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Parangimalai பரங்கிமலை BhringimalaiSt. Thomas Mount
Hillock
St Thomas Church on the Mount
Parangimalai பரங்கிமலைShow map of ChennaiParangimalai 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
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
Metro	Chennai
Government
• Body	St.Thomas Mount-cum-Pallavaram
Area
• Total	12.92 km (4.99 sq mi)
Elevation	91.44 m (300.00 ft)
Population
• Total	43,795
• Density	3,400/km (8,800/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Planning agency	CMDA

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

Interior of the church

• Nave
• Altar
• Relic of an apostle
• St. Anthony & infant Jesus
• 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.
• 5: Simon helps carry the cross.
• 10: Jesus is stripped of his garments.
• 13: Jesus is taken down from the cross.
• 14: Jesus is laid in the tomb.

Views from the mount

• View to north-west
• Alandur Metro Station
• AirAsia A320 final approach
• NE runway, Pallavaram Hill
• Indigo A320 touch down
• International terminal

v t e 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

• Chinnamalai

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

• St. Thomas Mount National Shrine
• St. Thomas and San Thome, Mylapore

v t e Areas of Chennai
North	Aaladu Aamullaivoyal Aathur Agaram Alamathi Alinjivakkam Alinjivakkam Amoor Andarkuppam Angadu Annadanakkakavakkam Annamalaicheri Anuppampattu Arambakkam Arani Arasur Arikkambattu Ariyalur Ariyanvoyal Arumandhai Assisi Nagar Athipattu Athipattu Pudunagar Athivakkam Attanthangal Avurikollaimedu Ayanavaram Bandikavanoor Baljipalayam Budhoor Basin Bridge Chinnakavanam Chinnambedu Chinnamullaivoyal Chinnasekkadu Chinnathoppu Chettimedu Devadanam Devampattu Dhargaas Echankuzhi Edapalayam Edayanchavadi Ennore Elandhanoor Elandhanjery Elavur Eliambedu Ellapuram Ernavoor Erukkancherry Girudalapuram Gnayiru Gounderpalayam Grant Lyon Gummidipoondi Guruvoyal Jaganathapuram Janapanchatram Jawahar Nagar Kaaladipettai Kadapakkam Kakapallam Kakkathoppu Kalakkral Kalpalayam Kamarajapuram Kammarpalayam Kandigai Kannadapalayam Kannampalayam Kannankottai Kannapuram Kanniammanpettai Kanniampalayam Kannigaipair Karanodai Karungali Kasimedu Kathirvedu Kathivakkam Kattavoor Kattupalli Kattur Kavangarai Kavaraipettai KK Thazhai Kaviyarasu Kannadhasan Nagar Kodipallam Kodungaiyur Kokkumedu Kalanji Kolathur Kollatti Kolur Kondakkarai Kondithoppu Korukkupet Kosappur Kottaikarai Kumaran Nagar Kummanur Kuruvimedu Lakshmipuram Lighthousekuppam Madhavaram Madhavaram Milk Colony Madaharpakkam Madiyur Mafuskhanpettai Mahakavi Bharathi Nagar Manali Manali Pudhunagar Manjambakkam Manjankaranai Manellore Marambedu Mathur Melsinglimedu Melur Medhur Mettu Surapedu Mettu Thandalam Mettur Minjur Moolachatiram Moolakadai Muthialpet Nallur Nandiambakkam Naravarikuppam Nerkundram Orakadu Padianallur Palavoyal Palla Surapedu Pammadukulam Panchetti Pannivakkam Pasiyavaram Pasuvanpalayam Pattamandiri Payasambakkam Pazhaverkadu Pazhayanaappaalayam Pazhaya Erumaivettipalayam Payasambakkam Pennalurpet Perambur Peravallur Periapalayam Periyamullavoyal Periyar Nagar Periyasekkadu Periyathoppu Perungavoor Peruvoyal Pondavakkam Ponneri Ponniammanmedu Poochiathipattu Poorivakkam Poovalambedu Pothur Pudhukuppam Pudhu Erumaivettipalayam Pudhunaappaalayam Pudhuvannarapettai Pudhupakkam Puduvoyal Pulli Lyon Puthagaram Puzhal Puzhudhivakkam Rajakadai Rettambedu Retteri Royapuram Sadayankuppam Sathangadu Seemapuram Sekkanjeri Selavayal Sendrambakkam Sembulivaram Sembium Sembiyamanali Sengundram Senganimedu Sholavaram Sirugavoor Sirupazhaverkadu Siruvapuri Siruniam Sothupakkam Sothuperumbedu Sowcarpet Sozhipalayam Subbareddipalayam Surapattu Surapattu Thadaperumbakkam Thandalkazhani Thandavarayanpalayam Thangalperumbulam Thatchoor Thathamanji Theerthakiriyampattu Theeyampakkam Thervoy Kandigai Thirukkandalam Thirunilai Thirupair Thirupalaivanam Thiruvellavoyal Thiru. Vi. Ka Nagar Tiruvottiyur Tollgate Tondiarpet Upparapalayam Uthukottai Vadakarai Vadakkunallur Vadamadurai Vadaperumbakkam Vaikkadu Vairavankuppam Vallalar Nagar Vallur Vaniyanchatram Vannipakkam Vazhuthalambedu Vazhuthigaimedu Vellivoyal Vellivoyalchavadi Vengal Verkadu Vichoor Vijayanallur Vilakkupattu Vilangadupakkam Villivakkam Vinayagapuram VOC Nagar Voyalur Vyasarpadi Washermanpet Wimco Nagar
West	Adayalampattu Alwarthirunagar Ambattur Aminjikarai Athipattu Andankuppam Anna Nagar Anna Nagar West Annanur Arakkambakkam Aranvoyal Ashok Nagar Arakkonam Arumbakkam Avadi Ayanambakkam Ayapakkam Ayathur Beemanthangal Chembarambakkam Choolaimedu Egattur Gerugambakkam Govardhanagiri ICF Colony Ikkadu Ikkadu Kandigai Irungattukottai Iyyapanthangal K. K. Nagar Kadambathur Kadavur Kakkalur Kakkalur Industrial Estate Kallikuppam Karalapakkam Karambakkam Karayanchavadi Karukku Kattupakkam Kilkondaiyur Koduvalli Koladi Kolapakkam Konnur Korattur Kovur Koyambedu Kumananchavadi Kundrathur Kuthambakkam Maduravoyal Malayambakkam Manapakkam Manavala Nagar Melkondaiyur Menambedu Mettu Kandigai MGR Nagar Mogappair Morai Moulivakkam Mugalivakkam Muthapudupet Nandambakkam Nandambakkam Narasingapuram Nazarathpettai Nemam Nemilichery Nesapakkam Nerkundram Nolambur Noombal Oragadam Padi Pakkam Pallipattu Pandeswaram Pandur Paraniputhur Parivakkam Paruthipattu Pattabiram Pattaravakkam Perambakkam Periyapanicheri Perumalpattu Poonamallee Poondi Poonthandalam Porur Pudhur Putlur Ramapuram Ramavaram Sekkadu Seneerkuppam Sevvapet Shenoy Nagar Sorancheri Sriperumbudur Sunguvarchatram Surapet Tamaraipakkam Thandalam Thandurai Thathankuppam Thirumangalam Thirumazhisai Thirumullaivoyal Thiruninravur Tiruvallur Tiruverkadu Valasaravakkam Vanagaram Veerapuram Vellanur Vellavedu Velappanchavadi Vengathur Venkatapuram Veppampattu Vilinjiyambakkam Virugambakkam
Central	Alandur Alwarpet Broadway Burma Bazaar Chennai Central Chepauk Chetput Chintadripet Choolai Egmore Foreshore Estate George Town Gopalapuram Greenways Road Kilpauk Kodambakkam Kosapet Kothawal Chavadi Kotturpuram Mandavelli Mannadi Mambalam Moolakothalam MRC Nagar Mylapore Nandanam Nochikuppam Nungambakkam Otteri Panagal Park Park Town Parry's Corner Pattalam Periamet Pondy Bazaar Pudupet Pulianthope Purasawalkam Quibble Island R A Puram Royapettah Saidapet Saligramam Santhome T Nagar Teynampet The Island Triplicane Trustpuram Vadapalani Vepery West Mambalam
South	Adambakkam Adyar Agaramthen Alandur Anakaputhur Besant Nagar Chitlapakkam Chromepet Chengalpattu Egattur Ekkaduthangal Erumaiyur Gowrivakkam Guduvancheri Guindy Guindy TVK Estate Devaneri Hasthinapuram Illalur Injambakkam Irumbuliyur Jafferkhanpet Jaladampet Kanathur Kandanchavadi Kandigai Kannivakkam Karanai Karapakkam Karumbakkam Kattankulathur Kazhipattur Kizhkalvoy Keelkattalai Kelambakkam Kottivakkam Kovalam Kovilambakkam Kovilanchery Madambakkam Madhuvankarai Madambakkam Madipakkam Mamallapuram Mambakkam Manimangalam Mannivakkam Maraimalai Nagar Medavakkam Meenambakkam Melkalvoy MEPZ Mettukuppam Mudichur Muttukadu Nandivaram Nanganallur Nanmangalam Navalur Neelankarai Nellikuppam Noothancheri Okkiyam Okkiyampet Oragadam Ottiambakkam Padappai Palavakkam Palavanthangal Pallavaram Pallikaranai Pammal Panaiyur Paranur Pattipulam Payanur Pazhanthandalam Peerkankaranai Perumbakkam Perumathunallur Perungalathur Perungudi Perunthandalam Ponmar Polichalur Potheri Pudupakkam Puzhuthivakkam Rajakilpakkam Rathinamangalam Selaiyur Sembakkam Semmencherry Sholinganallur Singaperumalkoil Siruseri Sithalapakkam Somangalam St. Thomas Mount Tambaram Tambaram Sanatorium Thaiyur Tharamani Tharapakkam Thirumudivakkam Thiruneermalai Thiruporur Thiruvanmiyur Thiruvidandhai Thuraipakkam Tirusulam Ullagaram Urapakkam Uthandi Vadanemili Vandalur Vanuvampet Velachery Vengaivasal Vettuvankeni
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