Panagal Park


Panagal Park is a park and a locality in Theagaraya Nagar, Chennai. The park is named after the Raja of Panagal, the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency who created the park. It is an important junction and is the commercial centre of T Nagar.

History

When the Long Lake on the western peripheral region of the old city was drained out and the area of T. Nagar was newly carved out of the existing neighborhood of Mambalam in 1923, a park was developed in the centre of the new locality intended to be a residential one. The park was named Panagal Park honouring the then Chief Minister of Madras, the Raja of Panagal.
In the early days, there was a public radio inside the park to cater the visitors who gathered there to listen to music and news and stayed till the last news broadcast at 7.15 p.m.
The architect of Panagal Park was Ganesh Iyer.

The park

The park covers and has three entry points. As of 2019, the park has about 218 trees, including gulmohar, neem, peepal, almond, big-leaf mahogany, mast trees, and West Indian elms.

Renovation

In 2008, the Chennai Corporation started renovating the park at a cost of 13 million. The renovated works included construction of children's play area and public convenience, beautification of the three entry points, development of lotus pond and sitting gallery, construction of walkways and development of landscaped lawn.
The renovated park was reopened on 21 February 2010.

Commercial establishments

Panagal Park is a landmark to many commercial establishments and department stores. Almost all the shops offering Textiles and Jewellery are concentrated on South Usman Road and Ranganathan Street.
Several high-end retail stores surround the park, including Saravana Stores, Lalithaa Jewellery, Nalli Chinnasamy Chetti, Pothys, RMKV, and Sri Kumaran Silks.
There are two educational institutions of repute around the park apart from commercial establishments. Sri Ramakrishna Mission Higher Secondary School for Boys and Sri RKM Saradha Vidyalaya Girls Higher Secondary School.

Roads

Six arterial roads radiate outwards from the park: