[1] Along with Mylapore and the surrounding regions, Triplicane is historically much older than the city of Chennai itself, with a mention in records as early as the Pallava period.

[4] Primarily a residential region, it is home to some of the tourist attractions of the city, such as the Marina Beach, Parthasarathy Temple and several commercial establishments.

Triplicane is also known for its traditional culture, which is prominent in and around the streets (known as mada veedhi in Tamil) of Parthasarthy Temple.

[2][5] The place is also referred as Brindaranyam in Brahmanda Purana, owing to the presence of the tulasi (brinda) plants in the area.

The city's original name, Thiruvallikeni, finds various mentions in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, which are a collection of hymns by earlier poets that were compiled in the ninth century.

One such poet, Thirumangai Alvar, described Thiruvallikeni as a densely canopied forest with peacocks and koels, where the sun's rays could not penetrate.

[6] Another poet, Peyalwar, describes Thiruvallikeni as, "by the tossing sea... where corals and pearls washed ashore liken the evening sky and the lamps they light of dusk.

"[9] The evidence from stone inscriptions indicates that Parthasarathy temple was built in the eighth century by a Pallava King.

[14] It is believed that Peyalvar, one of the 12 alvars, was born on a lily flower in this well and that he sailed through the rivulet to worship Lord Krishna in the Parthasarathy temple.

[15][16][17] To commemorate this, the idol of Peyalwar in Mylapore is brought, as a procession, to Parthasarathy temple every year in the month of September.

After about a century, the British found Triplicane to be a good area for settlement and a large number of people moved there.

[21] In addition, the presence of the Nawab of Arcot increased the economic prosperity of the area, and many Muslims settled in Triplicane.

It runs a super market, self-service department stores, sells automobile fuel and cooking gas, and operates more than 200 rations shops for the Public Distribution System.

In 1934, the first cricket match was played at the Chepauk Stadium[37] In the early 20th century, Triplicane became one of the major residential areas of Madras.

The train was between Chennai Beach and Thirumayilai[39][40][41][42][43] On 26 December 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami hit Triplicane.

The neighbourhood is bordered by Marina Beach on the east on the shore of the Bay of Bengal, Chepauk on the north, Royapettah on the west and northwest, Mylapore on the south and southwest.

[45] Known as 'Bachelor's Paradise', Triplicane is home to about 200 boarding houses (locally known as mansions) out of the 700 odd ones in the city,[46] many of them with about 30 to 60 rooms.

[5][47][48] Soon after independence, boarding houses began to appear in the area to cater to the needs of the individual migrants from various parts of the country.

The first four boarding houses, known locally as mansions, were built in the 1950s by farmers from the southern parts of Tamil Nadu after successive droughts had threatened their livelihood.

Notable people who have at one time or another lived in the bachelor pads of Triplicane include political figures Periyar, Annadurai and Karunanidhi.

[5] Availability of low-cost rentals and different affordable cuisines in the area is said to be the reason behind the constant patronage to these mansions for decades.

The western end of the market is bordered by an old monument known as the Amir Mahal, the palace of the Nawab of Arcot two centuries ago.

Triplicane, similar to few other areas in the city such as Mylapore and West Mambalam, is known for its traditional row houses, known as agraharams.

The architecture is distinctive with Madras terraces, country tile roofing, Burma teak rafters and lime plastering.

[69] Built in 1795 in remembrance of Nawab Wallajah, the mosque was constructed with grey granite, without the use of wood or steel.

Women adorned in the traditional nine yards or a silk sari hurry towards the Parthasarathy Temple to find a place in the long winding queues.

Police are stationed around the temple and atop watchtowers at the junction of the Mada Streets to maintain strict vigil.

[76] Musicians used to talk of how they had sung at the Hindu High School or heard GNB at some other Triplicane venue.

It was said that Triplicane was where vidwans would spend afternoons discussing music over hot rava pongal at the Krishna Iyer Hotel.

Subramania Bharati, a freedom fighter and poet, lived his last years in the house opposite the Parthasarathy temple's western entrance; the house has since been bought and renovated by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1993, and it was named Bharathiyar Illam (Home of Bharathiyar).