Misplaced Pages

Parangimalai

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
(Redirected from Saint Thomas Mount) Hillock in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Hillock in Tamil Nadu, India
Parangimalai
பரங்கிமலை BhringimalaiSt. Thomas Mount
Hillock
St Thomas Church on the MountSt Thomas Church on the Mount
Parangimalai பரங்கிமலை is located in ChennaiParangimalai பரங்கிமலைParangimalai
பரங்கிமலைShow map of ChennaiParangimalai பரங்கிமலை is located in Tamil NaduParangimalai பரங்கிமலைParangimalai
பரங்கிமலைShow map of Tamil Nadu
Coordinates: 13°00′28.1″N 80°11′33.0″E / 13.007806°N 80.192500°E / 13.007806; 80.192500
CountryIndia
StateTamil Nadu
MetroChennai
Government
 • BodySt.Thomas Mount-cum-Pallavaram
Area
 • Total12.92 km (4.99 sq mi)
Elevation91.44 m (300.00 ft)
Population
 • Total43,795
 • Density3,400/km (8,800/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialTamil
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Planning agencyCMDA

Parangimalai (known in English as St. Thomas Mount) is a small hillock in the Chennai district of Tamil Nadu, India, near the neighbourhood of Guindy and very close to Chennai International Airport. By extension, it is also the name of the neighbourhood surrounding the hillock.

The neighbourhood is served by the St. Thomas Mount railway station, on the southern line of the Chennai Suburban Railway Network. Integration of the Metro and MRTS with the suburban station in the neighbourhood, is expected to make the suburb the city's largest transit hub after Chennai Central.

In the state assembly elections of 1967 and 1971, there was a constituency known as the Parangimalai.

Etymology

According to Hindu tradition, the sage Bhringi resided and meditated on the hillock in his quest to see Shiva. The locality thus came to be known as Bhringi malai, or "the hill of Bhringi", which over time morphed into "Parangimalai". It is also said that this connects several other regions in the city with the origin of their names. For instance, the place where he laid his pitcher, known in Tamil as kindi while performing worship, has now come to be known as "Guindy".

The place is named St. Thomas Mount in English after Saint Thomas the Apostle, who lived and preached in the locality according to Christian tradition.

Hill shrine

The ancient Syrian Christian community of India trace the origin of their church to St. Thomas the Apostle. From the 17th century, this part of Chennai was populated predominantly by Anglo-Indians. The St. Thomas Garrison Church is at the foot of St. Thomas Mount.

A shrine dedicated to "Our Lady of Expectation" (Mother Mary) was built in 1523 on top of the Mount. The altar of this shrine was built on the spot where St. Thomas' death is traditionally believed to have been occurred. At the northern foot of the mount, is a gateway of four impressive arches surmounted by a cross bearing the inscribed date 1547. A flight of 160 steps leads up to the summit of the mount. There are 14 Stations of the Cross on the way to the summit.

The St. Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Church is located east of the shrine at North Silver Street, footholds of the mountain shrine.

Educational institutions

St. Thomas Mount has several schools and training institutions.

Schools

St Thomas Academy (ca. Aug. '22)
  • St. Dominic's Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School was founded in July 1901 Holy Apostles Convent European School for children of the British and Anglo Indian Army Personnel. In 1914 it was renamed as St Dominic's School. In 1978 Class 12 was added.
  • Marian Matriculation Higher Secondary School is an English medium, co-educational senior secondary school from lower kindergarten (LKG) to class 12.
  • St. Thomas Academy is an English medium, co-educational higher secondary school started in July 2017 and by 2022 had about 400 students. It is affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
  • Montfort Matriculation Higher Secondary School is a highly regarded institution that opened in 2002 at this location. Presently, the school has 2500+ students from kindergarten to grade twelve.

Vocational training institutes

  • St. Theresa of Child Jesus School of Nursing is located in St. Thomas Hospital. Started in 1993, by 2012 it was admitting 20 students annually.
  • Montfort Technical Institute is a private industrial training institute (ITI). Established in Jan 1972, it is one of 326 private ITIs in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Governance

The St. Thomas Mount block is a revenue block in the Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu, India. As per the Census 2011, the St. Thomas Mount development block covered an area of 86.94 km (33.57 sq mi), of which 42.98 km (16.59 sq mi) was classified as rural and 43.96 km (16.97 sq mi) as urban. The block included 121,017 household with a total population of 475,995. The sex ratio was 978.7 females per 1,000 males. The number of children in the age group 0–6 years was 55,103. Scheduled castes numbered 74,322 (15.6%) and scheduled tribes were 2.544 (0.53%). The literacy rate was 77.6%, with males at 81.3% and females at 73.9%.

The following 15 rural village panchayats come under St Thomas Mount Panchayat Union:

  1. Agaramthen
  2. Medavakkam
  3. Kovilambakkam
  4. Cowl bazaar
  5. Mudichur
  6. Perumbakkam
  7. Nanmangalam
  8. Polichalur
  9. Trisulam
  10. Ottyambakkam
  11. Thiruvanchery
  12. Vengaivasal
  13. Madurapakkam
  14. Moovarasampattu
  15. Sithalapakkam

Gallery

Exterior of the church

  • Entrance to the shrine Entrance to the shrine
  • Main entrance to the church Main entrance to the church
  • Bell tower Bell tower
  • Blessed Sacrament Adoration Chapel Blessed Sacrament Adoration Chapel
  • Mary Untier of Knots Mary Untier of Knots
  • Flagstaff Flagstaff
  • Mother Teresa Mother Teresa

Interior of the church

  • Nave Nave
  • Altar Altar
  • Relic of an apostle Relic of an apostle
  • Saint Anthony and infant Jesus Saint Anthony and infant Jesus
  • Gravestone in the entrance Gravestone in the entrance

Stations of the Cross

The 14 Stations of the Cross are positioned along the 160-step climb up the Mount.

  • 3: Jesus falls for the first time. 3: Jesus falls for the first time.
  • 5: Simon helps carry the cross. 5: Simon helps carry the cross.
  • 10: Jesus is stripped of his garments. 10: Jesus is stripped of his garments.
  • 13: Jesus is taken down from the cross. 13: Jesus is taken down from the cross.
  • 14: Jesus is laid in the tomb. 14: Jesus is laid in the tomb.

Views from the mount

A panoramic view of the city of Chennai as seen from the top of St. Thomas Mount, from northwest clockwise to southeast
  • View to north-west View to north-west
  • Alandur Metro Station Alandur Metro Station
  • AirAsia A320 final approach AirAsia A320 final approach
  • NE runway, Pallavaram Hill NE runway, Pallavaram Hill
  • Indigo A320 touch down Indigo A320 touch down
  • International terminal International terminal
Areas of Chennai
Nandambakkam Ekkaduthangal Guindy
Officers Training Academy, Manapakkam Parangimalai Alandur
Pazhavanthangal, Chennai Airport, Tambaram, Mudichur Adambakkam, Pazhavanthangal St. Thomas Mount railway station, Velachery

See also

References

  1. https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42876/download/46544/CLASS_I.xlsx
  2. Ayyappan, V (28 January 2013). "From Tonga Stop to Transport Hub". The Times of India. Chennai: The Times Group. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  3. ^ Krupa, Lakshmi (22 August 2013). "What's in a name?". The Hindu. Chennai: Kasturi & Sons. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  4. "ABOUT ST.DOMINICS". St. Dominic's Anglo-Indian School. 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  5. "Marian Matriculation Higher Secondary School, St. Thomas Mount". UrbanPro. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  6. "Marian Matriculation Higher Secondary School". Facebook. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  7. "Our History". St. Thomas Academy. 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  8. "Details OF SCHOOL AFFILIATED TO Central Board of Secondary Education". Central Board of Secondary Education. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  9. "Milestones". St. Thomas Hospital, Chennai. 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  10. "Nursing School". St. Thomas Hospital, Chennai. 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  11. "Montfort Private Technical Institute". ITI Directory. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  12. Directorate of Employment and Training (DET). "Welcome to Industrial Skill Training". Department of Labour and Employment (Tamil Nadu).
  13. Directorate of Employment and Training (DET). "Name of the Private Industrial Training Institute in Tamil Nadu" (PDF). Department of Labour and Employment (Tamil Nadu).
  14. ^ "Local Body Ward Delimitation – 2020 – Chengalpattu District | Kancheepuram District, Government of Tamilnadu | City of Thousand Temples | India". Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  15. Census of India 2011: District Census Handbook Kancheepuram Tamil Nadu Village and Town Wise Primary Census Abstract (PCA). Part XII-B, Series 34. Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu. 2014. pp. 28–29. Retrieved 31 August 2022.

External links

Neighbourhoods of Chennai (city)
Areas of Chennai
North
West
Central
South
Category . India portal . WikiProject
Chennai
History
Early history (pre-1500)
Colonial period (1500–1900)
Modern period (1900–present)
Writers and historians
Geography and wildlife
Regions
Waterways
Lakes
Islands
Zoological parks
Reserve Forests
Marshlands
Heritage
monuments
Statues
Memorials
Administration and politics
Districts
Taluks
Chennai District
Tiruvallur district
Kanchipuram district
Vellore District
Constituencies
Parliamentary
Assembly
Nodal agencies
Economy
Business
districts
SEZ
Companies and
institutions
Industry
Culture and recreation
General
Beaches
Parks
Cinemas
Periodic events
Theme parks
Shopping malls
Clubs
Religion
Temples
Churches
Others
Transport
Air
Sea
Rail
Railways
Stations
Road
Roads and
expressways
Grade separators
and flyovers
Others
Sport
Venues
Teams
Badminton
Cricket
Field hockey
Football
Kabaddi
Tennis
Table tennis
Volleyball
Others
Institutions
Education
Universities
Engineering
Medical
Arts and
science
Research
Diplomatic
missions
Hospitals
Hotels
Localities
North
West
Central
South
Categories: