Saidapet

Saidapet Saidapet
neighbourhood
Website	www.chennai.tn.nic.in

Saidapet is a suburb of the city of Chennai, India. Mambalam, T.Nagar, Guindy, Nandanam, K. K. Nagar are its neighbourhood suburbs. A subway joining Alandur road and Anna Salai (earlier Mount Road) has been constructed recently. This allows easier access to Anna Salai, the arterial road in Chennai. Saidapet is largely a residential area with very less number of shopping places. However, shopping places are gradually developing here.

History of Saidapet

Saidapet is named after Sayyid Shah, a high-ranking 18-century official of the court of the Nawab of Arcot. The then Nawab of Arcot gifted these parts to Sayyid Shah in 1730. However, Saidapet at that time also included Kotturpuram and Nandanam.

The Maraimalai Adigal Bridge (preeviously the Marmalong Bridge) connects the northern banks of the River Adyar with the south. This bridge was originally built in 1726 by Armenian Coja Petrus Uscan. The dilapidated old bridge was replaced by a new one in the 1960s built as part of reconstruction and modernization efforts. The name Marmalong might have originated from the neighbourhood of Mambalam.

Some interesting facts about Saidapet

Aerial view of Saidapet bridge across Cooum River in Saidapet

If one boundary of Saidapet is the Adyar River, then a significant place in it is the Maraimalai Adigal Bridge. It was called the Marmalong Bridge for over 200 years. The Armenian trader who built the steps in St. Thomas Mount constructed this bridge. In the 1970s this bridge was broadened. This was a time when Tamil enthusiasm was prevalent everywhere and every non-Tamil name was replaced by a Tamil name. This bridge was also renamed. Even then for many it is just the Saidapet Bridge. But Saidapet itself is a very big bridge. It is the bridge that links the South Tamil Nadu and Chennai.

In those days, in Saidapet, quite a number of washermen steam-washed the clothes in large urns kept there, rinsed them in the Adyar River and dried them in bright sunshine. The increase in the Chennai population has proportionally increased the number of washermen and the clothes they wash. The size of the Adyar banks has shrunk today. But in that available space we see thousands of clothes being dried up and it is a very special scene to view. The open sewer lines along the streets have vanished in Saidapet. Even now the main streets and houses in Saidapet resemble those of a traditional small town. Large multi-storey buildings and apartments have not yet occupied the area. There was a time, when the construction of more than one floor was banned in Saidapet. The reason for that was its proximity to the airport. These regulations have been liberalized to a large extent now. In Guindy, which is close to Saidapet, large, tall buildings have come up.

The Karaneeswarar Temple and the washing area in the Adyar River are not the only aspect that adds fame to Saidapet. An educational institution makes Saidapet very distinguished. That is the Teachers' Training College that has completed 100 years, whence thousands of trained teachers have come out and enlightened lakhs and lakhs of students. This college, located in an extensive area, has buildings that are spacious and beautiful. Since one building is in a dilapidated condition it has been kept closed. Efforts are being taken to renovate that building. Just half a kilometre away from the Teachers' Training College there is another spacious institution. The former imparted intellectual education to students, while the latter gave physical education. The YMCA school at Saidapet is a training centre for the physical education instructors. This is also a very reputed institution. In the past 20 years, dozens of Tamil and Telugu movie shootings have been held in this open field. In these 20 years in our film industry, if the hero has to share a few words with the heroine then there should be 50 identically clad persons dancing behind them. It is a compulsion for the heroine too. To accommodate 50 persons at a time for them to dance and to do somersault and all such acrobatics a large open space is inevitable. The Saidapet swimming pool, maintained by YMCA, is also famous. There was a time when there were only two swimming pools in Chennai. One is the swimming pool on the Beach in Marina. The next one is the YMCA pool at Saidapet.

Despite being next to a Police Station, Saidapet is known for the abundant availability of drugs especially marijuana.

Transportation

Railway station

There is a suburban railway station towards the north is Mambalam and Guindy towards the south.

Buses

Saidapet has a MTC bus terminus located on Anna Salai. it is well connected by no of buses to central chennai. saidapet is enroute to most of the buses to central chennai. There is a proposal to construct another bus terminus in west saidapet. some of the famous bus servicefrom this area is 18 k

Architecture

Temples

Karaneeswarar temple

This temple is located next to the railway station. This temple has a 7-storied Gopuram with two prakarams. The main deity is Lord Karaneeswara and Goddess Swarnaambikai. This temple has a beautiful tank. Annual ten day Brahmotsavam takes place in the Tamil month of Chithirai. 1

NARASIMHA PERUMAL

The temple was constructed in the middle of 15th century. According to some old inscription Popularly known as Perumal Kovil of Saidapet. The main deity is NARASIMHA PERUMAL. Annual Brahmotsavam takes place during the Tamil month of Chithirai. Vaikunta Ekadasi festival is very famous here.Other two famous festivals are RATHASAPTHAMI which is held in the month of February and THOTTA URCHAVAM held in the month of march. One more important function in this temple is that "SRI PARTHASARTHY SWAMY" of Triplicane visits this temple yearly once which is a dhivya desa perumal.

The temple was constructed in the middle of 15th century.As per mythology SRI PRASANNA VENKATESA PERUMAL alone incarnated in karbagraga with Sri Devi and BooDevi. Later Narasimha perumal was also incarnated and hence perumal was named as SRI PRASANNA VENKATA NARASIMHA PERUMAL.

Kadumbaadi Chinnamman kovil

A very famous Shakthi temple in West Saidapet. Fridays of the Tamil months of Aadi and Thai are famous. Annual brahmotsavam takes place during the Tamil month of Aadi.

Anjaneyar temple

This Hanuman temple is situated on the banks of the Adyar river.There is one more anjaneyar temple facing the prasanna venkatesa perumal kovil .The temple is believed to be very powerful. It is said the ANJANEYAR in this temple is incarnated in such a way that he is worshipping lord RAMAR situated at NARASIMHA PERUMAL temple.

Churches

Saidapet has about seven churches, St. Thomas church has a congregation of 500 families and is situated on LDG street, the NLAG Church is situated across the bridge. It is the biggest Assembly of God church in Tamil Nadu.

Bridges

1. The bridge located near the market on Jeenis road serves as a vital link to Mount Road from West Saidapet.
2. Jones road underpass (currently under construction) when built will serve an important link for West Saidapet.
3. Aranganathan subway serves to connect Ashok Nagar and Mambalam.

Politics

Kalaignar Karunanidhi, the present Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was once elected from this constituency. It occupies an important place in Tamil Nadu politics being the starting place for election rallies.

Miscellaneous

Saidapet is an important administrative center. The health district in Chengalpet district is split into Saidapet hud and Kanchipuram hud. Panagal building which is a part of saidapet is a famous landmark.

Saidapet had a large weaver population and handlooms were in operation as late as 1990. It was quite notorious for filariasis in the olden days.

Saidapet has a very busy shopping market place called the Bazaar Road. It is famous for its fish market attracting buyers from faraway places.

St Marys Matriculation Higher Secondary School is one of the Schools situated here

One other school of prominence is Model higher Secondary school, which has been serving the local population since the 40's. Model Higher sec school is another popular school situated in saidapet.

External links

• Saidapet Businesses