Kalpakkam is a small township 80 kms from Chennai(Madras) towards south. It was built by Department of Atomic Energy(DAE) in 1969 for its employees when it setup Reactor Research Center(RRC) and Madras Atomic Power Project at Kalpakkam. The township was built on lands acquired from two fishing towns Pudupattinam and Sadras. The lands were all casuarina cultivation before they were cleared and three storied apartments were built. The two land areas of Pudupattinam and Sadras are connected by a bridge over a backwater. The RRC was latter renamed to Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research(IGCAR). The MAPP is now Madras Atomic Power Station owned by the Nuclear Power Corporation.
Kalpakkam has four high schools; Atomic Energy School, Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2, and TamilNadu State Government High School. For the shopping needs, there are two shopping centers, one each in Pudupatinam and Sadras. There is a bus station that provides daily bus services to Madras, Bangalore, Pondicherry and many more destination. Kalpakkam has a Recreation Center maintained by the NESCO ( Nuclear Employees Sports and Cultural Organization). The NESCO organizes various sports and extracurricular activities for the employees and their family. It also has a open air cinema
where movies are screened weekly.
The township stretches more than 2 kms on the seashore of Bay of Bengal providing a nice beach for the residents. The large arm of backwaters and the seashore provides an ideal habitat for scores of water birds in Kalpakkam.
There is an Old Fort at Sadras outside the township. It had a small settlement of Dutch tradres. The Dutch traders used this fort to export goods from India. In mid 17th century, the British attacked and took over this fort. It has a cemetery of VOC(Dutch East India Company) soldiers and officers. Recently, Archaeological Survey of India discovered some artifacts at this fort.
North of Kalpakkam just few kilometers is Mamallapuram,
It is an ancient seaport built by Pallava King Narasimhavarman I, in the 7th century AD. It is known for its Sculptural and Architectural Heritage.
Fifteen Kilometers in northwest is Tirukalukundram, It has a small Shiva temple on the top of the Vedagiri hill which is 160m high. Just before noon everyday, two White Kites stop at the temple and are fed by the temple priests. Legend has it that these two birds are actually saints who daily make a stop to rest at the temple on their flight between Varanasi and Rameswaram.
Nearest Airport: Madras Meenambakkam Airport.
Nearest Railway: Chengalput.