Chingleput
Encyclopedia
Chingleput or Chengalpattu or Chengalpet (Tamil
: செங்கல்பட்டு) is a city
and a municipality
in Kanchipuram district
in the state of Tamil Nadu
, India
. The name of the city is derived from the old nomenclature 'chenkazhuneer patru' (செங்கழுநீர் பற்று). It is because in earlier times a kind of blue coloured lily flowers called 'chenkazhuneer poo' (செங்கழுநீர் பூ) were found aplenty in all water resources of the area. It is the headquarters of the Chengalpattu taluk
of Kanchipuram district. It is located on the Palar River
about 56 km south-southwest of the city of Chennai
(Madras). Chingleput is an important railway junction and commercial
center. It has a medical school
and other college
s affiliated with the University of Madras
. The first Indian chief of the Naval staff Admiral Ramadas Katari and famous Bollywood actress Waheeda Rehman were born in this city.
, after their defeat by the Deccan sultanates
at Battle of Talikota
in 1565. In 1639 a local governor or Nayak
, subject to these kings, granted a piece of coastal land to the British East India Company
where Fort St George
now stands, which became the nucleus of the city of Madras. The fortress at Chingleput, built by the Vijayanagara kings in the 16th century, was of strategic importance, owing to its swampy surroundings and the lake that flanked its side.
Chingleput was taken by the French
in 1751, and was retaken in 1752 by Dharaniraj, after which it proved of great strategic advantage to the British, especially when Lally
failed to capture the fortress in his advance on Madras.
During the wars of the British with Hyder Ali
of Mysore it withstood his assault, and afforded a refuge to the nearby residents; in 1780, after the defeat of Colonel W. Baillie, the army of Sir Hector Munro took refuge there. By 1900 the town was noted for its manufacture of pottery, and was a local market center, especially of the rice trade. The surrounding district was home to cotton and silk weaving, indigo dyeing, tanneries, and a cigar factory, and extensive salt manufacturing took place along the coast.
Chingleput was established as a district of the Madras Presidency
in 1765. The administrative headquarters were at Saidapet
. The area of the district was 3079 sq mi (7,974.6 km²)., and the population was 1,312,122 in 1901. In 1999, the district was split into the districts of Kanchipuram
and Thiruvallur.
, Chingleput had a population of 62,631. Male to female ratio is very close to 1. The average literacy rate here is 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 84% and female literacy of 77%. About 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Chengalpattu is a Railway junction and it lies in the Main Broad Gauge
line and most of the south bound trains stop here. There is also a railway connection to Arakkonam
via Kanchipuram
. There are many trains running from Kanchipuram
via Chingleput to Beach stopping at all stations up to Tambaram
. Superfast
trains are also available, running from Chingleput
to Tambaram
, Guindy
, Mambalam
, Egmore
, Park
and finally Beach Station.
, Vedanthangal bird sanctuary
and Kanchipuram
. The boat house established by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation
(TTDC) in the Kolavai lake which is situated alongside of the NH 45 highway has now turned into a place where people can relax with their families on weekends. The monsoon rains flooded the gates of the lake in December 2005 due to which the TTDC boat club operation has been stopped. It also serves as a bridge connecting all nearby districts with the renowned tourist places like Mahabalipuram, Muttukadu, theme parks on East Coast Road
(ECR), Thirukazhukundram
etc.
Several companies like Tech Mahindra, BMW, Ford, Hyundai, Infosys, Nokia, Pepsi, TVS, Siemens have production plants near Chengalpattu.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
: செங்கல்பட்டு) is a city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
and a municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in Kanchipuram district
Kanchipuram district
Kanchipuram district is a district in the northeast of the state of Tamil Nadu in India. It is bounded in the west by Vellore and Thiruvannamalai districts, in the north by Thiruvallur District and Chennai District, in the south by Viluppuram District and in the east by the Bay of Bengal. It lies...
in the state of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The name of the city is derived from the old nomenclature 'chenkazhuneer patru' (செங்கழுநீர் பற்று). It is because in earlier times a kind of blue coloured lily flowers called 'chenkazhuneer poo' (செங்கழுநீர் பூ) were found aplenty in all water resources of the area. It is the headquarters of the Chengalpattu taluk
Chengalpattu taluk
Chengalpattu taluk is a taluk of Kanchipuram district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The headquarters of the taluk is the town of Chengalpattu- Population :...
of Kanchipuram district. It is located on the Palar River
Palar River
Palar is a river of southern India. It rises in Nandi Hills, India in Kolar district of Karnataka state, and flows 93 km in Karnataka, 33 km in Andhra Pradesh and 222 km in Tamil Nadu before its confluence into the Bay of Bengal at Vayalur about 100 km south of Chennai...
about 56 km south-southwest of the city of Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
(Madras). Chingleput is an important railway junction and commercial
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
center. It has a medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
and other college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
s affiliated with the University of Madras
University of Madras
The University of Madras is a public research university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the three oldest universities in India...
. The first Indian chief of the Naval staff Admiral Ramadas Katari and famous Bollywood actress Waheeda Rehman were born in this city.
History
Chingleput was formerly a capital of the kings of VijayanagaraVijayanagara
Vijayanagara is in Bellary District, northern Karnataka. It is the name of the now-ruined capital city "which was regarded as the second Rome" that surrounds modern-day Hampi, of the historic Vijayanagara empire which extended over the southern part of India....
, after their defeat by the Deccan sultanates
Deccan sultanates
The Deccan sultanates were five Muslim-ruled late medieval kingdoms—Bijapur, Golkonda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar, and Berar—of south-central India. The Deccan sultanates were located on the Deccan Plateau, between the Krishna River and the Vindhya Range. These kingdoms became independent during the breakup...
at Battle of Talikota
Battle of Talikota
The Battle of Talikota , a watershed battle fought between the Vijayanagara Empire and the Deccan sultanates, resulted in a rout of Vijayanagara, and ended the last great Hindu kingdom in South India...
in 1565. In 1639 a local governor or Nayak
Nayak (title)
Nayak, Nayaka, Nayakar, Nayakkar, Naik, Naiker, Naicker, Naickan, Naiken, Nayakkan, Naidu, Nayudu or Naidoo is a common title used by various caste and ethnic groups across India. They are all derivatives of the original Sanskrit Nayaka, meaning a leader...
, subject to these kings, granted a piece of coastal land to the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
where Fort St George
Fort St George
Fort St George is the name of the first English fortress in India, founded in 1639 at the coastal city of Madras, the modern city of Chennai. The construction of the Fort provided the impetus for further settlements and trading activity, in what was originally a no man's land...
now stands, which became the nucleus of the city of Madras. The fortress at Chingleput, built by the Vijayanagara kings in the 16th century, was of strategic importance, owing to its swampy surroundings and the lake that flanked its side.
Chingleput was taken by the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1751, and was retaken in 1752 by Dharaniraj, after which it proved of great strategic advantage to the British, especially when Lally
Thomas Arthur, comte de Lally
Thomas Arthur, comte de Lally, baron de Tollendal was a French General of Irish Jacobite ancestry. He commanded French forces in India during the Seven Years War. After a failed attempt to capture Madras he lost the Battle of Wandiwash to British forces under Eyre Coote and then was forced to...
failed to capture the fortress in his advance on Madras.
During the wars of the British with Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born Hyder Naik, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers...
of Mysore it withstood his assault, and afforded a refuge to the nearby residents; in 1780, after the defeat of Colonel W. Baillie, the army of Sir Hector Munro took refuge there. By 1900 the town was noted for its manufacture of pottery, and was a local market center, especially of the rice trade. The surrounding district was home to cotton and silk weaving, indigo dyeing, tanneries, and a cigar factory, and extensive salt manufacturing took place along the coast.
Chingleput was established as a district of the Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
in 1765. The administrative headquarters were at Saidapet
Saidapet
Saidapet is an important neighbourhood in Chennai , India. The Saidapet Court, the only other court of judicature in Chennai city apart from the Madras High Court and the Saidapet bus depot are located here...
. The area of the district was 3079 sq mi (7,974.6 km²)., and the population was 1,312,122 in 1901. In 1999, the district was split into the districts of Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
and Thiruvallur.
Geography
Chengalpattu is located at 12.7°N 79.98°E. It has an average elevation of 36 metres (118 ft). Lake Kolavai is situated near Chingleput.Demographics
As of 2001 India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Chingleput had a population of 62,631. Male to female ratio is very close to 1. The average literacy rate here is 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 84% and female literacy of 77%. About 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Education
There are number of educational institutes located in Chingleput.- ARISTA TECHNICAL SOLUTION Automation Training Centre, PLC, SCADA, EMBEDDED SYSTEM DESIGN
- Chengalpet Government Medical CollegeChengalpet Medical CollegeChengalpattu Government Medical College is an educational institution located in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India.-History:The history of Chengalpattu Medical College dates back to days before 1965 when this was a District Head Quarters hospital with its building in the town...
- Shri Andal Alagar College of Engineering
- Karpaga Vinayaga College of Engineering and Technology
- Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Science
- Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Dental Science
- Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Nursing
- Asan Memorial College of Engineering and Technology
- Government Law College, Chengalpattu
- Government Arts College
- Vidhya Sagar Women's Arts & Science College
- St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School (Chengalpattu)St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School (Chengalpattu)St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Chengalpattu is one of the well established schools in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu.St. Joseph's Higher secondary School was started in 1966 by Montfort brothers of St. Gabriel. The School bears the Motto "In God Is Our Trust". This is an institution under the...
- St. Joseph's Kinder Garden School.
- St. Mary's Hr Sec School
- St. Mary's Primary School
- Sri Ramakrishna Mission Boys' Hr Sec School
- Sri Ramakrishna Mission Girls' Hr Sec School
- St. Columbus's Hr Sec School - 190 Years old
- SDA Matric Hr Sec School
- Brindavan Public school
- Progress Matriculation School
- Government Girls Higher Secondary School
- Arignar Anna Govt Boys Higher Secondary School
- Blessings Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- Annai sathiya matriculation school (Venbakkam)
- Swami vivekanandha vidhiyalaya Jain Matriculation School (Anna Nagar)
- Vivekananda Matriculation School
- Little Jacky Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- R.K.N.Matriculation School
Transport
Chenglapattu is well connected by road and rail. The Chennai Airport lies just 38 km north of the town which could be reached in about 1 hour by road.Chengalpattu is a Railway junction and it lies in the Main Broad Gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
line and most of the south bound trains stop here. There is also a railway connection to Arakkonam
Arakkonam
Arakkonam is a mid-sized City in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with a population of about 101,626 as per the census 2011...
via Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
. There are many trains running from Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
via Chingleput to Beach stopping at all stations up to Tambaram
Tambaram
Tambaram is a suburb of Chennai situated 27 km south of the city in Tamil Nadu, India. It is an urban node. Tambaram is a hub to all major destinations in south Tamil Nadu as it lies on the busy Chennai–Trichy national highway. The highway and the railway line from Chennai Egmore to...
. Superfast
Superfast
Superfast is the debut album of the rock band Dynamite Hack, and was released on May 23, 2000.-Track listing:*Dynamite Hack - Packaging*Christopher Shaw - Mixing...
trains are also available, running from Chingleput
Chingleput
Chingleput or Chengalpattu or Chengalpet is a city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The name of the city is derived from the old nomenclature 'chenkazhuneer patru'...
to Tambaram
Tambaram
Tambaram is a suburb of Chennai situated 27 km south of the city in Tamil Nadu, India. It is an urban node. Tambaram is a hub to all major destinations in south Tamil Nadu as it lies on the busy Chennai–Trichy national highway. The highway and the railway line from Chennai Egmore to...
, Guindy
Guindy
Guindy is one of the important neighbourhoods of Chennai , Tamil Nadu, India. It is located in the South-Western part of the city. It is the entry point or the gateway to Chennai city from the Southern parts of Tamil Nadu and the South Western suburbs of Chennai...
, Mambalam
Mambalam
Mambalam is a working class residential and commercial area in the heart of Chennai , India. It is best known for its shops, bazaars and Hindu temples. It is bounded by Kodambakkam to the north and Saidapet to the south. T. Nagar and Nandanam stretch all along its eastern frontiers while K. K....
, Egmore
Egmore
-Main places:* Chennai Egmore railway station.* Office of the commissioner of Greater Chennai Police department.* Government Museum, Chennai.* Connemara Public Library, one of the biggest libraries in India.* National Art Gallery...
, Park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
and finally Beach Station.
Tourism
Today Chengalpattu has developed as a touristic spot for many foreign travellers on their way to Mamallapuram, ThirukazhukundramThirukazhukundram
For the village, Thirukazhukundram, refer TirukalukundramThirukazhukundram or Thirukkalukundram is an ancient town in Kanchipuram district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-The Temple:...
, Vedanthangal bird sanctuary
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
Vedanthankal Lake Bird Sanctuary is a sanctuary located in the Kancheepuram District of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The sanctuary is about from Chennai on National Highway 45 south of Chengalpattu....
and Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
. The boat house established by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation
Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation
Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation is an agency of Government of Tamil Nadu entrusted with promotion of tourism to Tamil Nadu and development of tourist infrastructure.-References:**...
(TTDC) in the Kolavai lake which is situated alongside of the NH 45 highway has now turned into a place where people can relax with their families on weekends. The monsoon rains flooded the gates of the lake in December 2005 due to which the TTDC boat club operation has been stopped. It also serves as a bridge connecting all nearby districts with the renowned tourist places like Mahabalipuram, Muttukadu, theme parks on East Coast Road
East Coast Road
East Coast Road is a two lane highway in Tamil Nadu, India, built along the coast of the Bay of Bengal connecting Chennai to Cuddalore via Pondicherry. Presently, the East Coast Road has been extended up to Thoothukudi via Chidambaram, Karaikal, Nagore, Nagapattinam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthupet,...
(ECR), Thirukazhukundram
Thirukazhukundram
For the village, Thirukazhukundram, refer TirukalukundramThirukazhukundram or Thirukkalukundram is an ancient town in Kanchipuram district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-The Temple:...
etc.
Kolavai Lake
Kolavai Lake is the second largest lake in the Kanchipuram District after the Madhuranthagam Lake. Kolavai lake is well known for its perenniality: There are no records of going dry in summers. It even supplies water to industries in Chennai when the lakes in Chennai go dry. The lake is now being polluted due to the rapid urbanisation of Chengalpattu.Industry
There are several modern industries located around Chengalpattu, due to the town's close proximity to Chennai and its frequent connectivity to other places through rail and road.Several companies like Tech Mahindra, BMW, Ford, Hyundai, Infosys, Nokia, Pepsi, TVS, Siemens have production plants near Chengalpattu.