Shivaji Bhonsle, famouslyChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,Veer Shivaji - carved out an enclave from the declining Adilshahi sultanateof Bijapur that formed the genesis of the Maratha Empire. In 1674, he was formally crowned as the Chhatrapati (Monarch) of his realm at Raigad. Shivaji established a competent and progressive civil rule with the help of a disciplined military and well-structured administrative organisations. He innovated military tactics, pioneering the guerrilla warfare methods. Chennai aka Madras has a rich, glorious, very ancient history.Much before the arrival of British and buying of land by East India Company, the Madras coast was under the effective control of the Rayas of Chandragiri 1646. Venkatapathi Maharaya (1586-1614 A.D.) was perhaps the last effective ruler of the Hindu Empire. By the time the British arrived and 1639, the year in which the story of British Madras begins, the Portuguese had already been in India for nearly a century and a half or so. Madras is the oldest among the Presidencies and was not the earliest British settlement in the country, but only constitutes their first territorial acquisition, with the exception of the insignificant fort at Armagon, a little to the north of Pulicat Lake, which had been acquired a few years previously. Oldtimers would still say the beach road, First line beach – there was second line beach also.From the Madras High Court towards Clive battery – Royapuram bridge – there are many small lanes and bylanes – of which, Lingi Chetty Street, Tambu Chetty Street, Armenian Street all run parallel to Broadway (Prakasam salai now) – in between there are also streets like Sembudoss street, Coral merchant street in the area which was one known as Muthialpet. Muthialpet High School is a renowned educational institution of the past. Broadway is still the dividing line between the two parts of George Town, even as the canal which ran along its course was the separating factor between Muthialpet and Peddanaickenpetta in former days. There was China Bazar road running at a right angle to Broadway. There was Rattanbazar (pirambukkadai), Godown Street, Mint Street, Govindappa Naicken street and more (not in the same order) This area has so many old, big, beautiful temples including Bairagi Mutt, Chenna Kesava Perumal, Chenna Malleeswarar, Ekambareswarar, Kandaswami temple (kanda kottam), Renuka Parameswari, Pavalakkara theru Krishnan Kovil, Sri Kachaleeswarar, Sri Kasi Viswanathar, Sri Santhana Venugopalar, many many Vinayaka temples and manymore.
Shivaji Bhonsle, famouslyChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,Veer Shivaji - carved out an enclave from the declining Adilshahi sultanateof Bijapur that formed the genesis of the Maratha Empire. In 1674, he was formally crowned as the Chhatrapati (Monarch) of his realm at Raigad. Shivaji established a competent and progressive civil rule with the help of a disciplined military and well-structured administrative organisations. He innovated military tactics, pioneering the guerrilla warfare methods. Chennai aka Madras has a rich, glorious, very ancient history.Much before the arrival of British and buying of land by East India Company, the Madras coast was under the effective control of the Rayas of Chandragiri 1646. Venkatapathi Maharaya (1586-1614 A.D.) was perhaps the last effective ruler of the Hindu Empire. By the time the British arrived and 1639, the year in which the story of British Madras begins, the Portuguese had already been in India for nearly a century and a half or so. Madras is the oldest among the Presidencies and was not the earliest British settlement in the country, but only constitutes their first territorial acquisition, with the exception of the insignificant fort at Armagon, a little to the north of Pulicat Lake, which had been acquired a few years previously. Oldtimers would still say the beach road, First line beach – there was second line beach also.From the Madras High Court towards Clive battery – Royapuram bridge – there are many small lanes and bylanes – of which, Lingi Chetty Street, Tambu Chetty Street, Armenian Street all run parallel to Broadway (Prakasam salai now) – in between there are also streets like Sembudoss street, Coral merchant street in the area which was one known as Muthialpet. Muthialpet High School is a renowned educational institution of the past. Broadway is still the dividing line between the two parts of George Town, even as the canal which ran along its course was the separating factor between Muthialpet and Peddanaickenpetta in former days. There was China Bazar road running at a right angle to Broadway. There was Rattanbazar (pirambukkadai), Godown Street, Mint Street, Govindappa Naicken street and more (not in the same order) This area has so many old, big, beautiful temples including Bairagi Mutt, Chenna Kesava Perumal, Chenna Malleeswarar, Ekambareswarar, Kandaswami temple (kanda kottam), Renuka Parameswari, Pavalakkara theru Krishnan Kovil, Sri Kachaleeswarar, Sri Kasi Viswanathar, Sri Santhana Venugopalar, many many Vinayaka temples and manymore.