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Royapuram | |
|---|---|
neighbourhood | |
Royapuram fishing harbour | |
| Coordinates:13°06′15″N80°17′37″E / 13.10403°N 80.29366°E /13.10403; 80.29366 | |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Chennai |
| Metro | Chennai |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 600 013 |
| Vehicle registration | TN-04 |
Royapuram is a locality in the northern part of the city ofChennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is best known for its beach, and forRoyapuram Railway Station. The station is the first railway station ofSouth India, opening in 1856, and is today the oldest surviving railway station of theIndian subcontinent.[1]
The region existed as a well known settlement during theChola times, but the name Royapuram is derived from a Tamil appellation for St. Peter, Royappa, in connection with St. Peter's Church in the area.[2] The region was originally called Rayarapuram named after the Rayar Kings who rules down South. It is also believed that the British / Anglo Indians settled in this locality were called Rayars, which lent the name Rayarpuram.[3]
From the 14th century, the erstwhileVijayanagara Rulers[4] controlled this region till the Madras land grant toFrancis Day.[5][6]

Royapuram Railway Station was the first railway station constructed inSouth India and second railway line inSouth Asia. The first train service commenced in 1856 from here toArcot, the then capital of theCarnatic region.[7]
| Year | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 53.3%50,647 | 39.1%37,144 |
| 2001 | 56.8%44,465 | 39.3%30,753 |
| 1996 | 35.4%27,485 | 57.8%44,893 |
| 1991 | 59.0%46,218 | 37.8%29,565 |
| 1989* | 8.0%6,532 | 46.0%37,742 |
| 1984 | 50.3%40,727 | 48.7%39,432 |
| 1980 | 49.1%36,455 | 50.3%37,390 |
| 1977 | 31.3%22,626 | 33.5%24,217 |
Royapuram assembly constituency is part ofChennai North (Lok Sabha constituency).[8]
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