Kalpakkam
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 highschools; 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 artefacts 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.
Information
for Kalpakkam Visitors.
Google Map of Kalpakkam
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