Heritage Walks / Tours

Walk: Explore St. Thomas English Church – August 26, 2017

St. Thomas English Church (STEC), once known as ‘St. Thomas-by-the-sea’ by the British, is the oldest Protestant church in Santhome. The Church owes its origin to the arrival of Robert Carver in 1824, a dynamic Methodist missionary from Ceylon who ministered in the area and earned the goodwill of people and the then Governor of Fort St. George Sir Thomas Munro. STEC was built and consecrated in 1842 at a time when the area had a fairly large number of European residents. It became the church of the Protestant elite in Madras who lived in the garden-houses of Adyar, and the Governor often worshipped here. When Robert Carver died in 1845, he was buried under the altar. Today, STEC is a thriving Anglican Church under the ‘Church of South India’, with a vibrant congregation.

Walking tour starts at 4.30 p.m. At CSI St. Thomas English Church, Santhome High Road
Open to all.
Please send a mail to stthomasenglishchurch@gmail.com to participate

Tour: Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Perambur – August 22, 2017

A tour of the important locations at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Perambur, including the Chennai Rail Museum where an art camp for students will be conducted.
Twelve Students of Interior Design & Decor JBAS College for Women will participate in the Madras Day Art camp at the venue.
Pickup point: Railway Officers Club (Sterling Club), Sterling Road, Nungambakkam. Time: 10.30 am.
Those who wish to avail of the transport service must call M.M. Dhanish at 9003141010. Limited seats available.

Tour of the Arms and Weapons Gallery – August 20, 2017

Two Wars and a Mutiny.
The two bronze bells in the Arms and Weapons Gallery seem out of place at first. But when you “look” closer an uncanny link between the Opium Wars in China and the Anglo-Mysore wars and the Sepoy Mutiny in India emerge. This walk will help explore this link while also admiring the fine collection of arms and weapons in the gallery.

Meeting Point: Outside the Arms and Weapons Gallery, Government Museum, Egmore
Date and Time: Sunday, 20th August, 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Charges: Free tour, open to all. Please register by sending an email to rajith.bala@gmail.com. Entry tickets to the Museum should be taken by each participant.
Accessibility: There are steps at the gallery entrance, while rest of the gallery has an even surface. A ramp will be available to make the entrance accessible for wheelchair users.

History of the Madras Museum – Neighbours Envy, Owners Pride – Inclusive Walk – August 20, 2017

The tremendous response from locals on seeing a Cheetah and a Tiger in the Museum grounds, part of an experiment to increase visitor traffic, led to the Museum setting up a Zoological garden with over 300 animals on its premises. This was one of many experiments to be conducted at the Museum. This walk will look at the fascinating history of the Madras Museum and why its collections truly are our city’s pride.

Meeting Point: Ticket Counter, Government Museum, Egmore
Date and Time: Sunday, 20th August, 10 AM -11 AM
Charges: Free tour, open to all.
Please register by sending an email to rajith.bala@gmail.com.
Accessibility: The route for the walk has no barriers and can be accessed by wheelchair users.

The heritage of IIT Madras – August 20, 2017

The Heritage Centre at IIT Madras is hosting a guided walk inside the IIT Madras campus.

Guests will participate in an hour-long guided nature walk inside the IIT Madras, after which they will be taken through the Heritage Centre of the institute.
Participants will get to see multiple aspects of IIT’s heritage, including the natural wealth of its campus, the history of the institute, the cultural accomplishments of the students and the achievements of distinguished alumni. Guests will be guided by students, alumni and faculty members.
The walk involves light physical exertion.

Time — 7 am to 9 am
Number of guests — 20 maximum

To register, send mail to mamata@imail.iitm.ac.in.

An Eye on The Island – A Heritage Walk – August 27, 2017

Not many people in Chennai realise that as drive towards the Munro Statue from Mount Road, they are entering an island. The Island is home to at least four historic cemeteries, some famed bridges, a storied statue, and much more, besides affording some great views of historic monuments of our city. Come join Sriram V on a tour of the Island, on August 27, 2017 at 6.00 am. It will start from the Madras Gymkhana Club.

The walk will end at 8.30 am, followed by breakfast.

Charges: Rs 650/head.
For registration, payment and more details, visit http://pastforward.in/admin/Products/product_purchase.php?productGUID=20885ca7-746b-11e7-810a-4399384cd547

Living Statues of Marina Beach – Walking tour – August 27, 2017

Chennai Storytelling Association presents The 10th Annual “Living Statues of Marina Beach” Walking Tour. An event in Madras Week 2017.

Day: Sunday 27 Aug 2017.

Time: 7:30am (completing at 8:30am).

Place:
Please meet at the Kannagi Statue,
on Marina Beach, at Bharathi Salai.

Admission: Free.

Event format:
Performers and audience members would walk to the following statues,
1) Kannagi.
2) NSC Bose.
3) Thiruvalluvar.
4) George U Pope.
5) Bharathidasan.
6) Avvaiyar.

At each statue, there would be brief enactments — in Tamil, and then in English. For example, “I am Kannagi, and this is my story … “.

The suggested scripts (in English) are at http://storytellinginstitute.org/28.html

If you might like to perform a character and/or read/recite/sing a character’s poetry — and for additional info about this event —
please call 98847 28412 ,
email to suriyalakshmig@icloud.com , and/or
see http://storytellinginstitute.org/28.html

Walk: The women who made Madras – August 20 & 26, 2017

Prajnya (http://www.prajnya.in) conducts The women who made Madras, a Walking Tour on August 20 & 26, 2017.

Did Francis Day choose Madras as a Presidency capital because of his Tamilian paramour?
Who was the first woman to be admitted into a men’s college?
What led Annie Besant to make her home in Madras?
Join Prajnya, as we lead you through a discovery of the women who played an important role in the establishment of Madras as one of the most important urban centres in India. While we know all about the establishment of Madras as a cornerstone of the British Raj in 1636, what do we know about the women who made it possible for the city of grow and develop over the ensuing decades? Leave this alternative look at the history of Madras with burning questions about the women who built Madras and why we hear so little about them!

The walk will be led by Archana Venkatesh, a doctoral candidate in history at Ohio State University and Saakshi Fellow at Prajnya. Archana has worked with Prajnya’s oral and visual history projects since 2011.

Walk 1: Sunday, August 20, 2017: The South-East Quadrant
Walk 2: Saturday, August 26, 2017: The North-West Quadrant

Starting time: 7 a.m.
Starting point: Shared upon registration

Advance registration is required. To register, please email psw.prajnya@gmail.com by August 18 for the first walk and by August 24 for the second.

Heritage Tour: St. Thomas Trail – August 20, 2017

A visit to places associated with Saint Thomas. Tour led by Fabiola Jacob. By van.

The St. Thomas Trail will feature the following places associated with St. Thomas:
– International Shrine of St. Thomas Basilica – The tomb of the saint and the museum
– Our Lady of Visitation (Descanco) Church, R. A. Puram – St. Thomas used to rest here on his way to Little Mount
– Little Mount – St. Thomas’ cave – prayer space – and space where he preached.
– St. Thomas Mount – where the apostle was martyred in 72 AD. The church here was built by the Portuguese in 1547 AD, and it contains many interesting relics.

Date: Sunday, 20 August
Time: 2.45pm – 6.00pm
Starting Point: St. Thomas Basilica, San Thome ( meet at entrance to tomb complex at rear of Cathedral)

Fee: Rs.150 ( van fee) – to be paid at the start point of the tour.
To register email your interest to – themadrasday@gmail.com using ‘ ST. THOMAS’ in the subject line. ( no cancellations please).
Open to first 13 ( more may be accommodated if transport is possible at our end).

Mylapore Heritage Walk – August 13, 2017

INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art And Cultural Heritage) is organising a Heritage Walk of the Kapalishwara Temple, Mylapore and the Vishnu Temples in Chitrakulam, Mylapore, led by Dr.Chithra Madhavan, historian.

The history of Mylapore, temple architecture, sculptures and other details will be highlighted from the streets around the temples, and NOT inside the temples.

Date: Sunday, 13th August, 2017
Time: 6.30 a.m. – 8 a.m.

Meeting POint: Outside Giri Trading Shop, near East Gopuram of the Kapalishvara Temple

The walk is free. No prior registration necessary

The Arcot Nawabs trail at Triplicane, Chennai – II – August 27, 2017

The Nawabs of Arcot moved to Madras in the 1760’s and built their palace at Chepauk, thereby influencing the development around that area. Beginning from the Chepauk Palace, the walk takes you through the various monuments in and around Triplicane area associated with the Walajahi Nawabs.

Walk is conducted by Kombai S Anwar

Date: 27th August, 2017 (Sunday) Time 6.00 AM to 9.00 AM

Assemble at: Statue of Labour (opp. Madras University), Marina

Cost: Rs 300/- per person. The walk ends with a breakfast.

To register: please mail to mediakombai@gmail.com

Tour/Walk: Fantastic Bridges the British Built – August 15, 2017

Researcher-historian D. Hemchandra Rao who has been studying the bridges of this city for over 4 years will lead the group to about six old bridges, talk about their design and function and their role in city transport. The tour covers Egmore, Chintadripet, Anna Salai, Marina zone and Chepauk.
Date; Aug.15, Tuesday. 7 am onwards. Duration: 2.5 hours.
Tour is by van and on foot.
Fee; Rs.150 ( van fee – to be paid when tour starts / no cancellation).
Start Point: Opposite gate of Hotel Connemara. 7 a.m.
To register, send a mail to – themadrasday@gmail.com with ‘BRIDGES’ in the subject line – mention name/s and contact ph nos. Registration closes Aug.12. Only a max of 25 people can be accommodated.
Note: Places we explore are dirty. Suggest you bring drinking water, light snacks. Participants will be dropped at the start point.

Walk: Buckingham Canal: Mega Inland Waterway – August 13, 2017

  • Updated on August 10, 2017 – Registration closed

Researcher-historian D. Hemchandra Rao who has been studying the Canal for over five years will lead the group around Basin Bridge in North Chennai, where this landmark Canal project was started and was later, a hugely busy hub of water transport.
Rao will also talk briefly of this Canal that runs across Andhra and Tamil Nadu.
The tour also stops at Central Station zone and Madras University to give you a closer look at key functions of this Canal in years gone by and now being revived.
Date; Aug.13, Sunday. 7 am onwards. Duration: 2 hours.
Tour is by van and on foot.
Fee; Rs.150 ( van fee – to be paid when tour starts / no cancellation).
Start Point: Outside gate of Mylapore Club, Luz. 7 a.m.
To register, send a mail to – themadrasday@gmail.com with ‘B. CANAL’ in the subject line – mention name/s and contact ph nos. Registration closes Aug.11. Only a max of 25 people can be accommodated.
Note: Places we explore are dirty and very busy zones. Suggest you bring drinking water, light snacks. Participants will be dropped at the start point.

Walk through West Mambalam – August 12, 2017

  • Updated on August 11, 2017 – Registration closed.

Padmapriya Baskaran, heritage blogger and researcher and Aalayam Kanden Trust will be curating a walk that traces a heritage trail through West Mambalam.

On 12th of August from 7 to 8.30 am.

The walk will originate at the Madeley Subway, and go along the Kothandaramar Temple, Ahobila Mutt Oriental School, the Mambalam Agraharam, Srinivasa Theatre, Kasi Viswanathar Temple, the Sankara Mutt Goshala, Public Health Centre and the Madras Kali Bari,

This is a free walk. To register, send an email to aalayamkanden@gmail.com

The Arcot Nawabs trail at Triplicane – Aug. 20, 2017

  • Updated on August 10, 2017 – Registration closed

The Nawabs of Arcot moved to Madras in the 1760’s and built their palace at Chepauk, thereby influencing the development around that area. Beginning from the Chepauk Palace, the walk takes you through the various monuments in and around Triplicane area associated with the Walajahi Nawabs.

Walk is conducted by Kombai S Anwar

Date: 20th August 2017 (Sunday) Time 6.00 AM to 9.00AM

Assemble at: Statue of Labour (opp. Madras University), Marina

Cost: Rs 300/- per person (Payable on the spot). The walk ends with a breakfast.

To register: call 94440 77171

Justice Party Heritage Walk – Thyagaraya Nagar (T Nagar) – Aug. 19, 2017

  • Updated on August 11, 2017 – Registration closed 

Thyagaraya Nagar, popularly known by its abbreviated form T. Nagar was created as an urban suburb of Madras during the 1920’s by the Madras Presidency government led by Raja of Panagal of the Justice Party. The town was named after Justice Party leader Sir Pitti Theagaraya Chetty, while the streets, parks and localities in the new neighbourhood were named after important members of the Justice party like Raja of Panagal, Natesan, Sir Muhammad Usman, etc… The Justice Party Heritage walk of Thyagaraya Nagar takes you around the roads and streets of T Nagar as well as the history behind it.

The walk is conducted by Govi. Lenin, Editor-in- Charge of Nakheeran,

Date: Saturday 19th August 2017 ( Saturday) Time: 6.00 AM – 9.00AM

Assemble at: Panagal Park, Usman Road junction (opp. Saravana Stores)

Cost: Rs 100/- per person (payable at the spot)

To register: call 94440 77171

Pazhaverkadu – Pulicat Heritage tour /walk – Aug. 26, 2017

AARDE Foundation is organising a heritage tour/walk at Pulicat titled ‘Trace the origin of Madras.’

On Aug. 26, 2017.
The itinerary is as follows:
07.15AM: AC Bus Starting from Loyola ICAM
09.15AM: Reaching Pulicat Museum @ Pazhaverkadu
10.00AM: Heritage Walk
01.00PM: Lunch
02.00PM: Lighthouse & Lagoon Walk
03.30PM: Departing to Chennai
Organiser: AARDE Foundation

INR 975/- per person, includes AC Bus, Lunch, 1 water bottle, Coffee/Tea+Snacks, Entry Ticket.

For more information Email: info@aarde.in / 9884633409