Here we have collected some amazing old and vintage photographs of Madras (Chennai).  All photos are linked and lead to the sources from which they were taken. Please feel free to explore further works

Interesting Facts about Chennai

  • The earlier name of the city, Madras is believed to be originated from Madrasapattinam, a fishing village located north of the St. George Fort.
  • Chennai is also known as the ‘Gateway to South India’.
  • Cricket is the famous sport in Chennai and was started as a result of the foundation of the Madras Cricket Club in 1846.
  • This city is renowned for Bharatnatyam, the famous and one of the oldest classical dance forms in India, which originated in Tamil Nadu.
  • Marina Beach is the second longest beach in the world, after Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
  • Has the second largest cine industry in the country, next only to Bombay.

Masula Boats and Shipping – Madras (Chennai) Harbour

Masula Boats and Shipping - Madras (Chennai) Harbour
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Masula Boats and Shipping – Madras (Chennai) Harbour

Masula Boats and Shipping - Madras (Chennai) Harbour
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Madras (Chennai) City and Harbour – 1910

Madras (Chennai) City and Harbour - 1910
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Central Railway Station – Madras (Chennai) – 1925

Madras (Chennai) Central Railway Station - 1925
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Esplanade – Madras (Chennai) – 1910

Madras (Chennai) Esplanade - 1910
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

First Line Beach – Madras (Chennai) – 1915

Madras (Chennai) First Line Beach - 1915
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Marina Beach – Madras (Chennai) – 1890

Marina Beach - Madras (Chennai) - 1890
Source: Old Indian Photos



 

Parry’s Corner – Madras (Chennai) – 1890

Parry's Corner - Madras (Chennai) - 1890
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Mylapore – Madras (Chennai) – 1906

Mylapore - Madras (Chennai) - 1906
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Pycrofts Road – Madras (Chennai) – 1890

Pycrofts Road - Madras (Chennai) - 1890
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Mowbray’s Road – Madras (Chennai) – 1885

Mowbray's Road - Madras (Chennai) - 1885
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Mount Road – Madras (Chennai) – 1905

Mount Road - Madras (Chennai) - 1905
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Georgetown – Madras (Chennai) – 1800

Mount Road - Madras (Chennai) - 1905
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Ripon Building – Madras (Chennai) – 1900

Ripon Building - Madras (Chennai) - 1900
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Egmore Railway Station – Madras (Chennai) – 1905

Egmore Railway Station - Madras (Chennai) - 1905
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Higginbotham’s – Madras (Chennai) – 1950

Mount Road - Madras (Chennai) - 1905
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

The original Spencer Plaza – Madras (Chennai) – 1863

Mount Road - Madras (Chennai) - 1905
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

HIgh Court – Madras (Chennai) – 1950

Mount Road - Madras (Chennai) - 1905
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Oil tanks on fire in Madras Harbour during the First World War

Oil tanks on fire in Madras Harbour during the First World War
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Marina beach and promenade – Madras (Chennai) – 1913

Marina beach and promenade - Madras (Chennai) - 1913
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

The original Napier Bridge – Madras (Chennai) – 1895

Marina beach and promenade - Madras (Chennai) - 1913
Source: Old Indian Photos



 

Mount Road – Madras (Chennai) – 1910

Marina beach and promenade - Madras (Chennai) - 1913
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

An aerial view of Mount Road – Madras (Chennai) – 1950

An aerial view of Mount Road - Madras (Chennai) - 1950
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Munro Statue – Madras (Chennai)

Munro Statue - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Chepauk Palace – Madras (Chennai) – 1890

Chepauk Palace - Madras (Chennai) - 1890
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Madras Cricket Club, Chepauk – Madras (Chennai) – 1890

Madras Cricket Club, Chepauk - Madras (Chennai) - 1890
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

View in Madras Harbour – Madras (Chennai)

View in Madras Harbour - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Chepauk Palace – Madras (Chennai) – 1890

Chepauk Palace - Madras (Chennai) - 1890
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Statue of Queen Empress – Madras (Chennai) – 1880

Statue of Queen Empress - Madras (Chennai) - 1880
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Street Scene – Madras (Chennai) – 1890

Street Scene - Madras (Chennai) - 1890
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Potters at Work – Madras (Chennai)

Potters at Work - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Women Porters – Madras (Chennai)

Women Porters - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Street Children – Madras (Chennai)

Street Children - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Studio Portrait of Three Girls Wearing Jewellery – Madras (Chennai) – 1870

Studio Portrait of Three Girls Wearing Jewellery - Madras (Chennai) - 1870
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

The Dirzee (Tailor) – Madras (Chennai)

The Dirzee (Tailor) - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Two Women with a Curry Stone and a Raggy Mill – Madras (Chennai) – 1870

Two Women with a Curry Stone and a Raggy Mill - Madras (Chennai) - 1870
Source: Old Indian Photos



 

Baker – Madras (Chennai)

Baker - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Indian Gypsies – Madras (Chennai)

Indian Gypsies - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Woman Grinding Curry Stuff – Madras (Chennai)

Woman Grinding Curry Stuff - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Women Pounding and Cleaning Rice – Madras (Chennai) – 1870

Madras Cricket Club, Chepauk - Madras (Chennai) - 1890
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Student of University of Madras – Madras (Chennai)

Student of University of Madras - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Group of Domestic Servants – Madras (Chennai) – 1870

Group of Domestic Servants - Madras (Chennai) - 1870
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Interior view of Messr Wilson & Cos Office – Madras (Chennai) – 1907

Interior view of Messr Wilson & Cos Office - Madras (Chennai) - 1907
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Kitchen Damsels – Madras (Chennai)

Kitchen Damsels - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Native Barber – Madras (Chennai)

Native Barber - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Rikshaw Pullers – Madras (Chennai)

Rikshaw Pullers - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Milkman and Cow – Madras (Chennai)

Milkman and Cow - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Ambulance – Madras (Chennai)

Ambulance - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Tram to Custom House – Madras (Chennai)

Tram to Custom House - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Carpenters at Work – Madras (Chennai) – 1870

Carpenters at Work - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Bill Collectors – Madras (Chennai) – 1870

Bill Collectors - Madras (Chennai) - 1870
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Presidency College – Madras (Chennai)

Presidency College - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Parade Ground – Madras (Chennai)

Parade Ground - Madras (Chennai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

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