British Blueprints Trail

Overview

Chennai’s tryst with the English goes way back; much before they became such a driving force that England’s royals established their rule over India for 200 years, having shunted the East India Company to the side-lines. The city bears an indelible mark of the British legacy – their language, their bureaucracy, their education system, and their buildings. This tour opens up many avenues to explore this cultural largesse in its many avatars.

Why you will love it

What you will experience

We will set off on a journey of discovery of ‘Colonial Madras’ through the many buildings the British left behind. These astonishing monuments still offer a window into Chennai’s past.We will examine the many aspects of their architectural splendour and uncover stories of grand ambitions and unexpected revolutions, determined idealists and rascally traders.

We will find strange instances where Hindu Gods sit under Muslim domes, where stained glass reflects Kerala-style roofs, and majestic Greek columns stand next to sleek Art Deco edifices. Each building is a time capsule which reveals the hopes, fears, and ideas of its creators, as well as the history of this ever-vibrant city.Why does this hot city have the cool-sounding Icehouse? What is the link between the railways and the Independence movement? How did Cenotaph Road get its name? Come and discover colonial Madras through the buildings the British left behind.