Ayyappa Nagar is a residential area within Madipakkam, a southern suburb of Chennai (formerly known as Madras), in Tamil Nadu, India. It was named after the temple built there to Lord Ayyappa, notable, like Sabarimala, for having eighteen steps. Ayyappa Nagar has eighteen streets and extends from Sabari Salai to Keelkattalai. It belongs to the panchayat of Madipakkam, although a growing population means that Madipakkam is in reality no longer a village. Ayyappa Nagar has two hospitals: GM Hospital and Padhuvai. It has few shops except for a small number of potti kadais (petty shops).