Aminjikarai

Aminjikarai (Amaindakarai)
neighbourhood
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Chennai District
Metro	Chennai
Government
• Body	Chennai Corporation
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	600029
Vehicle registration	TN-02
Lok Sabha constituency	Central Chennai
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Anna Nagar
Planning agency	CMDA
Civic agency	Chennai Corporation
Website	www.chennai.tn.nic.in

Aminjikarai (originally Amaindhakarai) is one of the oldest localities in Chennai. The arterial Poonamallee High Road (NH 4) runs through it. Aminjikarai was annexed to Madras District in the year 1946, and Arumbakkam and Anna Nagar were carved out of Aminjikarai in the 1950s and 1970s. The Nelson Manickam Road that traverses through Aminjikarai is an important commercial road in Chennai city.

History

A delta formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river Cooum towards its journey to the Bay of Bengal is called Amainda Karai (which means shaped/formed/created land in Tamil) and later on Aminjikarai colloquially.

According to another version, the name derived from the word amanjutal, which means 'free community service'. Probably, at some stage, the banks of Cooum at this point (at Amanjikarai) should have broken, and the local people should have offered free community service in rebuilding the banks (karai) of the river.

Early days and present growth

In the early days, it was known as a suburb after the tollgate (near Pachaiappas College). Now, it is a central part of Chennai which links the residential Anna Nagar to the central business district of Chennai. It comprises Metha Nagar, Gill Nagar, Railway Colony, Collectrate Colony and Ayyavoo Naidu Colony.

Metha Nagar is connected by a small pedestrian bridge and it is almost like a peninsula.

Places of worship

Temples

Aminjikarai hosts Sri Ekambareshwara Kamakshi Amma temple and very close to this is Sri Varadaraja temple. Because of these two temples in very close vicinity some people refer to Aminjikarai as mini Kancheepuram. The Mangali Amma temple (Ellai Amma) is also located in between Toll-gate and Aminjikarai. Ekambareshwara and Varadaraja temple's Brahmotsavam is a famous festival held between March and May of every year. Pradosham is also a famous event at the Ekambareshwara temple. Near that ekhambareswarer temple, there is vinayagar temple called " Varasidhi Vinayagar temple". It is well popular for vinayagar chathurthi festival.

Mosque

Aminjikarai also has a mosque and burial ground on Poonamallee high road. The name of the mosque is Jammia Masjid. There is another masjid in Nelson Manickam road called Fathima Islamic cultural society

Churches

• Full Gospel Church of God in Tamil Nadu - (Behind Vasanthi Orthopaedic Hospital and M.R Hospital)
• CSI church - Govindan street.
• Indian Apostolic mission - P H Road
• Church of the Coming King - Khan Street
• Christ Chapel - Nelson Manickam Road (opp.Indian Oil Petrol Bunk)
• CSI Perinbar Alayam - Aminjikarai
• Ascension Church - Railway Colony

Sant Nirankari Mission There is also a religious gather centre of the Sant Nirankari Mission in Ayyavoo Nayudu colony

Shopping

Aminjikarai offers shopping facilities for people of all classes. The Aminjikarai Market hosts very fresh vegetables, some roadside makeshift vegetable shops offer very fresh vegetables at nominal rates. There is a huge shopping mall - Ampa Skywalk at the intersection of Nelson Manickam Road and Poonamallee High Road. The mall has 7 multiplex cinemas, spacious hypermarket, food court, restaurants and branded retail outlets.

Schools

Aminjikarai hosts the following schools

• St.Vincent's School
• St. George's School, Chennai
• Chennai Corporation school

Public transport

Aminjikarai has two bus stands:

• the main Aminjikarai bus stand on Poonamalle High Road
• the Arun Hotel / Skywalk bus stand on Nelson Manickam Road, which connects Annanagar and Sterling Road routes.

The nearest suburban railway station is Nungambakkam railway station, which is just 2 km (1.2 mi) from Aminjikarai.

The proximity to the Chennai Metropolitan Bus Terminus (CMBT) has made Aminjikarai one of the most accessible routes in Chennai.

Hospitals

Aminjikarai has many hospitals, including Billroth Hospitals which is a fully fledged multispeciality hospital. MR hospital a dedicated Renal (kidney) Transplant centre is located on the Govindan street.

See also

• Amaindhakarai