| Royapuram | |
| Settlement Type: | neighbourhood |
| Pushpin Map: | India Chennai#Tamil Nadu#India |
| Coordinates: | 13.104°N 80.2937°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Tamil Nadu |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Chennai |
| Subdivision Type3: | Metro |
| Subdivision Name3: | Chennai |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Languages |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Tamil |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code Type: | PIN |
| Postal Code: | 600 013 |
| Registration Plate: | TN-04 |
Royapuram is a locality in the northern part of the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is best known for its beach, and for Royapuram Railway Station. The station is the first railway station of South India, opening in 1856, and is today the oldest surviving railway station of the Indian subcontinent.[1]
The region existed as a well known settlement during the Chola 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 erstwhile Vijayanagara Rulers[4] controlled this region till the Madras land grant to Francis Day.[5] [6] Royapuram Railway Station was the first railway station constructed in South India and second railway line in South Asia. The first train service commenced in 1856 from here to Arcot, the then capital of the Carnatic 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 |
See main article: Royapuram (State Assembly Constituency).
Royapuram assembly constituency is part of Chennai North (Lok Sabha constituency).[8]