Pallavaram
Pallavaram
பல்லாவரம் (பல்லவ புரம்) | |
---|---|
suburb | |
![]() Sunset view | |
Country | India |
State | Tamil Nadu |
District | Kancheepuram |
Metro | Chennai |
Government | |
• Municipal Chairman | K. M. R. Nissar Ahamed[1] |
Area | |
• Total | 18 km2 (7 sq mi) |
Elevation | 16 m (52 ft) |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 216,308 |
• Density | 12,000/km2 (31,000/sq mi) |
Languages | |
• Official | Tamil |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
Website | municipality |
Pallavaram ('originally Pallava Puram) (Tamil: பல்லாவரம்) (பல்லவ புரம்) 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. The suburb is served by Pallavaram railway station of the Chennai Suburban Railway Network.
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.[2] Since then, a number of stone age artifacts have been uncovered.[2] Most of these artifacts are currently lodged in the Egmore museum.[2]
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.[3] The Pallavas have left titles in early Pallava script at the cave temple in Pallavaram which date back to 600 A.D.[4] The remains of a cave shrine constructed by the Pallava ruler have been found at the spot where an Islamic dargah now stands.[3]
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.
Geography
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.
Periya Eri
The Pallavaram periya eri (literally 'big lake'), once a sprawling water body covering about 189 acres, has shrunk to a small patch on the lines of a pond on one side and a hillock of garbage on the other. The dumping of garbage from all the 42 wards of the Pallavaram Municipality for nearly a decade is the main reason for the shrinkage of the water body. Nearly 25 acres had been lost to encroachments alone. The construction of Pallavaram–Thoraipakkam Road, a project initiated to connect Chennai Airport and Rajiv Gandhi Salai, had split the lake into two halves. The portion of the lake on the southern side of the road has completely been covered by garbage. On the northern side of the road, the discharge of sewage from commercial establishments and homes and also effluents from some of the leather manufacturing units in Nagalakeni has affected the quality of the water.[5]
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.[6]
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 (Old Pallavaram)
- 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.[7]
References
- ^ The Hindu dated 22 October 2011
- ^ a b c Muthiah, Pg 129
- ^ a b Muthiah, Pg 128
- ^ "A vantage point-of-view". The Hindu. thehindu.com. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 16 Oct 2012.
- ^ Manikandan, K. (2 July 2012). "The slow death of Pallavaram periya eri". The Hindu. Chennai: The Hindu. Retrieved 14-Jul-2012.
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(help) - ^ Kalyanaraman, M. (25 October 2011). "Migration Spurs Suburban Sprawl". The Times of India epaper. Chennai: The Times Group. Retrieved 25-Oct-2011.
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(help) - ^ "|| Welcome to Pallavapuram Municipality ||". Municipality.tn.gov.in. 1970-01-17. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
External links
http://www.sripoornamahameru.org - Charitable old age home at pallavaram
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