On a rainy morning, Chennai Weekend Clickers (CWC) organised a photo walk to explore the streets of George Town ( also known as Muthialpet and Parry's corner).
George Town is a historical area of Madras city (currently Chennai) from where its expansion began in the 1640s. During the colonial period, the area in and around Muthialpet was renamed George Town by the British in 1911, in honour of King George V when he was crowned as the Emperor of India.
Named after eminent Telugu people of that period, several streets in the neighbourhood are known for their dedicated businesses and services. There are streets exclusively for textiles, imported goods, cereals & pulses, hardware & electronics, stationaries and lot more.
By the early 18th century, growing population and commercial activities resulted in expansion to neighbouring areas. In 1733, the weaving community started to settle down in Chintadripet and Collepetta near Tiruvottiyur, since abundant open space was available for weaving. The community of washermen in the Mint area then moved towards the west, forming the present Washermanpet. Potters from this area moved outside the St.George Fort on the north side and formed a new colony named Kosapet. With the construction of a bridge in 1710 to connect Egmore, people started moving towards the present Moore Market area.
Being one of the oldest settlements in the modern city of Chennai, George Town remains a classic example of a confluence of different architectural styles. The neighbourhood is known for several classic styles of buildings such as Indo-Saracenic, Neoclassical, Gothic, and Art Deco, apart from several traditional vernacular styles. Each building presents its uniqueness in its architectural character. These include all the tiny little shops dotted along the narrow lanes with rusty name boards and classic fonts splashed with vibrant colours which sells hot tea, paan and all sorts of local savouries.
George Town and it's surrounding areas are the last standing showcase of the British rule and the colonial period in Madras. The vibrant colors, native people and happening moments keeps this place lively. If you ever visit Chennai do visit the streets of George Town without fail.
Content Sourced from Wikipedia