Chingleput

Chengalpattu செங்கல்பட்டு செங்கை
Town
Kolavai Lake on the outskirts of Chengalpattu
Nickname(s): Chengai
Chengalpattu Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 12°41′N 79°59′E / 12.683°N 79.983°E / 12.683; 79.983Coordinates: 12°41′N 79°59′E / 12.683°N 79.983°E / 12.683; 79.983
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Kanchipuram
Elevation	36 m (118 ft)
Population (2011-2015)
• Total	65,695
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	Chengalpattu-603001, 603002
Telephone code	+91-44
Vehicle registration	TN-19

Chengalpattu, formerly known as Chingleput, is located on the GST Road and southwest of Kanchipuram in Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu, India. The British Government called this whole district Chingleput; now it is named Kanchipuram District. Chengalpattu is the 2nd largest town in the district, after Kanchipuram.

Chengalpattu Railway Station, generally known as CGL, is one of the major railway junctions of the Southern Railway and is a nationally important halt. It is the headquarters of the Chengalpattu Taluk of the district and is 55 kilometres (34 mi) southwest of the state capital, Chennai and 22 km Away from Chennai City Entrance Gateway Vandalur on the National Highway 45.

Chengalpattu Government Hospital is a landmark and the largest government hospital in this district. The Hospital has a medical college. The town has the principal court of the district, and Dr. Ambedhkar Law College.

The city is believed to have been named after a lily called 'chenkazhuneer poo' which is found aplenty in the region. It is on the Palar River about 56 km southwest of Chennai city (Madras). Chengalpattu is an important commercial center. It has a medical college and other colleges affiliated with the University of Madras. In 2011, the town had a population of 62,579. As of now the current population is up to 65,695

Chengalpattu was formerly a capital of the kings of Vijayanagara, after their defeat by the Deccan sultanates at Battle of Talikota in 1565. In 1639 a local governor or nayak, subject to these kings, granted a piece of coastal land to the British East India Company where Fort St George now stands, which became the nucleus of the city of Madras. The fortress at Chengalpattu, built by the Vijayanagara kings in the 16th century, was of strategic importance, owing to its swampy surroundings and the lake that flanked its side.