Pallavaram

Pallavaram
—  suburb  —
Sunset view
Pallavaram Location of Pallavaram in Chennai and India
Coordinates	12°59′N 80°11′E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District(s)	Kancheepuram
Municipal Chairman	K. M. R. Nissar Ahamed
Population • Density	216,308 (2011) • 12,017 /km2 (31,124 /sq mi)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	18 square kilometres (6.9 sq mi) • 16 metres (52 ft)
Website	municipality.tn.gov.in/Pallavapuram

Pallavaram (Tamil: பல்லாவரம்) is a town and a second-grade municipality located in the suburbs of Chennai. It forms a part of the Tambaram taluk of Kanchipuram district and is located 17 kilometres from Chennai city. Pallavaram is known for its cantonment and bustling residential colonies.

Pallavaram has a long history and has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Age. The city derives its name from the Pallava settlement of Pallavapuram of which it used to form a part. The cantonment and aerodrome were established during British rule. The British also carried out mining activities on Pallavaram Hill made of charnockite rock which is believed to have healing properties.

History

Pallavaram is considered to be one of the oldest inhabited places in South India. A major archaeological find was made in the year 1864 when the British archaeologist Robert Bruce Foote discovered a stone implement from the Paleolithic Age inside a ballast pit. Since then, a number of stone age artifacts have been uncovered. Most of these artifacts are currently lodged in the Egmore museum.

The present-day town of Pallavaram has its origins in the setllement of Pallavapuram which existed during the time of the 7th century Pallava king Mahendravarman I. The remains of a cave shrine constructed by the Pallava ruler have been found at the spot where an Islamic dargah now stands.

Both the Mughal Empire and the British East India Company had their cantonments in Pallavaram. During the 17th century, Pallavaram remained dependent for sometime, upon the Portuguese colony of San Thome. During the 18th century, the British established a cantonment at Pallavaram, supplementary to the one at St. Thomas Mount. A wireless station was established in the early years of the 20th century. The Madras aerodrome was opened at Pallavaram in 1929. From the late 1930s onwards, Pallavaram formed one of the chief areas of Greater Madras.

Transport

Pallavaram is well connected to the city of Chennai by public transportation services including the famous electric train service that was built during British rule. Pallavaram is located in the Beach - Tambaram-Chengalpattu suburban railway network. The Grand Southern Trunk Road (GST) that connects various south Indian cities to Chennai passes through this township. Buses to Tambaram, Chennai Beach, T Nagar, High Court, Avadi etc. are available at regular intervals from Pallavaram. Pallavaram bus stop is a boon to the thousands of residents in and around this area to reach the main road and some other important landmarks in Chennai city. Pallavaram is around 1 km away from the Chennai Airport. The perungudi bypass road connects Adambakkam, Nanganallur, Madipakkam, Medavakkam, velacheri and perungudi.

In the 1960s and 1970s taking a walk along the GST road was a common activity of elderly residents of Pallavaram; however, this has become uncommon today as the road now has heavy traffic at most times of the day. Train service is one of the important transport source for the residents here.

Pallavapuram Municipality

During 2001-2011, Pallavaram registered a population growth of 50 percent with a 2011 population of 216,308.

Historical populations
Year	Pop.	±%
1901	6,416	—
1911	7,059	+10.0%
1941	9,879	+39.9%
1951	11,941	+20.9%
1961	16,253	+36.1%
1971	51,374	+216.1%
1981	83,901	+63.3%
1991	111,866	+33.3%
2001	143,984	+28.7%
2011	216,308	+50.2%

Pallavapuram Municipality was constituted as a III Grade Municipality on 17.01.1970 vide G.o.No. 55 R.D. & L.A. Department dated 12.01.1970, by Combining the following Town Panchayats and Panchayats.

• Zamin Pallavaram Town Panchayat
• Issa Pallavaram Town Panchayat
• Hasthinapuram Town Panchayat
• Kilkattalai Panchayat
• Nemilichery Panchayat

It has been upgraded to 2nd Grade Municipality vide G.O. No. 200 R.D. & L.A. dated 10.02.1975, and to 1st Grade on 09.02.1983 as per R.D.& L.A. G.O. No. 651 dated 08.05.1983.

Pallavapuram Municipal office is located at G.S.T. Road, Chromepet. It is very near to Chromepet Railway Station and M.I.T. Campus.

Pallavaram Hill

The Hill is a shooting spot for Tamil Movies and Television dramas. Some of the movies that have been filmed here include Bhairavi, Oor Kaavalan and Indru Poi Naalai Vaa. The central government has also set up a research centre on the hill.