Mambalam is a residential and commercial area in the heart of Chennai (Madras), India. It is best known for its shops, bazaars and Hindu temples. It is bounded by Kodambakkam to the north and Saidapet to the south. T. Nagar and Nandanam stretch all along its eastern frontiers while Ashok Nagar lies to its west. The Ayodhya Mandapam is an important landmark.
Mambalam is believed to have derived its name from the existence of Maha bilvam trees in the locality, which in due course become Mabilam and then Mambalam
In ancient times it was known as mylai mel ambalam(place located on the west of mylai). Then it changed to mel-ambalam. Then mel(top) changed into west and ambalam changed into mambalam. Therefore, now it is known as West Mambalam.
Prior to its inclusion in the then city of Madras, Mambalam was a village in the Saidapet taluk of Chingleput district. The oldest surviving reference to Mambalam is believed to be in a 1726 stone plaque commemorating the construction of the Marmalong Bridge (now known as Maraimalai Adigal bridge) across the Adyar river by the merchant Coja Petrus Uscan. The bridge is believed to have been named after the village of Marmalong or Marmalan identified with Mambalam. The village was, then, a zamindari administered by zamindars belonging to a Telugu-speaking Reddi family.
Mambalam railway station is one of the railway stations of the Chennai Beach–Chengelpet section of the Chennai Suburban Railway Network. It serves the neighbourhoods of West Mambalam and T. Nagar. It is situated between the two neighbourhoods, about 11 km from Chennai Beach, and has an elevation of 13 m above sea level.
With a patronage of 200,000 passenger a day, Mambalam railway station is one of the busiest stations in the city.
Mambalam railway station was constructed when the suburban railway service connecting Madras Egmore with Kanchipuram was opened in 1911. The suburban service between Madras Beach and Tambaram was inaugurated on 11 May 1931 and in this regard, two railway tracks were electrified by 15 November 1931. The section was converted to 25 kV AC traction on 15 January 1967.
About 19 express and passenger trains pass through the station.
Mambalam railway station is one of the busiest stations in the city and handles over 200,000 passenger daily, with more than 1,000 passengers an hour. The parking lot at the station has a capacity to accommodate around 500 to 600 two-wheelers and around 200 bicycles.