Vannarapettai (English: Washermenpet) is a northern neighbourhood of

Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

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

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

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.

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 or Rajaka, Madivala is a group of community in India and the greater Indian subcontinent whose traditional occupations are washing and ironing, Cultivator, agricultural workers. They are a large community, ...

ghats Ghat, a term used in the Indian subcontinent, depending on the context could refer either to a range of stepped hills with valleys (ghati in Hindi), such as the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats; or the series of steps leading down to a body of ...

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

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- ...

and

Mylapore Mylapore, also spelt Mayilapur, is a neighbourhood in the central part of the city of Chennai, India. It is one of the oldest residential parts of the city. It is also called Tirumayilai. The locality is claimed to be the birthplace of the cel ...

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 Sir Theagaraya College () is located in Old Washermenpet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The college is affiliated to the University of Madras The University of Madras (informally known as Madras University) is a public state university in Ch ...

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 that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...

. 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, Tamil Nadu, India. It is the 4th longest metro system In india. The system commenced service in 2015 after partially opening the first phase of the project. The network c ...

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

Parks and play ground

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 1909 – 3 February 1969), popularly known as Anna also known as Arignar Anna or Perarignar Anna (''Anna, the scholar'' or ''Elder Brother''), was an Indian Tamil politician who served as the fo ...

and M. Karunanidhi.

Landmarks

The famous Mint Street, also known as "Thanga Salai" ( ta, தங்க சாலை) 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.

Adjacent areas

Broadway, Parrys,

Korukkupet Korukkupet is a neighbourhood in the northern part of Chennai. It is served by the Korukkupet railway station. Location Korukkupet shares its boundaries with Mint and Basin Bridge in the south, Tondiarpet in the north, Washermanpet in the eas ...

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. H ...

Kodungaiyur Kodungaiyur is a residential neighbourhood in the northern part of the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It comes under Perambur Taluk of the Chennai District. Location and surroundings Kodungaiyur covers a vast area bordering Manali to th ...

Sowcarpet 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 mark ...

are located adjacent to this locality.

References

{{Chennai district Neighbourhoods in Chennai Cities and towns in Chennai district Suburbs of Chennai