Charming Mount Road Madras, 1975 Postcard

An old 1975 postcard shows a charming Mount Road Madras, now Chennai. The Indo-Saracenic style building in red is the Gove Building, and on the right is the Agur Chand Mansion. The road to St Thomas Mount leads out of Fort St George’s Wallajah Gate. And crosses the Island Grounds to become what has been renowned as Mount Road. Undoubtedly one of the most charming thoroughfares in India.

It became a strategically important route. Probably after the siege of Fort St George by the French in 1746. The British constructed it either as an escape route or as a route to bring in additional reserves or both. A reserve battalion of British soldiers was stationed at the base of St Thomas Mount. By the early 1800s, threats to the city ceased, and the scenario of the city apparently was more peaceful.

Enabling residents and business establishments to spread out from the Fort. Houses came up all along Mount Road in Madras, in Egmore, and in Nungambakkam. Shops were set up on this thoroughfare, and commercial businesses were set up in First Line Beach. Madras City began evolving in these growing years that were once confined to the fort. In the process, Mount Road and the city developed rapidly. Thus lined with buildings of Indian and European architecture adding quaint charm to it. Click on the photo for better view.

Did you know – the Cuddon Building (now Gove Building) was constructed in 1916, it housed Simpson & Co’s motor car showroom.  The building was sold in 1943  and was renamed Gove Building. It now houses VST Motors.

From the collection – Rural Life In India Watercolour Painting By N. Mukherjee., Viceroy’s Viceregal Lodge Delhi – Old Photo 1910., 1948 Mumbai Great Cyclone – Two Old Newspaper Pages., Mumbai Railway Suburban Services – Old Print 1955.

The images are of the actual items from my collection. And Not a photocopy, pirated, reproduced, stock photos, or taken from other sources.