Indo-Saracenic activity booklet

Exploring the
Indo-Saracenic
Architecture of
Madras

2 | Indo-Saracenic

The crown jewels of Chennai’s colonial
architecture are its buildings in the
Indo-Saracenic style. This walk is a journey
through the genesis, evolution and pinnacle
of a uniquely endemic architecture. The
buildings we see on this route are regal
institutions of the city, ornamenting the
coastline for more than 150 years. We discover
their stories, the people who made them and
the legacy they have imprinted on the city.

Activity #1
Solve the anagrams to find the answers.

1. A feature in the Senate House.

ERWIN WOODS

2. Plastering technique used in the PWD
building.

ALM HUG

The Chepauk Palace,
built in 1768, was the
first structure built
in the Indo-Saracenic
style of architecture in
all seven continents. It
used to be the official
residence of the
Nawab of Arcot.

Activity #2
Use the clues to solve the crossword.

1
2

3
4

1. The architect who developed the Indo-
Saracenic architecture style.
2. The Italian Renaissance element added to the
Presidency College.
3. The palace in Baroda was designed by this
famous architect.
4. The building in Chepauk Palace that caught on
fire.

6 | Indo-Saracenic

The Senate House, designed by
Robert Chisholm, is one of the
finest examples of the Indo-
Saracenic style of architecture. It
catered to a number of functions
ranging from music concerts to
convocation ceremonies.

Activity #3
Join the dots in the order to reveal a feature of
the Chepauk Palace.

1 I
2 JH

3
4

65 K G

L F
M E

iv iii N D
O
ii P BC
i A

About Madras Inherited
Madras Inherited, founded in 2017, is an initiative
started by a team who are passionate about
making significant changes in the domain of
heritage. Filled with incredible zest to explore the
lesser travelled historical enclaves of the city, it
was named Madras Inherited as it looks at the
city’s heritage as something shared and inherited
by the city’s occupants.

46, B Ramachandra Adithanar Road,
Gandhi Nagar, Adyar,
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
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