SAIDAPET

Saidapet is one of the southern suburban regions of Chennai city. The place is situated off the Anna Salai Road in the southern precincts of the city. MGR Nagar, Adyar and Kotturpuram are the neighboring city outskirts. The place houses a number of attractions, encompassing illustrious worshipping places and local attractions.

Saidapet is basically a residential area and with provisions as are requisite to meet the demands of the local population. There are few markets, schools, small health care units and other small establishments. However, the place is well provided with some ancient and newly built temples. The temples, as are predominant in the entire state of Tamil Nadu, are special features of the place.

The Karaneeswarar Temple and the washing area in the Adyar River are not the only aspect that adds fame to Saidapet. An educational institution makes Saidapet very distinguished. That is the Teachers' Training College that has completed 100 years, whence thousands of trained teachers have come out and enlightened lakhs and lakhs of students. This college, located in an extensive area, has buildings that are spacious and beautiful. Since one building is in a dilapidated condition it has been kept closed. Efforts are being taken to renovate that building. Just half a kilometre away from the Teachers' Training College there is another spacious institution. The former imparted intellectual education to students, while the latter gave physical education. The YMCA school at Saidapet is a training centre for the physical education instructors. This is also a very reputed institution. In the past 20 years, dozens of Tamil and Telugu movie shootings have been held in this open field. In these 20 years in our film industry, if the hero has to share a few words with the heroine then there should be 50 identically clad persons dancing behind them. It is a compulsion for the heroine too. To accommodate 50 persons at a time for them to dance and to do somersault and all such acrobatics a large open space is inevitable. The Saidapet swimming pool, maintained by YMCA, is also famous. There was a time when there were only two swimming pools in Chennai. One is the swimming pool on the Beach in Marina. The next one is the YMCA pool at Saidapet.

Karaneeswarar temple
This temple is located next to the railway station. This temple has a 7-storied Gopuram with two prakarams. The main deity is Lord Karaneeswara and Goddess Swarnaambikai.

NARASIMHA PERUMAL
The temple was constructed in the middle of 15th century. According to some old inscription Popularly known as Perumal Kovil of Saidapet. The main deity is NARASIMHA PERUMAL. Annual Brahmotsavam takes place during the Tamil month of Chithirai. Vaikunta Ekadasi festival is very famous here.Other two famous festivals are RATHASAPTHAMI which is held in the month of February and THOTTA URCHAVAM held in the month of march. One more important function in this temple is that "SRI PARTHASARTHY SWAMY" of Triplicane visits this temple yearly once which is a dhivya desa perumal.

Anjaneyar temple
This Hanuman temple is situated on the banks of the Adyar river.There is one more anjaneyar temple facing the prasanna venkatesa perumal kovil. The temple is believed to be very powerful.

Churches
Saidapet has about seven churches, St. Thomas church has a congregation of 500 families and is situated on LDG street, the NLAG Church is situated across the bridge. It is the biggest Assembly of God church in Tamil Nadu.

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