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Madras Inherited, 46, Gandhi Nagar 4th Main Road, Adyar, Chennai (2026)

18/05/2026

Have you ever wondered why there are so many Telugu speakers in Madras? The answer lies in history — from the grandeur of the Vijayanagara Empire to the influential presence of Telugu merchants, philanthropists, and visionaries, whose enduring mark is visible in Madras’s streets, schools, and institutions.

Our route winds through T Nagar — celebrated as the heart of Telugu life in Madras — to uncover stories of art, cinema, politics, enterprise and education. We’ll also revisit the dramatic political struggle between Tamil and Telugu leaders over Madras’s future—a pivotal moment that shaped the region’s identity and boundaries.

From the intricacies of language and culture to the iconic Andhra meals, delicious sweets, and vibrant fabrics, this walk celebrates the living legacy of the Telugu community in Madras, bringing to light histories that have long been hidden in plain sight.

The walk will be led by Sindhuja Birenji.

Date of the Walk: 24th May 2026, Sunday
Time of the Walk: 04:00 - 06:00 p.m.
Assembling point: In front of Kesari Higher Secondary School

If you’re interested in attending the walk, DM for the registration link! In case of any queries, feel free to get in touch with us.

11/05/2026

May 18th is annually celebrated as International Museum Day. Join us at the Government Museum in Chennai which boasts of art galleries that provide a unique opportunity to engage with artists spanning centuries. Visitors can explore a diverse array of visual media, from traditional Tanjore paintings to Western art such as portraits of British governor-generals. The collection also features Ravi Varma’s paintings, which are considered national treasures, alongside contemporary paintings and sculptures by later artists.

Art transcends its surface appearance. To truly grasp a painting’s meaning and context, one needs to explore its history and dedicate time to it, as deeper interaction fosters greater understanding and appreciation.

Art history plays a crucial role in offering invaluable visual insights into the past. It functions as a comprehensive historical record, providing a unique perspective on historical events and cultural shifts. A contextual analysis delves into the circumstances surrounding the artwork’s creation, effectively opening a window into the past. Understanding the context helps to interpret the symbolism, narratives, and intentions behind the art, revealing its significance within its specific time and place.

The walk will be led by Ashmitha Athreya.

Date of the walk: 17th May 2027, Sunday
Time of the walk: 03:30 - 05:30 p.m.
Assembling point: National Art Gallery, Government Museum, Egmore

If you’re interested in attending the walk, DM for the registration link! In case of any queries, feel free to get in touch with us.

📸 Binsan Oommen Baby

11/05/2026

Away from the steel and glass of Chennai, Triplicane is one of the localities that represents the most vibrant memories of Madras we have left. It is a collage of cultures, architectural styles and heritage of Indian communities who built it over many centuries.

The character of Triplicane changes from street to street, encapsulating the many diverse and intriguing stories of its people. As we walk from the Wallajah Mosque to the Parthasarathy Temple, the story of this eclectic neighbourhood unveils itself in the form of old houses, institutions, traditions and lore.

Come walk with us through the Triplicane of the grand old temple, the Nawabs, the cinephiles, the meddling Englishmen and the bachelor’s mansions.

Discover everybody’s Triplicane!

The walk will be led by Ms Ashmitha Athreya.

Date of the Walk: 17th May 2026, Sunday
Time of the Walk: 06:30 - 09:00 a.m.
Assembling point: Muhammadan Library, opposite Adyar Anandha Bhavan, Triplicane High Road

If you’re interested in attending the walk, DM for the registration link! In case of any queries, feel free to get in touch with us.

22/04/2026

When Madras Plays #13

Chess has one of the deepest historical connections with India among all strategy games. Its earliest known precursor, Chaturanga, emerged in the Indian subcontinent around the 6th century during the Gupta period. The game symbolised warfare and strategy, with pieces representing the four divisions of the army infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots. Played on an eight-by-eight board, it required foresight, calculation, and tactical thinking.

The game travelled westward through trade routes and cultural exchange. Over time, rules changed significantly, the queen became the most powerful piece, and the game developed into one of the world’s most intellectually demanding sports. Chess also shares historical connections with other strategy games such as Shogi and Xiangqi, which evolved from similar early traditions.

Chennai has had a strong association with chess for more than two centuries. Nineteenth-century records show that players from the Madras region were already recognised for their skill. By the 20th century, organised chess flourished through clubs, tournaments, and newspaper columns. The Madras Chess Association, founded in 1947, later became the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, strengthening competitive chess in the region. This environment eventually produced champions like Viswanathan Anand, inspiring new generations.

For decades, Indian chess was defined by the legendary Vishwanathan Anand, a five-time world champion. Anand competed against icons across generations, from Russia’s Garry Kasparov in the 1990s to Norway’s Magnus Carlsen in recent times.

The mantle has now been passed to a new generation of chess stars. Anand, however, remains deeply involved in the sport, however, dedicating his time to training and mentoring rising talents.

Coach Velavan notes that this new crop of players has significantly boosted the sport’s popularity, even reaching remote villages. Today players such as R Praggnanandhaa, Dommaraju Gukesh, and R Vaishali continue Chennai’s legacy as India’s chess capital.

Researched and Curated by Rachna Sundaram, Sanjeevini Nallakumar, and Sruthi Ram

17/04/2026

Vannarapettai, or Washermanpet, a vital part of North Madras and one of Chennai’s oldest areas, flourished alongside British Black Town, populated by a significant working class. Despite its old-world charm and having witnessed numerous historical and political events, the area now stands in a postcolonial state of neglect.

The streets of Vannarpettai are home to historical monuments that look inconspicuous and dilapidated, but hide a history of the colonial past in plain sight. The watershed moment in the Dravidian movement can be traced back to this area, a moment which would forever change regional politics in the state.

As we explore the city’s history through a postcolonial lens, with the intention of decolonising our minds, it allows for a more nuanced understanding of the past, present, and future. A walk through these streets becomes an act of decolonisation, as we contend with history and also the present, leading us to consider the postcolonial condition. Join us on a walk to decolonise your mind and experience the landscape of Vannarpettai.

The walk will be led by Akshara N P.

Date of the Walk: 26th April 2026, Sunday
Time of the Walk: 06:30 - 08:30 a.m.
Assembling point: Maadi Poonga

If you’re interested in attending the walk, DM for the registration link! In case of any queries, feel free to get in touch with us.

16/04/2026

In a quick game of word association with Cathedral Road, history and heritage aren’t perhaps the first words that come to mind for many of us.

This iconic thoroughfare has, however, been a silent witness and backdrop to several significant firsts in the history of Madras, shaping the city’s evolution across diverse spheres, including religion and culture, sports and entertainment, and modern infrastructure. Famed as the bipartisan street that separates the residences of the yesteryear political stalwarts, Cathedral Road also holds a lesser-known distinction as the birthplace of one of the largest freedom movements in the nation’s history.

Join us as we explore the many iconic and diverse landmarks that dot this stretch and rediscover the indelible impact of its influential residents on the city. Along the course of our walk along Cathedral Road, we trace its storied past of the quiet pathway that once connected sleepy hamlets and has transformed into the bustling road we know today.

The walk will be led by Shruthi Sivakumar.

Date of the walk: 25th April 2026, Saturday
Time of the walk: 06:30 - 08:30 a.m.
Assembling point: C.S.I. St. George’s Cathedral

If you’re interested in attending the walk, DM for the registration link! In case of any queries, feel free to get in touch with us.

15/04/2026

When Madras Plays #12

Golf has been part of Madras’ sporting landscape for well over a century. One of the earliest organised centres for the game emerged in the late nineteenth century through the city’s colonial clubs, which introduced several British sports to the region.

The Madras Gymkhana Club, one of the most important sporting institutions in the city, played a central role in shaping golf in Madras. The club’s golf course was first established on the Island Grounds before being shifted to Guindy in 1887, where it gradually developed into an 18-hole links course that continues to function today.

Golf in the city also developed through other social clubs such as the Adyar Club. Originally offering activities like rifle shooting, lawn tennis and “clock golf,” the club soon sanctioned a dedicated golf course in 1892. Designed by Justice Wilkinson, the twelve-hole course remained in use for several decades and became an important early centre for golfers in Madras.

Over time, golf spread through institutions such as the Cosmopolitan Club and the Gymkhana course at Guindy, which together became the city’s principal venues for the sport. The Guindy course itself is recognised as one of the oldest links courses in India and continues to host numerous tournaments each year.

The sport also developed a unique culture in the city. Early competitions often brought together amateur enthusiasts, professionals and club members, while longstanding rivalries such as the inter-club tournament between the Madras Gymkhana Club and the Bangalore Golf Club, dating back to 1878, remain among the oldest continuing golf competitions in the world.

Today, golf in Chennai continues through the greens at Madras Gymkhana Golf Annexe and Cosmo TNGF, where both amateur players and aspiring professionals train and compete. While the game may appear calm and unhurried, the history of golf in Madras reflects a sporting tradition shaped by more than a century of dedication, rivalry and community.

Researched and Curated by Rachna Sundaram and Sanjeevini Nallakumar

11/04/2026

Every year on April 18th, the world observes the International Day for Monuments and Sites, a crucial day dedicated to raising public awareness about the diversity of the world’s heritage and the efforts required to protect and conserve it. This year, we are excited to celebrate this day with a heritage walk within one of the most iconic and historically rich complexes in Chennai, the Government Egmore Museum Complex.

The heritage walk will offer participants a deep and engaging understanding of the history, architectural significance, and current relevance of this sprawling cultural precinct. The focus will be on the landmark structures housed within the complex, primarily the main Museum building, the Connemara Public Library, and the National Gallery of Art.

The goal is to move beyond a simple visit, allowing participants a meaningful opportunity to connect with the city’s past.

The walk will be led by Ashmitha Athreya.

Date of the walk: 18th April 2026, Saturday
Time of the walk: 04:00 - 05:30 p.m.
Assembling point: In front of the National Art Gallery, Government Museum, Egmore

If you’re interested in attending the walk, DM for the registration link! In case of any queries, feel free to get in touch with us.

08/04/2026

When Madras Plays #11

Motor racing began taking shape in the early 1950s with the founding of the Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC). The idea was championed by industrialist M. A. Chidambaram, who believed the sport needed an institution dedicated to its growth beyond the activities of the Automobile Association of Southern India. Along with figures such as K. V. Srinivasan, he helped establish the club in 1953, which soon became the centre of motorsport activity in the city. One of the club’s defining strengths was the camaraderie and unity among its members, at a time when rivalries weakened motor sports organisations elsewhere in the country.

The club’s first races were held on the abandoned World War II airstrip at Sholavaram. Though the airstrip was far from an ideal racing circuit, members gradually modified it into a functioning track. Over time the circuit evolved into a T-shaped layout, despite challenges ranging from uneven surfaces to military testing on the grounds.

Between the 1960s and 80s, Sholavaram became synonymous with Indian motor racing, attracting drivers, motorcyclists and spectators. The races, often held in February, became major events on the city’s sporting calendar.

The early racing fraternity included drivers such as K. Varugis, K. P. Ranganatha Rao, Babu Mathen and Palaniappa Chettiar, while motorcycle racers like Sheriff Dyan, Bullet Bhasky, P. D. Sathy and Bose became familiar names on the circuit.

By the late 1980s, however, Sholavaram’s aging surface could no longer safely accommodate increasingly powerful machines. With government approval, nearly 300 acres of farmland were purchased at Irungattukottai near Sriperumbudur. The Madras Motor Race Track, inaugurated in 1990 — with support from MRF, McDowell and TVS — quickly became one of India’s most important motorsport venues. Figures such as Indu Chandhok played a key role in shaping the sport’s development in Madras.

Over the decades the track has hosted major national championships and international events and has also nurtured drivers who began their careers on these circuits.

Researched and Curated by Rachna Sundaram and Sanjeevini Nallakumar

02/04/2026

Today, if you are in Vepery at around 3-4 o’clock in the evening, you will find yourself amid a sea of school uniforms and vans.

One of the suburbs of Madras, where schools were first established, Vepery, continues to be home to many of the old institutions.

Come and walk through the history of the Vepery mission, the oldest Protestant mission in the country.

See the library bequeathed to the public by a police officer who was at once a Sherlock Holmes persona and a great Tamil scholar.

Not only schools, but technical education in the city, too, started here, thanks to the munificence of a man who earned the title Lee.

And a walk through the famous double bend, which was the scene of a murder in broad daylight, one that shook the film world to its core.

The walk is happening under the Heritage Walk Leader Programme and will be led by Latha Nathan.

Date of the walk: 11th April 2026, Saturday
Time of the walk: 06:30 - 08:30 a.m. (The walk is for 2 hours)
Assembling point: Doveton Clock Tower

If you’re interested in attending the walk, DM for the registration link! In case of any queries, feel free to get in touch with us.

Madras Inherited

18/05/2026

11/05/2026

11/05/2026

22/04/2026

17/04/2026

16/04/2026

15/04/2026

11/04/2026

08/04/2026

02/04/2026

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Monday	9am - 6pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm