Chennai has rapidly expanded in the last few years with the booming of the IT industry. Many of the people who follow their jobs to the city end up falling in love with the culture and history of the city and make it their home. This new generation of well-paid, young, liberal-minded professionals has changed the profile of the city to a great extent.
Unlike before, people are open to spending more to get a luxurious home and leading a more comfortable lifestyle. Nungambakkam is one of these much-preferred neighbourhoods in Chennai with homes that are classified under luxury.
Historical origins: Then and now
The origins of Nungambakkam can be traced back to an 11th-century copper plate from the Chola period. Later on, Nungambakkam featured in the records of the East India Company under various names like Nimynbacka, Lungumbaca, and Moongumbaukum, among others. In the 18th century, Nungambakkam village along with Tiruvatiyoor, Kathivakam, Vyasarpadu, and Sathangadu became the five new towns that became part of Madras.
By the 20th century, Nungambakkam had become an important upscale European residential area, home to civil servants and other administrative officials.
Today, no traces of the village that was Nungambakkam remain. Instead, it is a bustling area that is full of residences as well as commercial establishments. It’s not just the exclusive pincode that attracts property buyers to this neighbourhood.
Nungambakkam is high on charm and convenience with well-connected roads, making it extremely accessible from all parts of the city. It also has prestigious educational institutions like Loyola College and Women’s Christian College, making it a highly prized area for families.
In December 2015, Nungambakkam had a hefty price tag of Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 per sq ft.
Areas in the vicinity of Nungambakkam like T Nagar, Chetpet, Egmore, and Kilpauk are also highly sought after, and many of these places have a rich historical background.
T Nagar, a popular abbreviation of Thyagaraja Nagar, is one of the busiest shopping areas of Chennai and is named after one of the founders of the Justice Party, Sir P Theagaraya Chetty. In 2013, the Economic Times mentioned that T Nagar is one of the biggest shopping districts in India by revenue.
Chetpet is named after Namperumal Chettiar, a renowned building contractor, engineer and businessman who was responsible for the construction of many prominent buildings in Chennai. He was known to have owned as many as 99 residences in this neighbourhood, which earned it the name ‘Chetty pettai’ or Chetti’s place, that later got shortened to Chetpet.
Egmore, which is the Anglicized form of Ezhumbur, has been referred to in records dating back to the Chola period. Later, it became a part of the East India Company’s list of territories.
Buffeted by neighbourhoods such as these, Nungambakkam’s value continues to increase along with demand.
