Nandhavanam as Nandambakkam:

The temple of Lord Rama or Konthandaramar is one of the oldest temples in Chennai. According to sthapathies, Lord Rama on his way to Sri Lanka, offered homage to sage Bhringi, who was doing sacrament on the hill named after him (Bhringimalai), He asked Rama to stay with him. A Garden was laid near the hill where Lord Rama spent his time which came to be known as Nandhavanam and later Nandhambakkam. The descentanats of Vijayanagar rulers constructed the temple for Rama,Sit and Lakshmana around 750 yrs ago, in the place where Rama stayed. The unique idols that the sage worshipped were installed in this temple. Shrines for Lord Srinivasa of Tirumala, Goddess Alarmelmangai Thayar, Nandavana Kannan, Ananda Anjaneyar, Azhwars and Acharyas were later installed and the temple became a big intricate. The special features of this temple are that it faces south and Sita is found sitting on Rama's lap. The temple is also called `Then Thirupathi of Thondai Mandalam'. An eternal lamp burns in the Vasantha mandapam with 288 ghee lamps around it. And from my childhood I often visit this temple since it is just a km from my residence.