Sowcarpet

Last updated

Sowcarpet
neighbourhood
Jain Mandir,(BHAGWAN SHRI PARSVANATHJI) Mint Street, Chennai - panoramio (1).jpg
Chennai area locator map.svg
Red pog.svg
Sowcarpet
India Tamil Nadu location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Sowcarpet
India location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Sowcarpet
Coordinates: 13°05′22″N80°16′44″E / 13.08950°N 80.27897°E / 13.08950; 80.27897
CountryIndia
State Tamil Nadu
District Chennai
MetroChennai
ZoneBasin Bridge
Ward30
Government
  Body CMDA
Languages
  Official Tamil
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
600079
Lok Sabha constituencyChennai North
Legislative assembly constituencyHarbour
Planning agency CMDA

Sowcarpet is a neighborhood in the northern part of Chennai, India. Sowcarpet is one of the oldest neighborhoods of the city with narrow streets and vintage buildings. It is a bustling commercial area of the city, and a range of wholesale markets are located here. [1] The locality is known as the North Indian hub of Chennai owing to the presence of the North Indian community here. [2] Sowcarpet is home to the largest Marwadi community in South India.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Etymology

The neighbourhood derives its name from the term "sowcar" which comes from the Hindi word sahukaar, originally meaning merchant or native banker. The term now refers to a money-lender. [3]

History

Sowcarpet is often referred to as "Little North India" owing to the presence of a predominantly North Indian population. The neighbourhood is home to the city's first North-Indian Jain temples. It is also flanked with shops and eateries offering north Indian foods and delicacies. [3]

In his book Madras Rediscovered, Chennai city chronicler S. Muthiah writes that Gujarati immigrants from Saurashtra who established themselves as a weaving community in Madurai and Tirunelveli arrived in the Sowcarpet neighbourhood in the 17th century. The diamond and silk merchants, who gave the neighbourhood its name, arrived in the 18th century from Gujarat. Other settlers in the neighbourhood includes the Marwaris from Rajasthan, who arrived later. [3]

Description

Sowcarpet is considered a shopper's paradise owing to the presence of shops and outlets selling a wide range of finished goods. [2] Most streets in Sowcarpet are rather narrow, with a few exceptions like Mint Street [4] and nearby area. [5] The buildings in the streets are so close to each other that they look like they share a common wall. The sight is typical of the crowded bazaars of Indian cities – a potpourri of different vendors and artisans, trading and making a variety of articles. The wholesale markets for several goods are in Narayana Mudali street, Govindappa Naicken street and Rattan Bazaar. The area around Kasi Chetty street and Mint street is famous for shopping and for small eateries serving traditional North Indian, chiefly Gujarati and Marwari, chaat and other delicacies. [2] Patni Plaza and Naidu Plaza are some of the well known shopping malls in the area. Kakada Ramprasad and Novelty Tea House, both started in 1958, are some of the notable eateries in the neighbourhood. [6] [7]

The neighbourhood is known for its Holi and Raksha Bandhan celebrations. [8]

Economy

It has been estimated that the turnover of the neighbourhood is anywhere between 100,000 million and 150,000 million a year. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

Madras Bashai was the variety of the Tamil language spoken by native people in the city of Madras in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It was sometimes considered a pidgin, as its vocabulary was heavily influenced by Hindustani, Indian English, Telugu, Malayalam, and Burmese; it is not mutually intelligible with any of those except for Tamil, to a certain extent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mylapore</span> Neighbourhood of Chennai

Mylapore, 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 philosopher Valluvar, and the Hindu saint and philosopher, Peyalvar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. Nagar</span> Neighborhood of Chennai, India

Thyagaraya Nagar, commonly known as T. Nagar, and historically known as East Mambalam, is a very affluent commercial and residential neighbourhood in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is surrounded by Nungambakkam in the North, Teynampet in the East, Nandanam in the South-East, C.I.T. Nagar in the South and West Mambalam and Kodambakkam in the West. The stretch between Duraiswamy Road and T. Nagar Bus Stand has some of the costliest real estates in Chennai. It was constructed between 1923 and 1925 by the Madras Presidency government of the Raja of Panagal as a part of town planning activities initiated according to the Madras Town Planning Act of 1920. The town was named after P. Thyagaraya Chetty. The streets, parks and localities in the new neighbourhood were named after important officials in the provincial government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sadar Bazaar, Delhi</span> Place in Delhi, India

Sadar Bazaar is the largest wholesale cosmetics jewellery market of household items in Old Delhi, Delhi, India.

Virugambakkam is a residential neighbourhood of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is an important residential area of and is famous for its schools, market, residential colonies and residences of film artists. Virugambakkam had some of Chennai's oldest film studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triplicane</span> Neighborhood in Chennai, India

Thiruvallikeni known as Triplicane, is one of the oldest neighbourhoods of Chennai, India. It is situated on the Bay of Bengal coast and about 0.6 km (0.37 mi) from Fort St George. The average elevation of the neighbourhood is 14 metres above sea level.

Vannarapettai (transl. Washermenpet) is a northern neighbourhood of Chennai, India. It is also known as Pazhaya Vannarapettai, sometimes shortened as Vannai. It is located north of Parrys Corner and adjacent to Royapuram. Washermanpet is famous for its jewelry shops and matchbox industries, many of which are centered on two main arterial roads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Salai</span> Arterial road in Chennai, India

Anna Salai, formerly known as St. Thomas Mount Road or simply Mount Road, is an arterial road in Chennai, India. It starts at the Cooum Creek, south of Fort St George, leading in a south-westerly direction towards St. Thomas Mount, and ends at the Kathipara Junction in Guindy. Beyond the Kathipara Junction, a branch road arises traversing westwards to Poonamallee to form the Mount-Poonamallee Road while the main branch continuing southwards to Chennai Airport, Tambaram and beyond to form Grand Southern Trunk Road. Anna Salai, which is more than 400 years old, is acknowledged as the most important road in Chennai city. The head offices of many commercial enterprises and public buildings are located along Anna Salai. It is the second longest road in Chennai, after EVR Periyar Salai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panagal Park</span> Park and locality in Chennai, India

Panagal Park is a park and a locality in Thyagaraya Nagar, Chennai. The park is named after the Raja of Panagal, the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency who created the park. It is an important junction and is the commercial centre of T. Nagar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Town, Chennai</span> Neighbourhood in Chennai District, Tamil Nadu, India

George Town is a neighbourhood in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is near the Fort Saint George, Chennai. It is also known as Muthialpet and Parry's corner. It is an historical area of Chennai city from where its expansion began in the 1640s. It extends from the Bay of Bengal in the east to Park town on the west. The Fort St. George is on the south, to Royapuram in the north. The Fort St. George houses the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and the Secretariat. The High court of Tamil Nadu at Chennai, Dr. Ambedkar Law College, Stanley Medical College and Hospital are located here.

Alsa Mall is a shopping mall on Montieth Road in the neighbourhood of Egmore in Chennai, India. Established in the mid-1980s, along with the Spencer Plaza, it is one of the oldest surviving malls in the city. Alsa Mall has a variety of shops in and around it. It is also considered to be a hangout location for youngsters during evening owing to the variety of street food vendors who hold business in the mall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chennakesava Perumal Temple</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Chennakesava Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the George Town neighbourhood of Chennai city, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Chenna Kesava Perumal. There is the nearby Chenna Malleeswarar Temple. They are twin temples. The temple was the first to be built in the new settlement; since the construction of Madras city by the British East India Company. Chennakesava Perumal is a manifestation of the Hindu god Vishnu. And considered as the patron deity of Chennai, Chenna pattanam may be named after the Chenna Kesava Perumal Temple. The word 'chenna' in Telugu means fair not to be confused with tamil word chinna, and the temple was regarded as the main place of the city.

Mallikesvarar Temple or Mallikarjunar Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the neighbourhood of George Town in the city of Chennai, India. It is one of the first Hindu temples to be constructed in the British settlement of Madrasapatnam. There is the nearby Chenna kesava perumal Temple. They are twin temples. This is also called Chenna Malleeswarar temple. Chenna pattanam may be named after this deities. The word 'chenni' in Tamil means face, and the temple was regarded as the face of the city.

Sukrawarpettai or Sukrawarpet is a neighbourhood of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, India. It falls within the Coimbatore South constituency of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex</span> Perishable goods market complex in Chennai, India

Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex (KWMC) is one of Asia's largest perishable goods market complex located at Koyambedu, Chennai. The market complex is spread over an area of 295 acres (1.19 km2). Inaugurated in 1996, the complex consists of about 3,100 shops, including more than 1,000 wholesale shops and 2,000 retail shops. Of these, 850 are fruit shops. It abuts the Poonamallee High Road and Nesapakkam Road and can be easily accessed from all parts of City. In Phase I, a wholesale market for perishables was developed in an area of around 70 acres (280,000 m2) by constructing 3,194 shops. The market has two blocks for vegetable shops and one each for fruit and flower shops. In Phase II, a textile market and in Phase III, a food grain market have been planned to be developed in the complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China Bazaar Road, Chennai</span> Major road in Chennai, India

China Bazaar Road, officially Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Road, is one of the main thoroughfares of the commercial centre of George Town in Chennai, India. The road connects Rajaji Salai in the east with Wall Tax Road in the west. Passing through thickly populated residential areas of the historical neighbourhood, the road has several streets, lanes, and by lanes joining it housing several commercial establishments of the city.

Mint Street is one of the prime streets of the commercial centre of George Town in Chennai, India. The street is one of the oldest streets in Chennai and is believed to be the longest street in the city. Running north–south, the street connects Poonamallee High Road at Park Town in the south with North Wall Road–Old Jail Road Junction at Washermanpet in the north. Running parallel to the Wall Tax Road, another historical thoroughfare in the city, the street passes through thickly populated residential and commercial areas of the historical neighbourhood.

Royapettah Neighbourhood, in Chennai district, in Tamil Nadu State, in India.

Royapettah is a neighbourhood of Chennai, India.

Thiru Vi Ka Salai, or the Thiru Vi Ka High Road, is one of the main streets in the downtown region of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Running from north to south, the street branches off of the arterial Anna Salai north of the LIC Building and ends at Luz Corner in Mylapore, continuing as the Ramakrishna Mutt Road. The street connects the neighbourhoods of Royapettah, Mylapore and Gopalapuram. The street includes three individual stretches formerly known as General Patters Road, Westcott Road and Royapettah High Road, respectively. The longest stretch, formerly known as the Royapettah High Road, runs to a length of 1.17 km (0.73 mi). The presence of numerous automobile dealers on the northern end of the street resulted in Chennai coming to be known as The Detroit of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamil Nadu Police Museum, Chennai</span> History museum in Tamil Nadu, India

Tamil Nadu Police Museum is a museum in Chennai, India. Located in Pantheon Road in the neighbourhood of Egmore, the museum was opened in September 2021. The museum has a repository of exhibits marking the passage of the state's law enforcement agency from colonial India to the modern day.

References

  1. "Shopping in Sowcarpet: Chennai's clothing bazaar". The Hindu. RoofandFloor. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Top 5 streets of George Town in Chennai". The Hindu. Chennai: Kasturi & Sons. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 Venkatraman, Vijaysree (16–30 June 2018). "A virtual walk through Sowcarpet". Madras Musings. 28 (5). Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  4. Todhunter, Colin (14 February 2013). "Hot mint in Chennai: welcome to India". TravelMag. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  5. Todhunter, Colin (17 October 2013). "Keeping it Clean on Mint Street, Chennai". TravelMag. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  6. Samyuktha, Nair (May 2018). "Sowcarpet: Chennai's Little-Known North Indian Settlement". Ed Times. Chennai. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  7. Venkatesh, Vidya Gowri (28 December 2022). "Know Your City: From Bombay-style bhel puris to hot crispy jalebis, don't miss these five snack points in Chennai". The Indian Express. Chennai: Express Publications. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  8. 1 2 Kandavel, Sangeetha (28 August 2019). "A melting pot of cultures and trades". The Hindu. Chennai: Kasturi & Sons. Retrieved 9 January 2023.