Senate House

Senate House
Location: University of Madras Campus
Built In: 1873
Designed By: Robert Fellowes Chisholm


Senate House of Chennai is definitely a worth watching monument in Tamil Nadu. It is located at the campus of University of Madras, near the Marina Beach. It is truly an architectural marvel and was constructed under the supervision of one of the greatest architects of the 19th century, Robert Fellowes Chisholm. The foundation of this monument was laid in 1869 and was successfully completed by the year 1873. The Senate House was once the hallmark of the ancient city of Madras.

Its structure is a creative and harmonious blend of Indo-Saracenic style, with Byzantine architectural features. The central room of Senate Hall is huge in measurement and is supported with six mammoth stone pillars on each side. The building is surrounded by four spearing towers, flanked by exquisite domes, painted in different colors. This adds to the magnanimity and splendor of the monument. Apart from this, there is an entrance towards the north, which leads to the convocation hall.

The entrance towards the south is linked with rooms on the southern wing. Besides, there are two entrances on east and west side of the Senate House. The front side of these entrances was marked with elegant porticos. At the corner of these porticos, there is a small domed size structure which adds up to the beauty of the arrangement. The Senate House had a great utility once, as it housed some of the university departments as well as the offices of the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar.

With time this magnificent structure has been withering away and losing its age old charm. Ignorance and the fury of the nature are responsible for its deteriorating condition. However, some effort have been made to reinstate is initial beauty with the help of renovation. But, in order to avoid any tampering with its original structure, the university is making earnest efforts. It has researched into the matter and has appealed to alumni, lovers of art, philanthropists, the public and private organizations to come forward to preserve the grand Senate House.