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History of Chennai

Some history about various Chennai area names.

• Syed Shah Pettai has become Saidapet.
• In 17,18-th centuries this area was under control of a Nawab and this was the garden were his horses were resting and getting fed. So it was called Ghoda bagh (Horse Garden). It later became Kodambakkam.
• Armoured Vehicles and Ammunition Depot of India became Avadi (AVADI)
• Several Chrome leather factories in the region resulted in this area being called Chrompet.​
• This area was full of coconut trees. Therefore named as tennampettai. It was later changed as Teynampet.
• Urdu word che baug (six gardens) became Chepauk.
• Saundara Pandian bazaar became Pondy Bazaar.
• Vilva marankal area with the flowers used for the Lord known as Mahavilvam over time has become Mambalam.
• Pallavapuram became Pallavaram.
• Madras Presidency head was Panagal Raja at one point and based on his name, the park was named as Panagal Park.
• Based on name of Justice party leader Sir. Thiagarajan Chettiar, the area is known as T Nagar
• Purasai trees were in abundance in the region, leading it to be called Purasaiwalkam.
• Puspakavalli in Sanskrit due to the large amount of Jasmine plants / trees in the region became “puviruntavalli” in tamil to get transformed as Poonamalle now.
• In the 17th century, a Muslim saint who lived here 'kunankuti Mastan Sahib'. Thondi was his native town in Ramanathapuram district. Therefore, the local people called him tontiyar. That's the current areas known as Tondiarpet.
• Before the area was used for feeding cattle. So called as Mandai velibefore becoming Mandaveli
• Peacock were roaming freely in the area leading it to be called Mayilai puram and later becoming Mylapore.
• Pallavas used to conduct or wage wars in the region now known as Porur.
• Bamboo (Perambu) trees were throughout the region was a few hundred years ago, now known as Perambur.
• Based on Thirusula nathar temple area became Thirusulam. (BTW Trident hotel name came from the same source.. Trident means Thirusulam).
• The pond with lots of lilies opposite to Parthasarathy temple was known as Thiru allikkeni transformed itself to Triplicane
• Thomas Parry used to do business in this area. He gained the respect from people resulting in the name Parry’s Corner. That is also why it is not “Paris Corner”
• This area had many Neem trees around a big lake in Tamil Neem+Lake is Veepa+yeri this is now called Vepery.
• Lots of Tamil brahmins got settled in and around Tambaram. Tham bram, became Tambaram later.
• Pallikaranai was famous for the Mosque and dam like structured waterbody land. Palli (mosque in tamil) + anai(dam) = Pallikaranai.
• Perungalathur, has one of the biggest lake. Periya kulathu oor, Perungalathur.
• Vandal type soil was available in large scale, thus Vandaloor came into practice.
• Guduvancheri used to be a big market place for people to gather. Thus gooduvaan chery, makes Guduvancheri.
• Banyan trees where in large extent, so aalamaram oor, later became Aalandhur

                                                                                                                     By Arun