The name Mylapore comes from ‘Mayil Arparikum’ which translates to ‘The Land of the Peacock Scream’. Many years ago, Peacocks (Mayil) used to be residents too and their calls would rent the air, and that how this area got its name. This oldest residential area of the city has everything you would possibly need. From the freshest flowers and vegetables, …
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L is for LIC Building #BlogchatterA2Z
When I was looking for what to write for the alphabet ‘L’, EVERYONE I asked had only one answer, ‘LIC Building’. ‘It used to be the tallest building in Chennai.’ ‘People visiting Chennai used to come just to look at it.’ ‘It was a tourist attraction in those days.’ These lines were the ones that accompanied the LIC Building suggestion. …
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K is for Karpagambal Mess #BlogchatterA2Z
Mess : Short for a ‘Mess Hall’ , a place where food is served, and eaten. The word originated from the French Word ‘Mes’ or ‘Mets’ which meant ‘portion of food’. Karpagambal Mess, in Mylapore is a legendary stop when you’re in Chennai. Started in 1953, this mess has retained its popularity even as it fed generations of the same …
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J is for Jaya & Jasmine #BlogchatterAtoZ
Talking of Chennai and not mentioning tthe late J Jayalalitha , or Amma as she was known as, just does not seem right. The power that lady held was simply phenomenal. I remember driving into Chennai from Bangalore the first thing we would see, as we reached the outskirts of the city, would be huge cut-outs of her, in her …
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I is for, Ice Creams #BlogchatterA2Z
If you have been reading my posts every day, and all through, you’ll remember that we discussed the infamous Chennai Heat yesterday. What is my coping mechanism to counter the heat? Well, it’s Ice Cream! I often realise that if there was no ice cream in the world, or I hated it (blasphemy!) I would be as slim as my …
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H is for Higginbothams & The Heat #BlogchatterA2Z
If you are a book lover like I am, it is unlikely that you haven’t heard of Higginbothams. If you are a bibliophile and haven’t heard of this name, crawl back under that rock, you! Long before familiar sounding bookstores like Landmark made their presence felt, Higginbothams was already a 100 years old. Yes, this iconic store on Mount Road …
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G is for Grand OR Sri Krishna? #BlogchatterA2Z
‘Where could I pick up some typically Chennai sweets & savouries from?’ You would think this question was a simple one, till I realised it was not. ‘Grand Sweets!’ ‘Sri Krishna Sweets!’ Two voices. Two views. Two opinions. An eternal debate (which still hasn’t settled or concluded, btw) Grand Sweets & Snacks is the big daddy of the sweets & …
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F is for Flower Market #BlogchatterAtoZ
‘Don’t click my picture. I don’t look nice’, she told me, pointing to her toothless mouth before covering her face with her hand. ‘Click my flowers instead, they are the beautiful ones’. I had asked the lady running a flower stall permission to click her along with her flowers, and that was her answer. I refused her suggestion, asked her …
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E is for Elai Sapad #BlogchatterA2Z
The first time I heard the words ‘Elai Sapad’ I thought it was a dish, as I assumed it was a single word ElaiSapad. It was only later that I found out that Elai means Plantain / Banana Leaf and Sapad means a Meal, so Elai Sapad simply translates to a meal served on a banana leaf. Savouring the Sapad …
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D is for DakshinaChitra #BlogchatterA2Z
We lived in Bangalore before we moved here, and that city had plenty of getaway options that were just a drive away. Chennai lacks that, sadly. It does not have too many quick getaways on the outskirts of the city. The few options that Chennai-ites do have, the hot and humid weather rarely permits us to enjoy them. Also, when …