Esplanade Road (NSC Bose Road) British Era Madras, 1900 Photo
A fascinating 1900 photograph captures the bustling Esplanade Road of colonial Madras, known today as NSC Bose Road in Chennai. The image offers a remarkable glimpse into the city’s architectural and urban heritage. Featuring several iconic landmarks that once defined the skyline of British-era Madras. Partially visible on the left is the imposing Madras High Court, one of the finest examples of Indo-Saracenic architecture in India. Also identifiable are the slender spire of Anderson Church and the distinctive dome of the historic Armenian Church. Adjacent to the Armenian Church stands a portion of the former Madras Christian College building, an institution that played a significant role in the educational history of South India.
Madras Christian College occupied the old Sailors’ Home building on Esplanade Road from 1846 before relocating to its spacious Tambaram campus in 1936. Following the move, the property was acquired by the Bombay Mutual Insurance Company. Another noteworthy feature in the photograph is one of Madras’s earliest electric trams. Introduced in 1895, the Madras Electric Tramway was the first electric tram system in India and quickly became an essential mode of urban transport. Although the service remained popular for decades, it was ultimately discontinued in 1953. The photo also highlights the broad, well-planned avenues laid out during the colonial period, reflecting the city’s early urban planning vision long before the arrival of large numbers of motor vehicles. Click to enlarge.
Did you know- during the colonial era, it was known variously as Esplanade Road, China Bazaar Road, and even Popham’s Esplanade. It was officially renamed Netaji Subhash Chandra (NSC) Bose Road in 1947.
