For Praveen, a motorbike enthusiast and working professional in Chennai, Sunday’s ride was not just another weekend outing. It was a journey into the city’s past – on two wheels.

As Chennai celebrated Madras Day and marked 387 years of Madras, around 60 members of the Madras Bulls Motorcycling Club set out on a heritage ride, exploring some of the city’s oldest landmarks and their links to Madras, the name by which Chennai was known during the British era.

The ride began at the Madras Boat Club, founded in 1867 by British enthusiasts of rowing and water sports. The bikers began their day with breakfast and a guided tour of the historic club before heading to Fort St George.

The thumping sound of Royal Enfields – the motorcycle marque with British origins – accompanied the riders as they made their way through the city.

Fort St George was their first major stop. Built by the British in the 17th century, it went on to become a key seat of power during British India. Today, the historic complex houses the Tamil Nadu government’s Secretariat and the Legislative Assembly.

For the bikers, however, the attraction was not just the imposing fort walls. Madras Day gave them access to parts of the complex that are normally out of bounds to the public.

“These places are normally out of bounds for citizens. Only because of Madras Day they open up. For me, it was an opportunity to reminisce how the British lived in my city, then Madras,” said Praveen.

The visit took them through the Fort St George Museum, colonial-era buildings and bungalows within the campus, and St Mary’s Church, the first Anglican church built east of the Suez.

For Aruna Rajeswari, one of the women bikers in the group, the experience was equally special. Thumping away on her 1990 Royal Enfield, she said the heritage ride offered even a native of Chennai a fresh perspective on the city.

“It was a different experience even for a native of Chennai like me. It took us to another level. The old church, for instance, is well maintained even now,” she said.

The motorcycles themselves added another layer to the journey. Most of the bikers rode Royal Enfields, creating an unusual meeting of two eras – British-era landmarks being explored on motorcycles that themselves have a British industrial heritage.

The club, which has 120 members and has been in existence for 24 years, has been organising Madras Day rides for the past 21 years, according to David, another member.

The tradition is now attracting younger riders too. This year, father-son duo Navaneeth and Pranav joined the expedition. Navaneeth was fascinated by the artefacts at the Fort St George Museum, while his son was drawn to the military history.

“I loved the first Indian national flag hoisted at Fort St George preserved on the third floor,” said Navaneeth.

Pranav had his own favourites: “I loved the guns on the ground floor and the Fort St George map.”

For veteran biker Bharath, the annual ride serves a larger purpose.

“Motorcycling clubs generally explore new places, leaving their city. But this helps us to explore significant places in our own city,” he said.

He also sees the rides as an opportunity to demonstrate responsible motorcycling.

“Through these rides we demonstrate to the public our discipline, camaraderie and safety,” Bharath said.

From the banks of the Adyar at the historic Madras Boat Club to the centuries-old walls of Fort St George, the riders travelled through layers of Chennai’s history – marking 387 years of Madras not by simply looking back, but by riding through the places that shaped it.

For these bikers, Madras Day was a reminder that discovering a city does not always require travelling away from it.

Sometimes, all it takes is a motorcycle, a little curiosity and a willingness to hear the thumping roar of an old Royal Enfield echo through the Madras that came before Chennai.

(This article was written using AI tool and vetted editorially for accuracy.)