St. Thomas Mount

St. Thomas Mount (known in Modern Tamil as Parangimalai) is a small hillock in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, near the neighbourhood of Guindy and very close to Chennai International Airport.

St. Thomas Mount

பரங்கி மலை

Parangimalai
Hillock
St. Thomas Mount
St. Thomas Mount
St. Thomas Mount
Coordinates: 13°0′18.2″N 80°11′35.9″E
CountryIndia
StateTamil Nadu
MetroChennai
Government
 • BodySt.Thomas Mount-cum-Pallavaram
Elevation
91.44 m (300.00 ft)
Languages
 • OfficialTamil
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Planning agencyCMDA

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.

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

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.[1]

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

St. Thomas Mount block

The St. Thomas Mount block is a revenue block in the Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu, India. The following 15 rural village panchayats come under St Thomas Mount Panchayat Union:[2]

  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

Hill shrine

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 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 erected on the way to the summit.

A panoramic view of the city of Chennai as seen from the top of St. Thomas Mount

References
  1. Ayyappan, V (28 January 2013). "From Tonga Stop to Transport Hub". The Times of India. Chennai: The Times Group. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  2. "Local Body Ward Delimitation – 2020 – Chengalpattu District | Kancheepuram District,Government of Tamilnadu | City of Thousand Temples | India". Retrieved 6 March 2020.
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