Southern Railway’s famed heritage structures and lines

Explore the remarkably famed heritage structures and rail lines fabricated by the Southern Railway of India. These massive structures are standing tall adding meaning and beauty to our nation. Soon after India’s Independence, the Government under took a programme of regrouping the rail system into smaller number of sufficiently large and administratively viable divisions. Thus, Southern Railway became one of the first Railway zones to come into existence on 14th April 1951. It has 6 Divisions located at Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchchirappalli, Salem, Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram. Southern Railway was formed on 14th April 1951 by merging the Railway systems administered by the erstwhile Madras and Southern Mahratta, South Indian and Mysore State Railways. Subsequently in 1966, with the formation of South Central Railway a portion of Southern Railway was transferred to South Central Railway. Again in 2003 South Western Railway was formed transferring two divisions, viz., Bangalore and Mysore Divisions, from Southern Railway. Now, Southern Railway serves the entire states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Pondicherry and a small part of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Important Heritage structures Southern Railway Headquarters A massive Heritage Structure in present day Chennai, the Southern Railway Headquarters building situated next to Chennai Central was designed by N.Grayson, an architect of the erstwhile Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway. The Foundation of the palatial headquarters building was laid on 8 February 1915 by Lord Pentland, the then Governor of Madras. Based on the Dravidian style of classic architecture the foundation of the Indo – Sarcenic type structure consists of a reinforced concrete raft from 5 to 8 feet below the ground level set upon a stratum of pure sand, nearly 20 feet deep. It took nearly 7½ months to lay the foundation structure consisting of 500 tons of steel bars embedded on 10,000 tons of granite concrete. Built of stock brick with Porbundar stone, the central towers rise to a height of 125 feet 6 inches above the roadway. The corner towers house the water tanks with a total capacity of about 35,000 gallons. After nine nine long years of intensive labour and a massive investment of Rs.30,76,400 the building was opened on 11 December 1922 by Lady Willington, the wife of the then Governor of Madras. A Special postal cover marking the launch of Centenary Celebrations of Southern Railway Headquarters was released on 27th January 2022. Dr M.G.Ramachandran Central Railway Station The heritage structure of Dr M.G.Ramachandran Central Railway Station (Erstwhile Chennai Central/ Madras Central) was built in the Romanesque revivalist style with round arched arcading and coloured windows with an imposing roof was originally built by the Old Madras Railway Company and opened on on 7April 1873. Chennai Egmore The Oriental Style of architecture with Mughal style domed towers and minarets have characterized the Heritage Station of Chennai Egmore since its opening in 1908. Royapuram Another historic Railway Structure, the Royapuram Railway Station is the oldest Railway station in the country that still survives, displaying the vestiges of its former splendour. Though India’s first railway line opened from Bori Bunder, Bombay to Thane, neither Bori Bunder nor Thane stations have retained their original structure. The Royapuram Station building, that resembled a regency mansion, was declared open by the then Governor Lord Harris on 28 June 1856. In his speech he congratulated the Madras Railway Company, its Manager Major Jenkins and all who had worked on the railway, Lord Harris said that the project was worth the investment and looked forward to equally expeditious completion of additional miles of track up to the west coast. Two trains, each with coaches made by Simpson & Co., the leading coach builders of the day, inaugurated the service. One carried the Governor and 300 Europeans and another train, with the Indian invitees followed. These were widely covered by the Press. “The Illustrated London News” gave a graphic description of the inaugural train passing across the arid plain of the Carnatic, frightening the herdsmen and the cattle. Kozhikkode The railway line to Calicut (now Kozhikkode) was opened on 2nd January 1888. The station was then the western terminus of Madras Railway. The station houses vintage fixtures such as Railway Institute built by British in 1888 which served as a recreation for employees and a cast iron mechanical pump set imported from England to pump water into steam engines. Kozhikkode railway station celebrated its 125th Anniversary on 2nd January 2013. A special postal cover was released by Kerala Circle in commemoration of the 125th Anniversary of Kozhikkode Railway Station. Nilgiri Mountain Railway The Nilgiri Mountain Railway which was declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, is a show-piece of Railway technology using the rack and pinion system. To this day, the Southern Railway maintains this century old Mountain Railway stretch between Mettupalayam – Coonoor – Ooty with great pride and panache. The Great Pamban (old) Bridge Celebrated as one of the iconic structures built in the erstwhile era, the great Pamban cantilever bridge was commissioned in 1914. Bridging peninsular India and the Gulf on Mannar, this vintage structure interconnects Mandapam inRameswaram mainland with Rameswaram Island. Located in the state of Tamilnadu, the bridge falls under the jurisdiction of Madurai division of Southern Railway. The Great Pamban Bridge attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. Offering a visual feast to the onlookers, the Scherzer rolling spans beautifully expand and allow cruisers and ships to pass through. The bridge transports scores of pilgrims visiting the famed Ramanathaswamy Temple. This century old engineering marvel has stood the test of times amidst highly corrosive seas.

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Health and Wellness

Best Easy 4 Yoga ASANAS for healthy and glowing skin

Yoga is said to make you healthy and strong. Yoga has always been beneficial for many physical and mental ailments. It is said to promote health from within, leading to firmer, more radiant skin. However, yoga for skin care is to be part of your lifestyle. Halasana – Plough pose This asana enhances blood circulation throughout your entire body, resulting in a peaceful and relaxed body that will reflect on your face and complexion. Sound sleep is undoubtedly aided by this stress alleviation. It is the ideal yoga posture for skin care since it creates a feeling of tranquility and eases your mind. When you consider that a disturbed sleep cycle is one of the main causes of any kind of skin problems, working on this helps for promoting sleep leading to healthy skin. Matsyasana Fish pose One of the backbend postures that even a beginner may do with ease is the fish pose. Given that it enhances blood circulation in the head area, this is one of the greatest yoga postures for achieving youthful, evenly toned skin. This asana opens up the chest and enhances blood flow to your head, making it one of the best yoga poses for radiant skin. Matsyasana relieves exhaustion and menstruation discomfort. This pose is claimed to increase blood circulation on your head and reduce indigestion and bloating, giving you instantly radiant skin. Ustrasana – Camel pose A excellent position for building spine strength is ustrasana. The Camel Pose, also known as Ustrasana, may help lessen acne and pimples if you have them. This position balances your hormones, relieves tension, and aids in expanding the lung capacity. By eliminating toxins from the bloodstream, urstasana promotes blood flow in the head, which benefits your skin and hair and leaves skin luminous and vibrant. It expands your chest and enhances hormone production, both of which are good for your skin. Paschimottanasana – seated forward bend pose: This asana will stretch your back, shoulders, and hamstrings. It eases lower back tension and enhances digestion, both of which can worsen a number of skin disorders including acne and pimples. In addition to being helpful for lowering stress, this position also cleanses the blood, enhances skin tone, and lessens the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots. Paschimottasana is perfect for skin care. Once more, this posture is excellent for reducing tension and maintaining calm. It gives you better-looking skin since it enhances skin elasticity, blood purification, wrinkle reduction, and complexion. Poor digestion might lead to dull skin. This asana streamlines your digestion and leads to healthy skin.

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Food

How to Make Hyderabadi paneer gravy

This south Indian treat is a great to the vegetarians and also vegans when you replace paneer with tofu or just veggies. This creamy masala is so delicious. A flavourful curry made with onions, coriander, green chilli, garlic, and other spices is used to cook the paneer. This goes well with Malabar parotta or steaming rice. Ingredients Finely chopped onions – 2 Finely chopped tomatoes – 2 200g cube panner Green chili 2 pieces of cinnamon 2 pieces of clove 2 Cardamom ½ cup coriander 1 teaspoon of fennel 1 teaspoon of cumin Seeds 1 tablespoon of ginger-garlic paste 3 teaspoons of peanuts 3 teaspoons of cashews 2 teaspoons of grated coconut 1 teaspoon of chili powder 1 teaspoon of jeera powder 1 teaspoon of coriander powder 1/2 teaspoon of garam masala 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder 3 tablespoons of oil Salt Method Heat oil in a pan and onions, saute it Add ginger-garlic paste, cashew and peanuts To it add coriander and grated coconut Grind it to a fine paste Add oil to the same pan, and add all the spices Add 2 tablespoons of water to it and add the chopped tomatoes Cover it with a lid and let it cook Add the paste and panner, let it cook Serve with rice or roti

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Health and Wellness

Hair care tips for healthy hair

Ways to prevents hair loss in the shower Brush your hair before washing Wash hair with warm or cold water Apply shampoo only on the scalp Condition at the end of the hair Do not use hot air dryer Apply scalp serum Brush your hair before washing Detangle your hair before washing your hair which helps prevents hair breakage when you brush your hair after washing and drying it. There is more hair breakage when you detangle your hair after it is dry. Apply hair serum when is it wet and use a wide toothed soft hair comb to brush your hair which prevents hair fall. Wash hair with warm or cold water Using cold water helps close the cuticles, it prevents the formation of excess oil. It helps in having smoother and shiny look. Apply shampoo only on the scalp Lather only you scalp with your shampoo. Do not shampoo the length and ends, as it makes your hair dry. Condition at the end of the hair Use a conditioner after shampooing your hair. Apply the conditioner at the end of the hair. Do not apply conditioner on the scalp, as it might add on to the more oil content. Do not use hot air dryer Try to dry your hair in natural ways, whenever possible. If you use a dryer, use a cold air. Avoid using hot air exposure, it affects and damages your hair. Apply scalp serum Apply a hair serum after hair wash. It reduces frizz and adds shine to some extent. It also prevents your hair from damage.

Shri-Munisuvratswami-Jain-Navgraha-Temple,-ECR

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Culture and Heritage

Most unique temples in ECR, Chennai

Matsya Narayana Temple/ Chinmaya Tarangini – Twelve-foot Matsya Narayana in the Ocean’s Backyard Tucked away on East Coast Road in Uthandi, this Chinmaya Mission-built Vishnu Temple is a place for meditation, group chanting, and relaxing weekend worship. is offered to The rhythm of the ocean waves harmonizes with the serene surroundings of Chinmaya Tarangini in front of his ECR in Uthandi. But this “temple” to Matsya Narayana is not a temple. There are gravel paths that offer acupressure if you walk barefoot. There is enough greenery and space to sit quietly and meditate. The main idol is Lord Vishnu in Matsya (fish) avatar represented in granite 12 feet high surrounded by 108 granite pillars. Each nine-foot pillar has an inscription of Vishnu Sahasranamam by Swami His Chinmayananda and Ashtotrashata His Namavali, with Tamil and Sanskrit inscriptions and translations into English. The meditation park also has idols of Ganesha, Shiva, and Hanuman. Jagannath Shrine Jagannath Puri Temple in Chennai is a Hindu temple dedicated to the trinity of Jagannath, Varadeva, and Subhadra in Chennai, India. The Temple on the East Coast Road by the sea is built in Kalinga architecture and is reminiscent of the Jagannath Temple in Puri. Exquisite beautiful and an amazing architectural replica of the Puri Temple. It is a wonderful place that touches your heart as soon as you step in. ISKCON The ISKCON Chennai Temple is located in ECR on the outskirts of the city. Although the temple is located far from the city, it attracts people’s attention. It is considered not only a spiritual place but also a place to admire interiors and gods. There is no denying that the beautiful idols of gods and goddesses never stop us from admiring them. Like other ISKCON temples, this Chennai ISKCON temple is architecturally stunning and well-maintained. The sculptures are very well done and the whole place is lit up at night giving another dimension to the temple. The temple is also quite large with plenty of parking on-site and a separate vegetarian restaurant. ISKCON Temple is a magnificent monument not only for its intricate carvings but also for its sacred atmosphere. You can go in and feel your inner calm. A perfect place to meditate, relax and forget all your worries. Shri Munisuvratswami Jain Navgraha Temple, ECR Amazing architecture, in this modern age our traditional sculptors are a blessing to the next generation and the temple heralds the enlightenment of Bhagwan Mahavir. A very good place for mediation. A beautiful, airy and serene Jain temple in ECR. The carvings are beautiful and the craftsmanship is worth seeing. Take a pit stop and relax at this super breezy place. A temple made entirely of marble. The entrance structure looks like the Royal Beautiful Large Durbar. Looking at the Shikar Temple from the back side of the temple, it feels like the Shikar is touching the sky. Huge space, good atmosphere, beautiful scenery, many other places nearby, the temple is built with amazing works of art.

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Trends

Clothes that make you look taller

Long or cropped jackets High waists Vertical stripes micro prints High-waist jeans and crop top A crop top is the best option for you if you are petite. You may wear it with high-waisted jeans to complete the look. A cropped top and skirt are an additional option. Wear vertical stripes Similar to column dressing, vertical stripes create the impression that you are much taller than you actually are. So go ahead and get those skirts and blouses with vertical stripes that you’ve always wanted. Go Monochromatic Choose monotone clothing since it helps you look put together. You will appear tall and magnificent if you wear all one color. Tuck in Your Shirt If you want to give off the impression that you are taller, you must avoid wearing baggy, boxy, or large apparel. Large prints often shrink. Large silhouettes also work. Don’t Avoid loose-fit clothes The first step to look taller is to alter your wardrobe. You may not even be aware of it, but how you dress affects a lot more than just how you appear that day. Avoid purchasing baggy, tent-style shirts since they might make you appear shorter than you are. Avoid purchasing coats that extend past your knee as well. Avoid voluminous/elongated jackets You should mostly avoid jackets, suits, or blazers that are bulky or elongated, as they shorten your legs and make your silhouette blurry and unwieldy. Buy a short, fitted jacket.

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Destination Travel

Another weekend getaway from Chennai – Kadalur Dam

65 kilometres away from Koyamedu is the Kadalur Dam, is a real weekend getaway from Chennai as Chennai is quite far away from most of the nature spots like waterfalls, hill stations or other water bodies. It is quite natural for Chennaiities to be excited to spot such places within 100 kilometres for a weekend getaway. Dam is constructed where the river empties into the sea, between the villages of Vayalur and Kadalur, for a distance of one kilometre. The road terminates at the north side of the river after passing through the winding alleys of the Vayalur settlement, after which a mud road slides to the dam. When we arrived, there were already a dozen vehicles and bicycles parked in front of the river, and many people were having fun swimming in the river and sliding over the spillway. This looks to be a safe area to unwind and enjoy the bath as a family, despite the slick spillway and the rocks around the dam. Veeranam Lake is a 16 km long dam in northern Tamil Nadu that was constructed in the tenth century, during the reign of the Greater Cholas. Rajaditya Chola was the one who invented it, he gave it his father’s name Parantaka I Chola’s title as inspiration. Water for this lake comes from Kollidam via the Vadavaru River. Most of the year, the lake is dry. Here is more historical information about the place. The Veera Narayana Lake is the setting for the first chapter of the book Ponniyin Selvan. Kalki goes into great detail on the characteristics of the lake and how many rivers enter it. He stated that throughout the spring, Chola princess Kundavi would visit the shores of Veeranam Lake for refreshments. The number of 64 Peetas, or 64 simhasanathipathigal, was agreed upon by Ramanujacharya based on the number of 64 openings in the lake, he adds. The lake in question is Veeraanam Lake, originally Veeranaaraayanapuram Lake.

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Citizen Corner Editions

Your Platform Magazine November 2022 Edition

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Trends

World Vegan day

1st November is celebrated as World Vegan Day, to encourage people to follow veganism which is a healthy lifestyle away from animal products. It is also celebrated to create awareness about Veganism and its benefits of companionate living. Vegans eat only plant-based food. ‘The Vegan Society was founded to promote veganism and the vegan diet. World Vegan Day means that individuals can become vegan by working with policymakers on issues such as climate change, sustainable agriculture, and increasing the availability of vegan food in public places, and by doing more. to help people stay vegan, promote and protect vegan rights. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Your Platform Magazine (@yourplatformin) A plant-based diet may reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. Soy products are also rich in protein. Good vegetable sources of iron are chickpeas, tofu, and dried fruits, and fresh fruits contain iron. Getting 10-15 minutes of sunlight a day can boost your vitamin D, as can fortify orange juice and soy. A vegan diet does the least damage to the environment. A pescetarian diet reduces environmental damage. But sticking around is easier. Vegan and omnivorous diets each have their own health risks and benefits. But the people who lived the longest were neither vegan, carnivorous, nor omnivorous. Aside from ethics and health, another reason for choosing to adopt a vegan diet is the belief that farming practices are bad for the environment. It is known that this type of diet is becoming more and more popular. Some restaurants recommend vegan food.

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Health and Wellness

How to lose extreme weight fast?

There are a few things you need to work on, apart from your diet and eating habits. Diet plays a role in weight loss, but there are other aspects to look into and change to help in the long run. Not just the diet, it is your lifestyle that helps you lose weight and hit your target. Your daily routine is the major deciding factor in the output of your efforts. Focusing on these small things will help you in your weight loss journey. Portion control Use a smaller plate and fill at least half your plate with veggies and improve protein and fibre intake. Eating slowly helps you chew your food, helps in digestion, and makes you feel fuller. Avoid eating processed food and eat home-cooked food in the right proportion with balanced carbohydrates, protein, fibre and fats. Exercise daily Practising yoga at least 5-6 days a week will help you in fastening the process. Or you can start off with a 20 mins walk and eventually increase the duration and speed of your walk. Eventually, practice Yoga or Zumba, or anything other physical activity of your choice. Drink water Water is the key to weight loss. Drink sufficient water in regular intervals to stay hydrated. Ensure you drink 3-4 litter water according to your weight. Do not miss out on this, as drinking enough water makes you not crave anything or feel hungry. Most of the time when you feel thirsty you end up eating something. Good sound Sleep Here comes the toughest part, avoid gadgets at night before your bedtime and sleep for 7-8 hours. Sleeping at the same time regularly helps your body rest and repair. Your body parts tend to process and function efficiently in all possible ways. Stay away from stress Manage your stress, and try to avoid things that stress you. Keep yourself away from stress will help you stay more positive and achieve your goal faster. Consciously look into these things and make these small efforts in your daily routine to lose weight and have a healthy lifestyle.

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