Mambalam
13°02′16″N 80°13′39″E / 13.03771°N 80.22761°E
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Mambalam is an upper middle-class residential and commercial area in the heart of Chennai, India. It is best known for its shops, bazaars and Hindu temples. It is bounded by Kodambakkam to the north and Saidapet to the south. T.Nagar and Nandanam stretch all along its eastern frontiers while K.K.Nagar lies to its west. The Ayodhya Mandapam is an important landmark.
History
Mambalam was an insignificant village on the outskirts of Madras city until the year 1911 when a station was constructed to cater to the newly laid Madras-Kanchipuram railroad which passed through this area. The draining-out of the Long Tank in 1923 triggered an era of development. The adjacent township of Theagaroya Nagar grew up during this time. As T.Nagar evolved into a pure commercial district in the 1950s (contrary to the expectation of its originators), residential localities concentrated along the western part of Mambalam. Its growth entered a new phase in the 1970s and 1980s with rapid development and the needs of a soaring population. Today, it is one of the busiest localities within Chennai with an estimated population of around 100,000.
Places and localities
Some famous localities in Mambalam include Rangarajapuram, Dorasamy Subway, Arya Gowder Road and Ayodhya Mandapam. Most of Mambalam is categorized under West Mambalam that the region actually regarded as 'Mambalam' occupies a very small area.
Mambalam is known for the Siva-Vishnu Temple (near Ranganathan Street) where Lord Siva and Vishnu are worshipped. The area is known for shops like Saravana Stores, Pothys, RmKV, Chennai Silks and Jeyachandran along with veterans in the Textile business like Nalli & Kumaran Textiles.
Many leading journalists like Goteti Venkateswara Rao, 'Media Voice' Venkat Raj and T.K.V.Rajan are residents of West Mambalam.
Mambalam is also home to the famous Ayodhya Mandapam, Sathyananarayana Temple, Public Health Center and Sri Ramakrishna Boys H. Sec. School, Sarada Vidyalaya Girls H. Sec. School, J.G.H.V.M.H.Sec.School, Postal Colony. Sri Sitaram Vidyalaya Mat Hr SecSchool, Ahobila Mutt, BS Mootha, SRM Nightingale and Babu Rajendra Prasad 1st street where one intellect lives.
Ayodhya Mandapam is one of the very prominent place in Mambalam and throughout the year there will be programs. Currently headed by Mr. V Pandurangan who is very prominent person in the locality.