Velachery
Encyclopedia
Geography
Velachery has mostly areas of hard rock, and a big marshland in the southern region of the area. It is said that this marshland was once a natural bird sanctuary. But nowadays, due to encroachment and rapid real estate development, the sanctuary has disappeared. Even today there is a big marshland south of Velachery. The area is called Pallikaranai, and it is also developing rapidly. Many places of Velachery are below the sea level and originally major portions of the Velachary were lakesInfrastructure and environmental concerns
Every November, Velachery is flooded by cyclonic rains. The major areas that were usually flooded are the low-lying areas near Velachery Lake, Ram Nagar extension and the Madipakkam Road and bridge. A flood water drainage canal was constructed along the Velachery 100-feet (30 m) road. Due to encroachment and other unknown problems, some part of the canal in the Velachery-Tambaram high road is not constructed completely. Generally it is felt that, after the canal was built to a major extent, the flooding problem in many areas along the 100-feet road has decreased substantially. All the residential colonies that are lying south of Taramani link road got submerged in rain water during the floods in 2008 which was of moderate intensity.
There are also two big open to air dumping grounds. These spoil the underground water and are breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other flies and the frequent burning of the waste also creates lot of pollution problems to the people esp. those travelling past it.
However there is an apartment and a private company next to it.
It is a favourite shooting location among film makers and has been filmed in as far as 3 movies.
Now Velachery has become a separate assembly constituency. As a result, the problems of Velachery will be addressed very soon.
A 15-acre bus bay, set to become the biggest in south Chennai, is coming up in front of the Velachery MRTS station. Work on the Rs 10 crore project, being jointly executed by Southern Railway and the state government, began recently. About 60,000 sqm of land has been earmarked for the project and the area has been levelled and will be strengthened with a layer of bitumen later. The structure will become a major depot of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation.
Economy
Several IT/ITES companies have set up their offices in Velachery. Some major ones include Tata Consultancy ServicesTata Consultancy Services
Tata Consultancy Services Limited is a global IT services, business solutions and outsourcing company headquartered in Mumbai, India. It is the largest provider of information technology in Asia and second largest provider of business process outsourcing services in India...
(TCS), ZOHO Corp , AllSec Technologies Ltd., TeleData and Sutherland Global Services. The standard of living in and around velachery has also been constantly increasing. This change has been attracting many people who are new to the city. The apartments are also on the rise. It includes Spic Nagar, Cee Dee Yes, Doshi Housing and many other promoters who are preferring velachery as a major platform of real estate.
LIC of India, SBI, Axis bank, ICICI bank, HDFC Bank, IOB, Canara Banks have branches in Velachery.
Velachery is also home to several famous restaurants like Milan, Karaikudi, Anjappar
Anjappar
Anjappar Chettinad Restaurant is a privately owned and operated casual restaurant chain that operates primarily in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The first Anjappar opened in 1964 in Chennai. Since then, it operates over 30 restaurants in India, the United States, United Arab Emirates, Qatar,...
, Kebab court, Snow park, Wang's kitchen, Ratna cafe, Hot chips, Parfait, Cafe Coffeday, Flamingo, Krishna Sweets, Adyar Ananda Bhavan, Cakes and Bakes, Sangeeta. It also has a drive in-restaurant of McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
which is not elsewhere in the city. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
). Also, the Tamilnadu famous, Dindigul Thalapakatti Briyani. There are many popular shopping malls situated here like:Rex Fashions, Con Xions and a new shopping mall cum A Multiplex is going to be built in Sitaram Nagar soon. The Vijay Nagar junction is one of the most important junction in the heart of the city. During morning times, its very difficult to cross the junction for the people going to their destinations from Taramani, Pallikarnai, Tambaram and Velachery Main Road. Many times, accidents may also occur.
Colleges
- Gurunanak College is a famous college situated in velachery. This college offers UG and PG courses.
- Jerusalem College of Engineering, ChennaiJerusalem College of Engineering, ChennaiJerusalem College of Engineering, Chennai, India is a multi-professional institution, established in 1995. The College is part of the Jerusalem Educational Trust formed and registered in the year 1993. The motto of the trust is "to promote higher education" in the fields of Engineering and...
is situated at the Velachery - Tambaram main road, Narayanapuram, PallikaranaiPallikaranaiPallikaranai is a town in Tambaram Taluk of Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is now one of the Chennai prime suburbs.-Demographics:...
. The College is 3 km from Velachery railway station. - The Perumal Engineering CollegeThe Perumal Engineering CollegeThe Perumal Engineering College is a co-educational engineering college located in Madipakkam near Velachery , a rapidly developing suburban area of Chennai, India. The college located 2.1 km from the Madras Flying Club near the Meenambakkam Airport and National Highway 45...
is 2.1 km to the south-east of the National Highway 45 (India)National Highway 45 (India)Grand Southern Trunk Road or National Highway 45 is one of the busiest National Highways in Southern India with a total length of . The highway starts from Kathipara junction in Guindy, a very busy confluence of five roads in southern Chennai and extends up to Theni. It connects Chennai to its...
and the Madras Flying Club. - Balaji Dental College & Hospital - Located adjacent to Jerusalem College of Engineering. This college attained Deemed University Status some time back and is in the news for demanding capitation fee beyond the prescribed limits.
Schools
Some famous schools in Velachery are:- Bethel Matric Higher Secondary school, Sarathy Nagar.
- Velachery Government Hr. Sec School (Popularly known as Periyasami School).
- Sivasakthi Matriculation School, 100Feet Road]
- Advent Christian High School.
- DAV Public school (educomp. enabled)
- Raja Lakshmi Matriculation Higher Secondary School.
- Shri A.Ganesan matric higher secondary school (educomp enabled).
- Guru nanak matric higher secondary school.
- Akshayah matric higher secondary school (educomp enabled).
- Vishwa Barathi matric higher secondary school.
- Pon Vidyashram.
- St. Savio Matriculation Higher Secondary School.
- St. Britto's academy.
- Corporation School, Raja Lakshmi Nagar.
- Navadisha Montessori School.
- St Antonys Middle School.
- Sunshine Chennai Senior Secondary school.
- Sri sankara vidyalya
- Arsha Vidya Mandir
Velachery Railway Station
The second phase of the Mass Rapid Transit SystemMass Rapid Transit System (Chennai)
The Chennai MRTS is an elevated line of the urban mass rapid transit system in Chennai , India. The line currently runs within the city from Chennai Beach to Velachery, covering a distance of 25 km with 21 stations...
(MRTS) between Tirumailai and Velachery declared open for passenger traffic by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi
M. Karunanidhi
Muthuvel Karunanidhi is an Indian politician and a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is the head of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , a Dravidian political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. He has been the leader of the DMK since the death of its founder, C. N...
here on November 19, 2007.
The first phase covering 8.66 km distance between Chennai Beach and Tirumailai was completed at the cost of Rs 269 crore, which was fully met by the railways with the State Government giving land free of cost.
However, for the second phase of 10.8 km, both the State Government and the railways shared the cost in a 2:1 ratio.
Earlier the cost of the second phase was worked out to Rs. 777 crore, which increased substantially following a delay in the implementation of the project.
In the second phase between Tirumailai and Velachery, there are eight stations: Mandaiveli, Greenways Road
Greenways Road
Greenways Road is a road and neighbourhood in Chennai, India. It is also the name of a railway station on the Beach - Velachery MRTS Line.It is lined with official residences of ministers of Tamil Nadu state government and judges of chennai high court.It also houses the tahsildar/distrist...
, Kotturpuram
Kotturpuram
Kotturpuram is a locality in Chennai , Tamil Nadu, India. Located on the south bank of the Adyar River, it is easily identified on satellite maps, being situated on a prominent northward bend of the river. It consists mostly of residences and sports clubs...
, Kasturba Nagar
Kasturba Nagar
Kasturba Nagar is a Chennai suburban station on the MRTS system.Kasturba Nagar station is opposite the Madhya Kailash temple in the locality of Adyar. Institutions like IIT Madras and CLRI are within walking distance of Kasturba Nagar station....
, Indira Nagar
Indira Nagar
Indira Nagar is a posh neighbourhood in Chennai, India.Indira Nagar was developed by Tamil Nadu Housing Board in late 1970s and early 1980s.TNHB developed residential plots,apartments,commercial complexes,wide roads,school zones,bus terminus and large parks.Indira Nagar is an excellent example of...
, Thiruvanmiyur
Thiruvanmiyur
-Transport:The area is easily accessible by Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses and has a sprawling bus terminus. Bus Routes connecting Thiruvanmiyur with other places in Chennai are: 1, 1A, 1C, 1D, 6D, 22A, 23C Extn., 29M,29C Extn., 41C, A47, 47A, 47D, M1, M49, M7, C51, T51, M23, M19, M70,...
, Taramani and Perungudi
Perungudi
-Geography:Perungudi is located at . It has an average elevation of 9 metres .- Economy :What was a sleeping small village has become a vibrant and thriving commercial/residential hub after the boom in the Indian IT industry. Perungudi had developed an industrial estate in the 90's...
.
The project would have been completed two years ago but for a technical problem, which almost threatened the project. The railways' original plan was to have an elevated track from Tirumailai to Taramani and surface line from there to Velachery. But as the soil was soft in around Taramani and Perungudi, the railways had to go for the elevated track right up to Velachery, which took two more years for the project to complete. The MRTS extension work from velachery to St. Thomas mount Would be completed in 2012.
A plan is being made to build the Velachery bus terminus at the Station premises itself.
Temples
Velachery was known as Vedashreni (meaning "Abode of Vedas") and Vedanarayanapuram during the Chola period. Eventually, the Tamil word வேள் that represents King or the Leader that also denotes Lord Sri NarasimhaNarasimha
Narasimha or Nrusimha , also spelt as Narasingh and Narasingha, whose name literally translates from Sanskrit as "Man-lion", is an avatar of Vishnu described in the Puranas, Upanishads and other ancient religious texts of Hinduism...
Swami (Ref: சிங்கவேள்குன்றம், Ahobilam
Ahobilam
Ahobhilam also known as Ahobalam is located in the Allagadda mandal of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located at a distance of 40 km from Nandyal and about 150 km from Kurnool, the district headquarters...
), was used to denote this place along with the Tamil word சேரி which literally means a place where people gather and hence Velachery (the people who gathered to worship Lord Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy). Sri Vedanarayana Perumal is one of the deities of the Sanctum Sanctoram of The Yoga Narasimha Swamy temple. He has a wonderful form with a Prayoga Chakram on His right hand aimed at destroying the evils haunting the devotees.
Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple is one of the ancient temples in Velachery that is of Lord Sri Yoga Narasimha
Narasimha
Narasimha or Nrusimha , also spelt as Narasingh and Narasingha, whose name literally translates from Sanskrit as "Man-lion", is an avatar of Vishnu described in the Puranas, Upanishads and other ancient religious texts of Hinduism...
Swami which historians have rated to be of more than 1300 year old. This temple is presently being renovated completely and is expected to be consecrated by end of this year. The temple is surrounded by streets with traditional names (Brahmanan Street, Telugu Brahmanan Street etc.) denoting the presence of an Agraharam (residence of Sri Vaishnavites typically around the temple). One could also see innumerous houses that still are hosting the ancient construction styles, but the agraharam as such does not exist anymore around the temple as the houses have been taken over by vote banks. There is a Sri Rama Bhajana Koil in Brahmin street. Every year Rama Navami is celebrated with lot of devotion by Bhaagavathaas. Bhajans are held for few days and the immediate Sunday, after Rama Navami, Sita Kalayanam is celebrated with grand vigour. Velachery was supposed to be abode of four Vaishnava gods. They are Sri Narasimha, Sri Vasudeva, Sri Soundara Narayana and Sri Anirudha. Sri Narasimha temple is the Yoga Narasimha temple. Sri Vasudeva Temple is located in Telugu Brahmin Street in Velachery. The original temple has been in dilapidated condition for a long period of time and is not suitable for being an abode for Gods. The presiding deity along with consorts has been installed in a newly constructed temple just in front of the old one. Sri Soundara Narayana temple is located near the Sri Vasudeva temple. The main idols were in poor condition. A new temple was constructed the idols installed. Consecration was conducted with bhakthi vigor recently. Sri Anirudha idol is still not traceable. It is believed that Sri Anirudha's idol would have been buried in some part of Velachery.
The Dhandeeswaram Temple in Velachery is a historical site of note, which has inscriptions believed to be made by a great king from the Chola Dynasty
Chola Dynasty
The Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which was one of the longest-ruling in some parts of southern India. The earliest datable references to this Tamil dynasty are in inscriptions from the 3rd century BC left by Asoka, of Maurya Empire; the dynasty continued to govern over varying territory until...
in the 11th century. Velachery was known as Vedashreni (meaning "Abode of Vedas") during the Chola period. This information is available in many of the tablets in Dhandesswaram temple. {http://dharsanam.blogspot.com/2007/12/vedasreni-sri-dhandeeswarar.html}
Dhandeeswaram Temple:- Story of the temple, Dhandam refers to the weapon used by the lord Yamah. When Lord Yamah, threw the rope on Markandeyah to take his life, Markendeyah held on to a shivalingam (Lord Shiva). So the rope actually fell on Lord Shiva himself, which angered the God and He destroyed the weapon (Dhandam). Later on, Lord Yamah, did penance and got back his Dhandam, from the tank(Kulam) in the Dhandeeswaram Temple. As the "Dhandam" was given back by Lord Shiva, He is called as "Dhandeeswarar".
Thiruveedhi Amman Temple located in Seethapathy Nagar is quite famous. The sanctum sanctorum is believed to be in existence for nearly a century, while the outer structure was built two decades ago. The presiding deity is "Thiruveethi Amman". It also resides a Shiva temple within. Lotus shaped Ashtalakshmi sanctorum is exquisitely designed.
The sidhi vinayagar temple located near Guru Nanak college is very famous for the past 20 years. Even though it is very small, the ganesha proves to be a lucky god to the students of Guru Nanak School and College.
In the recent years quite a few other temples have come up in the vicinity. Some of the popular temples apart from Dhandesswaram temple are the "SIVA VISHNU Temple" located in Vijaya Nagar.
Masjids
- Masjid-e-ALLAH, near TCS
- Masjid Hawwa, near velachery lake.
- Masjid Elaahi, Gandhi Road Junction.
Advent Church located in Gandhi Salai it is oldest church in Velachery and completed 125 years.