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From Sage's Pot to Governor's House: The Fascinating Origin Story of Chennai's 'Guindy'!
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News18•26-09-2026, 17:14
From Sage's Pot to Governor's House: The Fascinating Origin Story of Chennai's 'Guindy'!
- •Guindy, once a dense forest, is said to have gotten its name from a sage who left his water pot (kindi) there.
- •In the late 17th century, Madras Governor William Langhorne converted part of the forest into a garden and established Guindy Lodge.
- •Initially a hunting ground for British officials, Guindy Lodge was eventually purchased by the Madras government for 10,000 pagodas in 1821.
- •After becoming government property, Guindy Lodge was expanded into a rest house for governors, evolving into the present-day Raj Bhavan area.
- •The Guindy forest was declared a Reserve Forest in 1910 and later designated as Guindy National Park on September 4, 1978, preserving its natural heritage.
Key Questions Answered
According to a local story, a sage left his water pot, known as a kindi, in the forest, which led to the area eventually being called Guindy.
In the late 17th century, Madras Governor William Langhorne converted a part of the forest into a garden and established Guindy Lodge.
The remaining forest area of Guindy was officially declared as Guindy National Park on September 4, 1978.
