Just as you come across Fortis Malar Hospital in Adyar near the flyover, a yellow tinted gate welcomes you into an expansive stretch of green, hidden right in the middle of concrete structures around the area. As you walk through the gates, you might be surprised at how green this place is.
For the uninitiated, this is part of the gigantic Theosophical Society founded in 1875 by Helena Petroyna Blavatsky (also lovingly called Madame Blavatsky), Henry Steel Olcott, William Quan Judge and others founded the Theosophical Society on 17 November 1875 in New York City to promote brotherhood among people of different caste and creed. Its headquarters moved with Blavatsky and president Henry Steel Olcott from New York to Adyar in 1886.
The garden in the Theosophical Society in Chennai is also referred to as the ‘Huddleston Garden’ and consists of 260 acres of garden, that is well-maintained with preserved trees and bushes, so as to maintain the ecological balance.
It is a great place to take a long walk and come close to the nature. The garden is dotted with variety of trees and plants, with scientific names and classification of each clearly mentioned. The garden has migratory birds, fruit bats, snakes, jackals, wild cats, mongooses, hares, and a variety of spiders. Trees include the rare mahogany and other trees from across the globe. The garden also had a 450-year-old banyan tree, which was known locally as Adyar aala maram, whose aerial roots covered some 60,000 sq m. But sadly, it fell under its own weight in 1996.
If you get tired of walking around, there are stone benches set up at every ten meters. Apart from the chirping of birds, hanging bats and the wild trees, there are several avenues named after the founders. You can walk along these avenues and revel in the beauty of nature.
The garden is open on all the days except Sunday.
Location: Durgabai Deshmukh Road, Adyar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600020; Timings: 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM.
All days of the week except Sunday
