The many stories hidden in Royapuram’s heritage landmarks
A heritage walk in Chennai's Royapuram district explores the area's unique history, shaped by its Anglo-Indian community and the construction of India's oldest railway station. The walk highlights the architectural remnants of a once-vibrant cultural hub.
Why it matters
It documents the preservation of urban heritage and the history of minority communities in rapidly modernizing Indian cities.
In the early 20th Century, Chennai’s Royapuram underwent a transformation that made it look distinct from the rest of Madras. With the sea on one side, music from every corner, and a large Anglo-Indian population jamming to it, Royapuram felt foreign to the rest of the city.
Now, the echoes of that music have faded, and Royapuram, with its busy narrow streets and jaded buildings, has blended into the rest of Chennai. Barring a few institutions that mark the presence of Anglo-Indians who once lived here, the community’s numbers have dwindled.
These stories were revisited during a heritage walk led by architect Muhilann M and S Prasanna as part of a collaboration between NinetyEight.Madras and Made of Chennai.
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