Chengalpattu

Chingleput செங்கல்பட்டு (Derived from the original name Chenkazhuneer Patru செங்கழுநீர் பற்று)
—  city  —
Chingleput செங்கல்பட்டு (Derived from the original name Chenkazhuneer Patru செங்கழுநீர் பற்று) Location of Chingleput செங்கல்பட்டு (Derived from the original name Chenkazhuneer Patru செங்கழுநீர் பற்று) in Tamil Nadu and India
Coordinates	12°42′N 79°59′E / 12.7°N 79.98°E / 12.7; 79.98Coordinates: 12°42′N 79°59′E / 12.7°N 79.98°E / 12.7; 79.98
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District(s)	Kancheepuram
Population	62,631 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 36 metres (118 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 603001 • Telephone • +044 • Vehicle • TN-19

Chingleput or Chengalpattu or Chengalpet (Tamil: செங்கல்பட்டு) is a city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The name of the city is derived from the old nomenclature 'chenkazhuneer patru' (செங்கழுநீர் பற்று). It is because in earlier times a kind of blue coloured lily flowers called 'chenkazhuneer poo' (செங்கழுநீர் பூ) were found aplenty in all water resources of the area. It is the headquarters of the Chengalpattu taluk of Kanchipuram district. It is located on the Palar River about 56 km south-southwest of the city of Chennai (Madras). Chingleput is an important railway junction and commercial center. It has a medical school and other colleges affiliated with the University of Madras.

History

Chingleput was formerly a capital of the kings of Vijayanagara, after their defeat by the Deccan sultanates at Battle of Talikota in 1565. In 1639 a local governor or Nayak, subject to these kings, granted a piece of coastal land to the British East India Company where Fort St George now stands, which became the nucleus of the city of Madras. The fortress at Chingleput, built by the Vijayanagara kings in the 16th century, was of strategic importance, owing to its swampy surroundings and the lake that flanked its side.

Chingleput was taken by the French in 1751, and was retaken in 1752 by Dharaniraj, after which it proved of great strategic advantage to the British, especially when Lally failed to capture the fortress in his advance on Madras.

During the wars of the British with Hyder Ali of Mysore it withstood his assault, and afforded a refuge to the nearby residents; in 1780, after the defeat of Colonel W. Baillie, the army of Sir Hector Munro took refuge there. By 1900 the town was noted for its manufacture of pottery, and was a local market center, especially of the rice trade. The surrounding district was home to cotton and silk weaving, indigo dyeing, tanneries, and a cigar factory, and extensive salt manufacturing took place along the coast.

Chingleput was established as a district of the Madras Presidency in 1765. The administrative headquarters were at Saidapet. The area of the district was 3,079 sq mi (7,970 km²)., and the population was 1,312,122 in 1901. In 1999, the district was split into the districts of Kanchipuram and Thiruvallur.

Geography

Chengalpattu is located at 12°42′N 79°59′E / 12.7°N 79.98°E / 12.7; 79.98.^[1] It has an average elevation of 36 metres (118 ft). Lake Kolavai is situated near Chingleput.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[2] Chingleput had a population of 62,631. Male to female ratio is very close to 1. The average literacy rate here is 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 84% and female literacy of 77%. About 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Education

There are number of educational institutes located in Chingleput.

• ARISTA TECHNICAL SOLUTION Automation Training Centre, PLC, SCADA, EMBEDDED SYSTEM DESIGN
• Chengalpet Government Medical College
• Shri Andal Alagar College of Engineering
• Karpaga Vinayaga College of Engineering and Technology
• Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Science
• Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Dental Science
• Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Nursing
• Asan Memorial College of Engineering and Technology
• Government Law College, Chengalpattu
• Government Arts College
• Vidhya Sagar Women's Arts & Science College
• St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School (Chengalpattu)
• St. Joseph's Kinder Garden School.
• St. Mary's Hr Sec School
• St. Mary's Primary School
• Sri Ramakrishna Mission Boys' Hr Sec School
• Sri Ramakrishna Mission Girls' Hr Sec School
• St. Columbus's Hr Sec School - 190 Years old
• SDA Matric Hr Sec School
• Brindavan Public school
• Progress Matriculation School
• Government Girls Higher Secondary School
• Arignar Anna Govt Boys Higher Secondary School
• Blessings Matriculation Higher Secondary School
• Annai sathiya matriculation school (Venbakkam)
• Swami vivekanandha vidhiyalaya Jain Matriculation School (Anna Nagar)
• Vivekananda Matriculation School
• Little Jacky Matriculation Higher Secondary School
• R.K.N.Matriculation School

Transport

Chenglapattu is well connected by road and rail. The Chennai Airport lies just 38 km north of the town which could be reached in about 1 hour by road.

Chengalpattu is a Railway junction and it lies in the Main Broad Gauge line and most of the south bound trains stop here. There is also a railway connection to Arakkonam via Kanchipuram. There are many trains running from Kanchipuram via Chingleput to Beach stopping at all stations up to Tambaram. Superfast trains are also available, running from Chingleput to Tambaram, Guindy, Mambalam, Egmore, Park and finally Beach Station.

Tourism

Today Chengalpattu has developed as a touristic spot for many foreign travellers on their way to Mamallapuram, Thirukazhukundram, Vedanthangal bird sanctuary and Kanchipuram. The boat house established by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) in the Kolavai lake which is situated alongside of the NH 45 highway has now turned into a place where people can relax with their families on weekends. The monsoon rains flooded the gates of the lake in December 2005 due to which the TTDC boat club operation has been stopped. It also serves as a bridge connecting all nearby districts with the renowned tourist places like Mahabalipuram, Muttukadu, theme parks on East Coast Road (ECR), Thirukazhukundram etc.

Kolavai Lake

Kolavai Lake is the second largest lake in the Kanchipuram District after the Madhuranthagam Lake. Kolavai lake is well known for its perenniality: There are no records of going dry in summers. It even supplies water to industries in Chennai when the lakes in Chennai go dry. The lake is now being polluted due to the rapid urbanisation of Chengalpattu.

Industry

There are several modern industries located around Chengalpattu, due to the town's close proximity to Chennai and its frequent connectivity to other places through rail and road.

Several companies like Tech Mahindra, BMW, Ford, Hyundai, Infosys, Nokia, Pepsi, TVS, Siemens have production plants near Chengalpattu.

Politics

Chingleput assembly constituency is part of Chengalpattu (Lok Sabha constituency).^[3]

See also

• Chengalpattu (Lok Sabha constituency)

References

1. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Chengalpattu
2. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 
3. ^ "List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies". Tamil Nadu. Election Commission of India. http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S22/TN_ACPC.pdf. Retrieved 2008-10-08. 

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

External links

• Tour details
• Tourism