Nungambakkam
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?Nungambakkam Chennai • Tamil Nadu • India
Sterling road junction in Nungambakkam
Nungambakkam
Coordinates: 13°03′55″N 80°13′57″E / 13.0654, 80.2326
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
District(s)	Chennai District
Planning Agency	CMDA
Civic agency	Chennai Corporation
Codes • Pincode	• 600034
Website: Chennai District website

Coordinates: 13°03′55″N 80°13′57″E / 13.0654, 80.2326

Nungambakkam (Tamil: நுங்கம்பாக்கம்) is one of the wealthiest localities in the heart of the city of Chennai, India's fourth largest metropolitan city. Nungambakkam is sometimes termed a 'city in itself'. The neighborhood is abound with multi-national commercial establishments, important government offices, foreign consulates, sprawling educational institutions, shopping malls, sporting facilities, tourist spots, star hotels, restaurants and cultural centers.Nungambakkam is also a prime residential area in Chennai. The adjoining regions of Nungambakkam include Egmore, Chetpet, T.Nagar, Kodambakkam, Choolaimedu and Kilpauk.

History

Nungambakkam is one of the oldest parts of Chennai. It formed the western limits of Madras city until the 1960s. Nungambakkam had been a part of Madras two centuries prior to that.

According to the Chennai Corporation's records¹, Nungambakkam village, which was under a Mughal firman, was handed over to the British along with four other villages (Tiruvatiyoor, Kathiwakam, Vyasarpady and Sathangadu) in 1708. These five villages were hence forward known as the 'Five New Towns'. Since then, Nungambakkam has been a part of Madras city. Public buildings and colleges rose in the 1850s.

In the early part of the 20th century, Nungambakkam rose as one of the higher status European residential areas housing civil servants and top players in the city administration. The 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica records the presence of vast empty spaces and parks in Nungambakkam. Most of Nungambakkam's principal lanes such as College Road, Haddows Road and Sterling Road are over 100 years old and appear in a 1909 map of Madras city.

The Loyola College was established as an arts college in 1925.

Localities

The subdivisions of Nungambakkam include Mahalingapuram, Lake area, Village road, Sterling road, College road, Haddows road etc.

Two out of the city's three prime residential areas, Khader Nawaz Khan Road and Kothari Road, are in Nungambakkam. Poes Gardens makes up the third.

Loyola College, SDAT Tennis Stadium, Ispahani Center, Women's Christian College ,Valluvar Kottam and PSBB are some of its prominent landmarks. The SDAT stadium hosts India's only ATP event, the Chennai Open. Valluvar Kottam, dedicated to the Tamil Saint-Poet Thiruvalluvar (திருவள்ளுவர் in Tamil), is a popular tourist attraction in Chennai.

Nungambakkam is also the Occidental cultural district of Chennai — it is home to the Alliance Française and Max Mueller Bhavan. It is also home to many expensive western fashion boutiques and malls.

The Regional Passport Office of Chennai is located in Haddows Road, Nungambakkam. This office issues passports to half of Tamil Nadu. Nungambakkam is also home to the Austrian, Canadian and South Korean consulates in Chennai ².

Transport

Nungambakkam is well connected to other parts of the city. Many of the State Government run Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses ply to/from and through Nungambakkam. Nungambakkam has its own Suburban Train Station on the Chennai Beach - Tambaram railway line, which connects it to other parts of the city.

Shopping

Nungambakkam is also known for its shopping. Mahatma Gandhi Road has Ispahani Centre which houses Lladro and Swarovski showrooms as well as a Cafe Coffee Day outlet. Designer Rehane's boutique is located on this road as well. The very first 'Landmark', a music and book store is situated on MG Road. Nungambakkam is home to the posh Khader Nawaz Khan Road where you will find top of the line fashion and furniture houses. Export surplus shops such as Arts Clothing on Nageswara Road are a stone's throw away from Taj Coromandel.

References

1. ^ || Welcome to Corporation of Chennai ||
2. ^ Foreign Embassies in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India