Madras) India

Fort St. George, is the first English Fortress built in 1644 by the East India Company. The Fort is a great place to understand how the East India Company followed by the British Empire, controlled their most prized colony! The museum here even has remnants of ammunition that hit Chennai from German boats during the First World War. We will also visit St Mary’s Church, the oldest Anglican Church of India.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Napier Bridge, Chennai (Madras) 600005 India

Napier Bridge was built in 1869 across the Coovum river and is named after the British governor of Fort St George. Before arriving iin India, Napier commanded the 50th Regiment of Foot during the Peninsular War in Iberia against Napoleon Bonaparte. He helped annex the SIndh province in North West India which was resisting the British Empire.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: University of Madras, Marina Campus, Chennai (Madras) India

The Senate House is the administrative center of the University of Madras. We part ways after appreciating this Indo Saracenic beauty.

Duration: 20 minutes