From World Struggle bombings to historic church buildings: new biking excursions cowl Chennai’s historical past

Chennai’s Biking Yogis joins fingers with TTDC to discover all the things from Madras’ historic historical past to its streets with the funniest names, in its newest set of heritage biking toursRamanujar Moulana, founding father of Biking Yogis, discusses the pattern of cycle tourism, missed cultural spots in Madras and upcoming heritage biking excursions

Chennai’s Biking Yogis joins fingers with TTDC to discover all the things from Madras’ historic historical past to its streets with the funniest names, in its newest set of heritage biking excursions

Sitting roughly 700 metres away from Chennai’s Island Grounds, the place the place India’s first flight, a aircraft commandeered by Giacomo D’Angelis, took off in 1910, historical past fanatic Ramanujar Moulana unveils many different not-so-secret tidbits about Chennai’s wealthy cultural historical past. 

Following the set of 4 heritage excursions carried out in early 2022, the Tamil Nadu Tourism Growth Company (TTDC), together with Ramanujar’s organisation Biking Yogis, is launching a second collection of six themed tour trails, starting on June 26. 

Distinguished amongst these is the just lately concluded World Wars path, that revisits Madras’ tryst with the wars. “A lot of folks aren’t conscious of Chennai’s involvement in World Wars, so the World Wars path will cowl the Emden bombing plaque, air shelters used within the Second World Struggle in Kasimedu, the Madras Struggle Cemetery in Nandambakkam and the Victory Struggle Memorial,” says Ramanujar. 

On the night time of September 22, 1914 throughout the First World Struggle, Emden bombed Madras. One shell fired from the highly effective weapons of the Emden hit a compound wall of the Excessive Courtroom, demolishing it utterly. Later, a plaque was erected close to this spot.
| Picture Credit score: Ok V SRINIVASAN

The second tour, Historical Madras Path, focusses on Madras earlier than its British settlements. This may discover a shrine of Alvar, the Thiruvalluvar temple, the Parthasarathi temple and Tiruvottiyur. 

Alternatively, the Scottish and Irish Path will go to the Munro Statue, The Kirk aka St Andrew’s Church in Egmore, and different numerous Scottish contributions to Chennai structure. It additionally plans to cowl St Patrick’s college in Gandhinagar and St Thomas Mount, to look at the Irish stamp on our metropolis. 

Stained glass window at St. Andrews The Kirk, Egmore, constructed to serve the Scottish neighborhood in Chennai. The church was consecrated in 1821, and is among the many oldest church buildings in Chennai.
| Picture Credit score: RAVINDRAN R

“When COVID was at its peak, I needed to cease my earlier analysis for security causes,” states Ramanujar, who has been highlighting Chennai’s heritage tgrough his biking excursions for years. He provides, “It was throughout this time that I made a decision to create a path devoted to our medical doctors and healthcare employees. These trails have been compiled and launched in my e book Madras By Cycle in 2021.” 

The Medical Heritage Path will cowl locations already listed in his e book, like Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy memorial in Thiruvanmiyur, Dr. Edward Bulkley’s tomb proper subsequent to Madras Medical Faculty, and the oldest eye hospital in Asia, Egmore Eye Hospital. 

From healthcare, he shifts focus to journey. The Vada Chennai Path will take members to one of many oldest railway stations in South Asia, the Royapuram Railway Station, to be taught extra about this metropolis’s railway heritage. The path additionally covers different distinctive, well-known spots that showcase North Chennai in a very vibrant approach, proper in time for Madras Day. 

Ramanujar Moulana
| Picture Credit score: Aswini Rao

And but, not all the paths are seeped in heavy historical past. “The idea of the final tour is kind of easy however totally different. There are a lot of streets in Madras with barely unusual and humorous names, so I wished to go go to all of those locations. We additionally wished to make clear numerous charitable societies in Chennai.” he explains. Therefore, the Road Names and Charity Path will span throughout Madras and cease at locations like Constable Street, Brewery Street and Kolaikaran Pettai. They will even give attention to charitable locations like Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Vepery. 

“Cycle tourism is a one-of-a-kind expertise as a result of one turns into acquainted with the contours and topography of town. That is positively not one thing you possibly can expertise by simply sitting in a automobile,” he says, whereas explaining that although he has lived in Chennai all his life, it took him all the ten years he spent documenting it and curating trails to essentially get to comprehend it.

This info he has gathered through the years has been revealed in numerous books, every particular to a selected space or theme. Ramanujar’s subsequent e book discusses overseas influences aside from the British that made their mark on Madras. Nations like Italy, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, the US, Scotland, Eire and Turkey all function right here. Titled The World Heritage of Madras, it’s set to launch on August 21.

By- The Hindu

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