In Pictures | Madras, then and now

Escaping the heat at Marina Beach in the evenings, the honks and traffic near Spencer’s Plaza, panju mittai on the rocks near Mamallapuram’s Shore Temple — Chennai has transformed over the years, but some things remain the same. On the occasion of Madras Day, see how the city has changed through the eyes of The Hindu’s archives and photographers.

Opened in 1873, Chennai Central railway station was the terminus for the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway and handled all northern and western traffic. It was built on land belonging to a Portuguese merchant to decongest traffic at Royapuram station. Passengers boarded private buses to important places in the city. The archival picture is from 1925.

Spencer’s Plaza, built upon the skeleton of a department store in the 1980s, is the oldest mall in India. Since it opened in 1991, it has been a third space for eighties and nineties kids and has appeared as a backdrop in many iconic Kollywood songs. Right opposite Spencer’s Plaza, on the junction, is the Old Curiosity Shop, a unique antique store that feels like stepping back in time.

The people of Madras, driven by the heat of the city, take refuge in the Beach in the evenings. The archival picture from 1961 shows a traffic policeman, dressed in times long gone by, regulating the traffic. The Standard Motor car (in double shade), too, is a thing of the past.

Honks from cars, the rumbles of engines, loud calls from shops — Parry’s Corner, a busy commercial area in the heart of Madras, is packed and loud. In this picture from 1985, the buzzing Corner looks unusually deserted, with only a few pedestrians and cyclists keeping to themselves.

Sixty kilometres from Chennai is the temple city of Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram. The Pallavas left behind this ancient coastal town full of stone monuments, most notably the Shore Temple. A weekend getaway for city folk, many have memories of climbing the rocks jutting out into the Bay of Bengal after a long drive on the East Coast Road (ECR).

Opened to traffic in 1856 and still functional, Royapuram railway station is the oldest surviving railway station in the entire subcontinent. It was the main railway station of Chennai till 1907. Morning and evening crowds continue to throng the old platform where the first train from Madras Presidency ran all the way to Arcot.

One might spot a rare bird drifting on the Adyar River or a spectacular sunset while driving on the Thiru Vi Ka Bridge, also known as the Adyar Bridge, a stone’s throw away from Besant Nagar and the Theosophical Society. The archival picture is from 1973, when the bridge was opened to the public.

The Triplicane High Road, known today for its midnight food scene. Archival picture from 1987.