Vannarapettai () is a northern neighbourhood of

Chennai Chennai, also known as Madras (List of renamed places in India#Tamil Nadu, its official name until 1996), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Tamil Nadu by population, largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost states and ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. It is also known as Pazhaya Vannarapettai (), sometimes shortened as Vannai. It is located north of

Parrys Corner George Town, also known as Muthialpet and Parry's corner, is a neighbourhood in Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu, India. It is near the Fort Saint George. It is an historical area of Madras city from where its expansion began in the 1640s. It ext ...

and adjacent to

Royapuram Royapuram is a locality in the northern part of the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is best known for its beach, and for Royapuram Railway Station. The station is the first railway station of South India, opening in 1856, and is today ...

. Washermanpet is famous for its jewelry shops and matchbox industries, many of which are centered on two main arterial roads.

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

, Parrys,

, Korukkupet,

Tondiarpet Tondiarpet is a northern neighbourhood of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Etymology This area got its name from a famous nineteenth-century Muslim Saint Kunangudi Masthan Sahib. His birthplace is located near Thondi in Ramanathapuram District. Th ...

, Kasimedu and

Tiruvottiyur Tiruvottriyur (Thiruvottiyur or TVT) is a neighbourhood in North Chennai, administered by the Greater Chennai Corporation. It is part of the Tondiarpet division, located to the north of Chennai. It is one of the fifteen administrative zones in ...

are located adjacent to this locality.

History

The name comes from the fact that it used to be the washermen's enclave in Chennai, where many of the city's

dhobi Dhobi known in some places as Dhoba, Rajaka, a Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, scheduled caste in India and the greater Indian subcontinent whose traditional occupations are Clothes washing, washing, ironing, and Farmworker, agricultur ...

ghats Ghat (), a term used in the Indian subcontinent, to refer to the series of steps leading down to a body of water or wharf, such as a bathing or cremation place along the banks of a river or pond, the Ghats in Varanasi, Dhobi Ghat or the Aap ...

used to be located. Prior to the development of T.Nagar and Purasawalkam, Washermenpet acted as the textile business hub of Chennai. Washermenpet is one of the several Dhobikhanas in Chennai since colonial times with others being Adayar,

Chetpet Chetpet is a major town panchayat in Tiruvannamalai district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Chetpet's major economical activity is processing paddy and the town is home to one of the largest organised paddy exchange markets of the state. C ...

Saidapet Saidapet, also known as Saidai, is a neighbourhood in Chennai, India, situated in the northern banks of the Adyar River and serves as an entry point to Central Chennai. It is surrounded by West Mambalam in the North, C.I.T Nagar in the North-Ea ...

and

Mylapore Mylapore (also spelt Mayilapur), or Thirumayilai, is a neighbourhood in the central part of the city of Chennai, India. It is one of the oldest residential parts of the city. The locality is claimed to be the birthplace of the celebrated Tamil ...

Colleges and schools

There are many historical educational establishments present in this locality.

Schools

Old Washermanpet is surrounded by various private schools, government-run schools as well as government-aided schools to provide nursery to secondary education.

Colleges

Sir Theagaraya College is a government-aided college that is affiliated with the University of Madras, offering courses in the arts as well as sciences. It is one of the oldest colleges in Chennai.

Hospitals

Stanley Hospital and RSRM Hospital are two major hospitals in Washermanpet while CSI Rainy is located in Gollavar Agraharam Road.

Rail and road connectivity

Washermanpet has a bus terminus and a

railway station Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...

. Washermanpet Metro Station serves as the northern terminus of the Blue Line of the

Chennai Metro The Chennai Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city of Chennai, India. Operated by Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) – a joint venture between the Government of India and the State Government of Tamil Nadu, the network consists o ...

rail network and another metro station is expected to be located underground, near Sir Theagaraya College in Old Washermanpet.

Parks and playgrounds

Anna Park is used by the residents for morning walks and recreational activities. Robinson Ground and Sir Theyagaraya Ground are frequented by children for sport activities. These public areas were often used by the Dravidan Federation during its nascent stages and witnessed several speeches given by orators such as

C. N. Annadurai Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai (15 September 19093 February 1969), also known as Perarignar, was an Indian politician who was the founder and first general-secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). He served as the fourth and last chi ...

and M. Karunanidhi.

Landmarks

The famous Mint Street, also known as "Thanga Salai" () has several landmarks, such as R Square, and Maharani Theatre. The famous Periyapalayam Mariamman Temple is also located at the start of T.H. Road and Sri Kothandaramar Temple on Perambalu Street.

References

External links

GeoHack - Vannarapettai
{{Chennai district Neighbourhoods in Chennai