Royapuram

Royapuram is a neighbourhood of Chennai, India situated about 3.0 kilometres (1.9 miles) north-east of kilometre zero of Chennai city and about 2.0 kilometres (1.2 miles) north of Chennai Harbour. It is best known for the Mannarswamy Koil Street which serves as its shopping zone, the Kasimedu fishing harbour and the Royapuram Railway Station, which includes the oldest railway station building in South India.

Royapuram originated as a settlement towards the end of the 18th century when four Mudaliar clans - Nallaveeran Mudali, Mondi Mudali, Andi Mudali and Acharappan Mudali, who had recently converted to Christianity enmasse moved east from Blacktown to settle in Royapuram and constructed the St. Peter's Church in 1829 and St. Anthony' Church opposite to it. Over the next century, Royapuram grew rapidly into one of the most densely populated areas of Chennai city. By the mid-twentieth century, growth had reached stagnation point and the construction of the Chennai Moffusil Bus Terminus and Koyambedu Market between 1996 and 2002 replacing the and the respectively sounded the death knell for the neighbourhoods of North Chennai.

Royapuram has many important landmarks - the Royapuram railway station, the Royapuram fire temple, the only functioning Parsi place of worship in Chennai city and the Ramanujan Museum. The Stanley Medical College, and the Bharathi Women's College are a few prominent educational institutions situated in Royapuram while and Robinson Park are some important parks in the neighbourhood.