Chingleput

Chengalpattu (Tamil: செங்கல்பட்டு), formerly known as Chingleput, is a town and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the headquarters of the Chengalpattu taluk of the district and is situated at a distance of 55 kilometres (34 mi) south-west of the state capital, Chennai on the national highway NH 45.

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The city is believed to have been named after a kind of lily called 'chenkazhuneer poo' (செங்கழுநீர் பூ) which is found aplenty in the region. 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.

Geography

Chengalpattu is located at

 WikiMiniAtlas

12.7°N 79.98°E. It has an average elevation of 36 metres (118 ft). Lake Kolavai is situated near Chingleput.

 

Education

There are number of educational institutes located in Chingleput.

• COLLEGES:
• Chengalpet Government Medical College
• Rajeswari Vedachalam Government Arts College
• Chengalpet Government Law 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
• Asan Memorial dental college
• Indira Gandhi College of Engineering & Technology for Women
• Vidhya Sagar Women's Arts & Science College
• SCHOOLS:
• Prasan Vidya Mandir
• St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School (Chengalpattu)
• St. Joseph's Kinder Garden School.
• Vidya Sagar Global 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
• RLT Matriculation school, primary
• Mahindra internatioanl School

Hospitals 

• Govt General Hospital
• Beent clinic
• Nambi Nursing Home & Poly Clinic
• Sri Venkataraman Hospital
• JJ Hospital
• Balaji Nurshing Home
• JSP Hospital

Court

• Chengalpattu Sessions Court (District combined courts) located next to GH

• Chengleput Consumer Court:

  Address of Chengleput Consumer Court: Sub-Collector Office Compound, G.S.T. Road, Melamaiyur Village, Chengalpattu
  Phone Number Of Chengleput Consumer Court : 04114-27428832
   

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.