One of the great personalities in Indian history Swami Vivekananda was renowned social reformer whose influence was not limited to India but it touched international boundaries as well. Everything attached to him or his life is now a source of inspiration for his followers. In this article I am taking you to explore one such place that used to be the residence of Swami Vivekananda but for a short while of few days but left the foot prints of a life time. This house is called Vivekananda House located at busy Kamarajar Salai in Chennai, India. This house has seen many owners and it was initially named Ice House then Castle Kernan and at last it is called Vivekananda House or Vivekanandar Illam in Tamil.Vivekananda House was built in the year 1842 in front of Bay of Bengal by Frederic Tudor who was involved in ice business. This house was a part of his business. It was used to store ice which was brought from North American Great Lakes for more than thirty years. After the ice business of Tudor seen rough times during 1880 he sold this structure to Biligiri Iyengar, a successful advocate and follower of Swami Vivekananda from Chennai. He modified the structure and turned it into a beautiful spherical structure and renamed it Castle Kernan. After that it was used as a residence. In the year 1897 when Swami Vivekananda came to Chennai Iyengar requested him to stay in this house. This was the time when Swamiji stayed here from 6th February to 14th February 1897 and left behind the unforgettable impact for his followers.During his short stay he gave scorching lectures to people and shook the whole nation with much required consciousness at that time. Upon the request of his followers he got ready to set up a permanent centre at this house. Ramakrishna Math’s activities continued from this house for next ten years after 1897. Then the property was mortgaged to a Zamindar and in 1914 Government of Madras acquired it for social welfare scheme and turned it into a hostel and training school for Child Widow’s Home. In 1963 the house was renamed as Vivekananda House from Castle Kernan on the occasion of Swamiji’s Birthday. In 1997 Government of Tamil Nadu leased out the property to Ramakrishna Math till 2020 for conducting their spiritual activities.This three storied building is a beautiful structure in spherical shape is an architecturally significant structure of Chennai. It has circular core, semicircular corridors, hemispherical dome but a square plan. Thus it is quite an interesting structure that came through a lot of changes over the years in terms of its use and reconstruction. It houses exhibitions in its different parts. In one exhibit you can explore the 43 paintings showcasing the evolution of our culture from Vedic period to the arrival of Shri Ramakrishna. In the circular veranda you can explore the exhibit which displays around 120 photographs related to the life of Swami Vivekananda at different stages and his spiritual conquest of the west that made a world history.These pictures are donated to the centre by Vedanta Society of St. Louis, USA. On the second floor of the building is the room where Swami Vivekananda stayed in 1897. It is now a meditation room and a place for sacred memories attached to Vivekananda. There is a show room where books and photos of Vivekananda are sold to public. A state of the art multimedia gallery is set up by Ramakrishna Math recently in order to promote Swami Vivekananda’s ideology and thoughts here. This place is quite an inspiration for Vivekananda followers and they can feel him here and attach to him by visiting his room where he stayed, his kitchen where he cooked simple food, his diner and other belongings.Shri Ramakrishna Math conducts various spiritual and social activities like meditation class, Yoga class on Sunday mornings, Vivekananda Youth Forum for youths at every Sunday evening, computer centre for training to poor children, coaching centre for poor kids, book store having books on self improvements for sell, etc.How to reach at Vivekananda House?It is quite popular tourists’ destination and important monument of Chennai. It is easy to reach here as Vivekananda House is a famous bus terminus in city.Timings to visitIt is open from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm every day.DaysIt is closed on all public holidays.RUCHI MAHAJANзайм на карту без отказов круглосуточновзять кредит онлайн