Chengalpattu

Chengalpattu was formerly a capital of the kings of Vijayanagara, after their defeat by the Deccan sultanates at Battle of Talikota in 1565.^[1] The fortress at Chengalpattu, 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.^[1]

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,^[1] which became the nucleus of the city of Madras. Chengalpattu was taken by the French in 1751 and was retaken in 1752 by Robert Clive, after which it proved of great strategic advantage to the British, especially when Lally failed to capture the fortress in his advance on Madras.^[1]

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.^[1] By 1900 the town was noted for its manufacture of pottery and was a local market center, especially of the rice trade.^[1] 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.

Chengalpattu is located at 12°42′N 79°59′E / 12.7°N 79.98°E / 12.7; 79.98.^[2] It has an average elevation of 36 metres (118 ft). Lake Kolavai is the largest located in Chengalpattu.

According to 2011 census, Chengalpattu had a population of 62,579 with a sex-ratio of 1,020 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.^[3] A total of 5,884 were under the age of six, constituting 3,045 males and 2,839 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 15.55% and 1.44% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 83.25%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.^[3] The town had a total of 15675 households. There were a total of 23,937 workers, comprising 264 cultivators, 215 main agricultural labourers, 475 in house hold industries, 19,376 other workers, 3,607 marginal workers, 127 marginal cultivators, 66 marginal agricultural labourers, 175 marginal workers in household industries and 3,239 other marginal workers.^[4] As per the religious census of 2011, Chengalpattu had 85.33% Hindus, 6.09% Muslims, 6.48% Christians, 0.02% Sikhs, 0.13% Buddhists, 0.13% Jains, 1.79% following other religions and 0.02% following no religion or did not indicate any religious preference.^[5]

Various educational institutions are in Chengalpattu like schools, engineering colleges, Dental, Medical colleges and Arts/Science colleges.

• Rajeswari Vedachalam Govt Arts College
• Vidyasagar Women's College

• Government Law College, Chengalpattu

• Asan Memorial College of Engineering and Technology
• Indra Gandhi Women's College of Engineering
• Karpaga Vinayaga College of Engineering and Technology
• Shri Andal Alagar College of Engineering

• Chengalpet Government Medical College
• Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Science

• Asan Memorial Dental College and Hospital
• Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Dental Science

• Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Nursing
• School of Nursing, Chengalpattu Government Hospital
• Government college of Nursing

• Swamy Vivekananda Vidhyalaya Matric School, Chengalpattu
• Sri Ramakrishna Boys.Hr.Sec.school.
• Seventh Day Adventist Matric. Hr. Sec.School, Chengalpattu
• Blessings Matric Hr. Sec. School.
• Brindhavan Public School.
• CSI Alison Cassie Girls Higher Secondary School.
• CSI St.Hilda's & St. Hugh's Matric Hr.Sec. School.
• Government Girls Hr. Sec. School.
• Guardian International Nursery School.
• Little Jacky Matric. Hr. Sec. School.
• Maharishi Vidhya Mandir School.
• Mahindra World School.
• Prasan Vidhya Mandir School.
• Sri Ramakrishna Mission Boys Hr. Sec. School.
• Sri Ramakrishna Mission Girls Hr. Sec. School.
• St.Columba's Hr. Sec. School.
• CSI St.Hilda's & St.Hugh's Matric.Hr.Sec.School.
• St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Chengalpattu
• St.Joseph's Matric. Hr. Sec. School.
• St.Mary's Girls Hr. Sec. School.
• St.Mary's Primary School.
• St.Paul's Academy(CBSE).
• St.Paul's Matriculation School.
• SCAD World School.
• St.Ann's Matric Hr. Sec.School.
• Vidhya Sagar Global School.

• Oviya School of Music

• Lefort Dental Hospital.
• Beent Hospital.
• Chengalpattu Medical College and Hospital
• Government Leprosy Hospital.
• JJ Hospital.
• JSP Hospital.
• Sree Renga Nursing Home.
• Venkat Ramana Hospital.
• Balaji Hospital.
• Chandeep Scans & Diagnostic.
• Sai Hospital.

• Lathaa Cinemas.
• SRK Cinemas.
• F8 Cinema.
• C3 Cinemas Laurel Mall near Mamandur.

There are numerous temples, mosques and churches in Chengalpattu.

• Vinayagar Temple, Near Sub collector office
• Perumal Temple
• Ramar Temple
• Kottai Veera Anchaneyar Temple: Often worshipped at for good luck in health and business
• Hayagreevar Temple: It situated at Chettipunniyam. Special for Education and Business
• Mallikeshwarar Temple: It's situated at Daka Nagar, Near Hayagreevar temple and Mahindra World City. You can find a big size Lingam for worship. Specially for Business people, Students and newly married couples.

• ST ANDREW’S,CHURCH,CHURCH OF SOUTH INDIA
• SEVENTH SAY ADVENTIST
• PENTACOSTAL
• ROMAN CATHOLIC

• TNTJ Matharasathul Iklas Masjid, Tattanmalai Street
• Nawab Jamia Masjid, Basith Street
• Makkah Masjid, opp. Municipality Office
• Masjide Mamoor, near New Bus stand
• UNIWAS Masjid, Mahindra City.

Chenglapattu is well connected by road and rail. The Chennai Airport lies just 38 km north of the town and can be reached in about 1 hour by road. Melmaruvathur is about 35 km from Chengalpattu. To reach Tindivanam, which is 69 km away, it takes about 1.3 hours through GST Road or NH 45.

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 a railway connection to Arakkonam via Kanchipuram. There are many trains running from Kanchipuram via Chengalpattu to Beach Station stopping at all stations up to Chennai city Tambaram. Superfast trains are available, running from Chengalpattu to Chennai city area's Tambaram, Guindy, Mambalam, Egmore, Park and finally Beach Station.

There are many buses connecting Chengalpattu with other parts of the state and beyond. Some of them are

Few MTC Buses Towards Chengalpattu

Today Chengalpattu has developed as a touristic spot for many foreign travellers on their way to Mamallapuram, Thirukazhukundram, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary and Kanchipuram, Karikili Bird Sanctuary.

The boat house established by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) in the Kolavai lake which is alongside the NH 45 highway has 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, town.

Kolavai Lake is the second largest lake in the Chengalpattu District after Madhuranthagam Lake. Kolavai Lake is well known for its perennial nature: There are 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. The early morning sunrise and the moon hovering above the lake over its waters in the night are scenic to the eyes. The lake's beauty can be experienced by taking a train from the Chengalpattu station to Paranur.

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

Several companies in and around the town like Al-Ohm Inc., Tech Mahindra, Wipro, BMW, Ford, Flextronics, Foxconn, Dell, Samsung, Infosys, Pepsi, TVS, Siemens, Nissan Renault, Apollo Tyres, Mahindra R & D, Bay forge have production plants near Chengalpattu. The Madurantakam Co operative Sugar Mill is also located here.

Chengalpattu assembly constituency is part of Kancheepuram (Lok Sabha constituency).^[6] Chengalpattu (Lok Sabha constituency) exist from 1952 to 2004 Lok Sabha elections.

• O. V. Alagesan, Member of first Constituent Assembly of India, was born in Chengalpattu
• Waheeda Rehman, famous Golden-age era Bollywood actress was born in Chengalpattu
• Nassar, famous Indian film actor, Director and Producer, Who mainly works in the South Indian film industry was born in Chengalpattu.

•   This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Chingleput". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 233.10-02-2013