Beaches

Marina Beach

Marina Beach is a natural urban beach in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, along the Bay of Bengal. The beach runs from near Fort St. George in the north to Foreshore Estate in the south, a distance of 6.0 km (3.7 mi), making it the longest natural urban beach in the country.

The Marina is primarily sandy, unlike the short, rocky formations that make up the Juhu Beach in Mumbai. The average width of the beach is 300 m (980 ft) and the width at the widest stretch is 437 m (1,434 ft). Bathing and swimming at the Marina Beach are legally prohibited because of the dangers, as the undercurrent is very turbulent.

It is one of the most crowded beaches in the country and attracts about 30,000 visitors a day during weekdays and 50,000 visitors a day during the weekends and on holidays. During summer months, about 15,000 to 20,000 people visit the beach daily.

Address - Chennai

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Elliot's Beach

Elliot's Beach (popularly known as "Besant Nagar Beach" or "Bessie") is located in Besant Nagar, Chennai, India. It forms the end-point of the Marina Beach shore and is named after Edward Elliot, onetime chief magistrate and superintendent of police, Madras. It has the Velankanni Church and the Ashtalakshmi Kovil nearby. In the colonial era, it was a fairly exclusive place limited to white people. As of 2016, there are many restaurants near the beach.

There is a police outpost at the beach and the crowd is policed by means of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to prevent drowning mishaps. In 2010, there were 11 drowning cases reported off Elliots Beach. In August 2012, the government-sanctioned two more all-terrain vehicles for patrolling the beach.

Address - Besant Nagar, Chennai

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Covelong Beach

Covelong is a nice beach between Chennai and Mahabalipuram (about 40 km from Chennai on the East Coast Road) and a small charming fishing settlement. It was originally a port built by Saadat Ali, Nawab of Carnatic and it was here that the French General Laboudonnais landed his troops in 1746. Later taken by Clive in 1752 and destroyed.

The beach is separated from the mainland by the canal running from Chennai to Mahabalipuram

The salubrious village of Covelong is renowned for its fishing activities. In the fishing village, the swaying palms and the beautiful beach attract people from across the globe. The environs, ambiance, peace, tranquility and the infrastructure at the Covelong beach come together to make it one of the most popular beach resorts on the Coromandel Coast. In the yesteryears, Covelong was the renowned port of the Nawabs of the Carnatic.

On digging the past it is revealed that Saadat Ali, Nawab of Carnatic, built the ancient port of Covelong.

Address - Kovalam, ECR