Located on Mount Poonamallee Road, Madras War Cemetery is a memorial and war cemetery which was created to receive graves of soldiers killed during Second World War. These came from cantonment and civil cemeteries in eastern and southern India.

The war cemetery is being currently maintained by Commonwealth War Graves Commission with Government of India being a partner in the project.

History

Madras War Cemetery was established in 1952 and has 856 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War era. The same was commissioned by imperial War Graves and is now known by the name of Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Architecture

There is also a War memorial at Madras War Cemetery, which is located at the rear end. This memorial does not have any buried dead bodies but has plaques of British soldiers who died during the course of World War I and II. Madras War Cemetery is home to 857 war graves with 659 belonging to forces which served for United Kingdom. The other graves are of soldiers who served the forces for Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Burma, Malaya and Poland.

Activities & Excursions

• The cemetery is elegantly maintained and substantial money is spent in keeping it tidy and well maintained.
• Armistice Day is celebrated in the war cemetery on November 11th every year. This day marked the end of Second World War and a prominent personality is invited to grace the occasion every year.

How to Reach

By Air

Chennai International Airport is the nearest air link of the city with rest of the world. Flights from all major international and national destinations are routed to the airport. Madras War Cemetery is located at a distance of 5 km from the airport. Taxis can be hired from the airport to the War Cemetery.

By Train

Chennai Central and Egmore are the two major railway stations in Chennai. Madras War Cemetery is located at a distance of 14 km from Chennai Central railway station. Taxis are available at the railway station for onward journey to the War Memorial.

By Road

Chennai is well connected by road route to rest of the country. Tamil Nadu State Road Transport Corporation buses operate to all the neighbouring states and connect the city with important places like Tirupati, Pondicherry, Tirunelveli and Coimbatore.