Heritage Walks/Tours 2011

Photowalks – August 21, 27 and 28, 2011

Organised by Chennai Photowalks.

Walk 1 : On August 21, 2011 – Royapettah Clock Tower to Chepauk Palace

Assembly point is the Royapettah Clock Tower, at 6.45 – 7 a.m.
walk from the Clock tower, into Zam Bazaar, sampling the world-famous Lassi of the market, being refused an entry into Amir Mahal, following the Victoria Hostel road into the beautiful Chepauk Palace grounds.

Walks 2 : On August 27, 2011 – Pachyappa’s College to Taylor’s Road

Assembly point is the Petrol pump next to St. George’s Asylum/Pachayappa’s College, at 5.45 – 6 a.m.
A long detour along McNichol’s ROad, Chetpet station, Guruswamy Road etc.

Walk 3 : August 28, 2011 – Thousand Lights to Tarapore Towers/Dams Road

Assembly point is Thousand Lights Mosque, at 6.45 – 7 a.m.
Walk along Mount Road

Contact Chandrachoodan Gopalakrishnan on phone: 98844-67463.
Email me at chandrachoodan@gmail.com, or call/text  or leave a comment on the blog  http://www.selectiveamnesia.org/


The Sweet Smell of Engineering – Aug. 21, 2011

– a walk & talk tour tracing the historical sights and stories that surround the principal seat of Technical education in the State & the oldest Technical institution in India … the College of Engineering Guindy!.
Starting Point: The Main Building (Bell Clock Tower), College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University.
Time: Morning 6.30 am, Sunday, August 21, 2011 (90 minutes)
Entry Free. Open to Public. But Register in Advance.
Call: +91 9840959730 | 9840461333 | 9962548982 Or Email: cegalumni@annauniv.edu
Organized by: Alumni Association of College of Engineering Guindy (AACEG)

Nature Walk at Pallikaranai Marsh – Aug. 21, 2011

Madras Naturalists’ Society conducts a Nature Walk at Pallikaranai Marsh guided by Gnanaskandan K., a resource person from Madras Naturalists’ Society. Starts at 7.00 am and ends at 8.30 am.  Reporting Time: 6.45 am.

If you take the OMR, pass the toll booth in Perungudi and take a right at the signal after the toll. You will come across yet another toll booth. Go past the toll booth and assemble at the Forest Department ‘Protected Area’ sign post.

If you take the Velachery-Tambaram Road towards Tambaram, go past the first Flyover and then take the left going towards Perungudi, under the next Flyover. The Forest Department ‘Protected Area’ sign post will then come on the right, before the toll booth.

Contact: Vijay Kumar: vijay58@airtelmail.in / 98400 90875


Walk on Mount Road – City's Showpiece – Aug. 28, 2011

If the Fort was a town, this road was its fun place. Stores, restaurants, cinemas, bars, clubs and the city’s early businesses started here. Journalist Vincent D Souza who lived here for 25 years leads this walk and shares his stories of Mount Road.

Starts at 8 am at The Hindu’s gate. Ends at Murray & Co., the city’s quaint auctioneer. ( auction starts at 10.30 am here).

Walk is free. Regn not reqd.


Fort St. George Walk – Aug. 21, 2011

This is where it all began for Madras. Most of what came to be the Fort remains – the moats, ramparts, St Mary’s Church, neighbourhoods, bungalows . . .This tour brings you face to face with these places and shares stories of centuries gone by.

The walk is led by Vincent D Souza.

Starts at 8am. Lasts for 90mins. Assemble in parking lot opp. main gate of Fort at 7.45 am. Carry ID cards – this is a security zone. Carry water, light snacks.
Ends at Fort Museum ( those who wish to visit the museum may do so on their own – it opens at 10am). Walk is free. Register at themadrasday@gmail.com


Meandering down Mint Street – Aug. 28, 2011

Starts at 6.30 a.m.

One of the longest streets in the whole world according to some, this is one of the oldest thoroughfares of Madras. Come and see what makes it an area buzzing with life and a melting pot of several communities.

This is a tour by foot and will last two hours. The tour will be conducted by Sriram V, Associate Editor of Madras Musings and will conclude with breakfast.

Fee : Rs. 450 per head.

Please make your bookings through phone (28411495 – contact Ms Dhanalakshmi) or email (editor@madrasmusings.com).


The Magnates of Mount Road – Aug. 27, 2011

Starts at 6 a.m.

A tour by van and foot for two and a half hours on how Mount Road developed as a downtown for the city with newspapers, jewellers, cinema theatres, restaurants and business houses making it their home.

The tour will be conducted by Sriram V, Associate Editor of Madras Musings. The tour will conclude with breakfast.

Fee : Rs. 450 per head.

Please make your bookings through phone (28411495 – contact Ms Dhanalakshmi) or email (editor@madrasmusings.com).


The Studios of Kollywood – Aug. 21, 2011

Starts at 6.30 a.m.

A tour by van and foot for two hours in Kodambakkam and Vadapalani, looking at some of the great studios in the world of South Indian films. Tour includes going into studios as well.

The tour will be conducted by Mohan V Raman, veteran film and TV actor, who has been devoting hours of study into the history of Tamil films and speaks frequently on the subject. The tour will conclude with breakfast.

Fee : Rs. 450 per head.

Please make your bookings through phone (28411495 – contact Ms Dhanalakshmi) or email (editor@madrasmusings.com).


The Wallajah Trail – Aug. 20, 2011

At 6. 45 a.m.

A tour by van and foot for two hours in Triplicane and surrounding areas, to look at vestiges of the glory of the Nawabs of Arcot.

The tour will be conducted by S Anwar, well-known photographer and documentary film-maker who has been studying the contributions of the Nawabs of Arcot in great detail. The tour will conclude with breakfast.

Fee Rs. 450 per head.

Please make your bookings through phone (28411495 – contact Ms Dhanalakshmi) or email (editor@madrasmusings.com)


Tour of Bronze Gallery, Madras Museum – Aug. 28, 2011

Namma Mylapore is conducting a tour of the Bronze Gallery of the Madras Museum, Egmore on Sunday, August 28 between 10 a.m. and 12 noon.

Dr. Chithra Madhavan, archaeologist will lead the tour and point out the salient features of the exhibits.
There is no fee for the tour; however those who are interested must buy their entry tickets and camera tickets on their own.

Assembly will be by 9.45 a.m. at the ticket counter near the main entrance..

A maximum of 15 people will be taken on a first come first serve basis. For reservations call 99414 50776 or e mail nathanlatha@yahoo.com


Guided tour of Dakshinachitra – Aug. 24, 2011

A guided tour of Dakshinachitra is being organised by Namma Mylapore on Wednesday, August 24 between 10.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. noon.

Historian and archaeologist, Dr.Chithra Madhavan will guide the tour.
The tour is open to about 20 people on a first come first serve basis.
No transport will be provided and those who opt to join the tour have to buy their entry tickets.
There is no fee for cameras.
Assembly point is near the ticket counter in Dakshinachithra by 10.15 a.m.
For reservations call 99414 50776 or mail to nathanlatha@yahoo.com


Walk at the Bronze Gallery, Govt. Museum, Egmore – Aug. 21 & 27, 2011

Walk led by Pradeep Chakravarthy

Walk A – Aug 21 from 3PM to 345PM at the Bronze Gallery, Government Museum, Egmore.

Walk B –  Aug 27 from 3PM to 345PM at the Bronze Gallery, Government Museum, Egmore.

Amongst the greatest craft forms in the world, the bronzes of Tamil Nadu will surely make it to the list! The earliest bronze is said to be from the seventh century BC and by the 14th century, bronzes were literally images of Gods and Goddesses cast in metal! Their beauty, grace, divinity make them coveted possessions in temples, museums and private collections the world over.

The guided tour of the Bronze Gallery of the Government Museum, Madras, will trace the development of the bronzes in style and concept. Owing to the chronological display, we can clearly observe how bronzes can help us date images accurately. The stylistic differences from the Bronzes of the Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagara period are similar to images in stone as well.

1.      Anyone who is older than 35 will HAVE TO register with a younger person who is either in school (class 5 or above) or in college. Registrations without young people will NOT BE acknowledged. You can assure the youngsters that they will learn something that will help them in their careers and there will be no dates they need to remember.

2.      The Walk is free but you need to report outside the bronze gallery after you have purchased a ticket at the Museum. Allow an extra 15min for this.

3.      A total of 10 people (including the younger members) per walk.

4.      Send in your name and the number of people who will accompany you to pradeepandanusha@gmail.com on or before Aug 1st. the subject of the mail should have the date for the walk you prefer.

5.      Confirmations will be emailed by 16th and will be on a First Come First Served basis provided you give in names of younger people also.


Eldams Road – Aug. 27, 2011

Lollypop Activity Club is organising a Heritage walk from their centre in Cenetoph 1st Street to C. P. Ramaswami Aiyer Foundation on Eldams Road on August  27,
The walk is open to public.  Starts at 9 a.m. from Lollypop, 19, Cenotaph 1st Street, Teynampet, Chennai 600018. (opp Japanese consulate)
Contact : 8754405577 /044-42031964.
Contact Person  Ms. Sindhu Suresh ( Centre Coordinator).