Tamil Nadu is a kaleidoscopic land of India, characterized by topographical features such as waterfalls, hill resorts, sylvan surroundings, varied flora & fauna, excellent shrine sculptures, long sunny beaches, and a lot more. The eastern coast of India is occupied by the coastal state of Tamil Nadu, called as Chennai. The 369-year-old city Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the capital of state Tamil Nadu and is India's sixth-largest city in terms of population with a population of 67.86 million in 2012.
It acts as one of the main gateways to South India and has a thriving art scene & local culture and is one of the major destinations for tourismEven though, it ranks 13th in terms of cleanliness, it is judged as one of the world's fastest developing cities. The state has the second longest beachfront of any city in the world and it lies is on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. Places to Visit:
There are also various attractive and interesting tourist spots in Chennai. The city has many temples, churches, and spiritual centers. The Kapaleeshwar and the Parthsarthy temples which were constructed in the 13th century stands as the examples of the architectural skills. Chennai welcomes you with some beautiful and popular beaches such as Marina, Elliot's and Covelong.
The Chennai beaches have its visitors ranging from the local public to international tourists and clearly, it is the major hangout for the people visiting Chennai. Running across the Coromandel Coast for 19 kms in length, the city which is popular for its beaches takes the credit of having the long coastal area. And, the long stretch of the Chennai Beach is named as 'Kamarajar Road' after the veteran and renowned politician Kamarajar.
This beach road is occupied by number of monuments and statues along with a morning walk, joggers' track, aquariums, shops, food stalls etc.Marina - Daughter of the Sea:
Marina Beach is the second longest beach in the world and stretches for about 13km. Known as the 'Pride of Chennai', this is one of the finest beach and ranks first in Asia. The beach is featured by good surf, golden sand, and a shimmering clean blue sea, which turn as a ground for several entertainments especially in the evenings. It is a wonderful feeling when people get to see the sunrise and sunset on the beach.
Remain in the stretch of coast, Marina beach is a place where sea turtles Olive Ridley nests during mating season between late October and April that reach the peaking from mid-January to mid-February.
Actually, the beach was just a strip of mud before the Madras harbor was built. During 1880s the then Governor Mountstuart Elphinstone Grand Duff took the necessary steps to facelift the beach, after which it becomes one of the major tourist centers.
Even though swimming and diving are strictly prohibited at the beach, it has a more to draw the visitor's attention. Just a slow and relaxed walk in the enclosures of palm trees will be a nice experience. The waves and winds of the beach, takes hold of your every sense and refresh your mind. Horse rides are also available to entertain both adults and children in the ground. There is a swimming pool that attracts the kids, which run by the State Government. One can find a lot of local vendors selling kites, toys, fruits, and many more to attract the children.
This most crowded beach attracts about 50,000 visitors a day during the holidays and on weekends, and about 30,000 visitors a day during weekdays. Some of the attractions of the Marina beach are given below:Light House:
It is the lighthouse in India that has a lift. Located close to the High Court, this lighthouse is 46 meters tall. Currently visitors are allowed to enter the lighthouse to enjoy the panoramic view of the city from its top. There is also a lighthouse museum on the ground floor.Ice House:
The Ice House, which is renamed as the Vivekananda House has changed its character throughout the years and plays an important role in cultural development. During British rule, this was the place used to store ice that was brought from Great Lakes in North America. Today, it is often used to conduct art/ painting exhibitions about the ideologies of the Hindu Religion, the life and mission of Swami Vivekananda etc.Aquarium:
Known for its rare and extraordinary collections, the aquarium at the beach has a splendid and an astonishing collection of marine and fresh water fishes. The aquarium is open to the public on all days where one can get a chance to see the underwater life in a closer shot.Beach Road:
The beach road, Kamaraj Salai comprises some of the beautiful and famous British buildings such as the University of Madras, Senate-House, Presidency College, Chepauk Palace (PWD office), and Ice House. In between, sentinels on the path, are several statues, including the Triumph of Labor (by Debiprasad Roy Choudhary, the first Indian principal of the Government of Madras School of Arts and Crafts), Mahatma Gandhi and many Tamil scholars. The beach has parks and artificial fountains, which adds elegance to its beauty.Anna and MGR Memorials:
The grand memorials of former chief ministers of Tamilnadu, M.G. Ramachandran and C.N. Annadurai, are located on the sands of Marina, where they were laid to rest, opposite to Chennai University.Events and Activities at the Beach:
Apart from one of the most prominent open spaces in Chennai, the beach land is used to host important cultural and national events like parades on Republic Day and Independence Day. Even the annual Chennai Marathon, country's largest city marathon, begins from Anna Square near the Marina beach.
An estimated 150,000 people will gather on the beach for the festivities of the Pongal celebration (a four day harvest festival celebrated by the state people) in January. The beach has been featured in many Tamil movies over the years.
There is a 34 ft tall artificial waterfall on the pathway. Aquarium, skating arena, and jogger's tracks are very popular with the locals. Giant wheels and merry-go-rounds are also on the beach to entertain the children.
Kite flying and beach cricket are popular activities on the beach. A giant chess board is decked up to mark the FIDE World Chess Championship that took place recently in Chennai city.hopping:
People who love street shopping can try the famous Pondy Bazaar and Ranganathan Street in T Nagar, Chennai. People can find the shopping centers like retail malls, sari showrooms, craft shops, and jewelry shops in and around Chennai beaches. One of the most popular shopping malls is the Spencer Plaza on the Mount Road. There are also shops that sell cloth merchandise, music instruments, electronic goods, and sports showrooms. What to Eat:
There are few restaurants, cafes, and shacks on the beach. Most of the restaurants serve vegetarian cuisine, while a few serve non-vegetarian cuisine.
One can also get delicious seafood on the beach such as fried fillets of vanjaram (seer fish), crispy nethili (anchovy), stir-fried shrimp, hot, puffy milagai (Chili) and vazhakkai (plantain) bajjis, the golden discs of onion and potato slices, diced raw mango dusted with red chili powder, and roasted corn rubbed with lemon-chili paste.Where to Stay:
Chennai offers numerous options of accommodation to suit every budget. Many of the 5 star hotels are sited near chennai airport and GST Road that provides the perfect destination of the stay for leisure or corporate purposes, whereas the mid-range budget hotels are in Guindy and Mylapore. Best Time to Visit:
The ideal time to visit Marina Beach is between November and February while the temperature is moderate in Chennai.
It acts as one of the main gateways to South India and has a thriving art scene & local culture and is one of the major destinations for tourismEven though, it ranks 13th in terms of cleanliness, it is judged as one of the world's fastest developing cities. The state has the second longest beachfront of any city in the world and it lies is on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. Places to Visit:
There are also various attractive and interesting tourist spots in Chennai. The city has many temples, churches, and spiritual centers. The Kapaleeshwar and the Parthsarthy temples which were constructed in the 13th century stands as the examples of the architectural skills. Chennai welcomes you with some beautiful and popular beaches such as Marina, Elliot's and Covelong.
The Chennai beaches have its visitors ranging from the local public to international tourists and clearly, it is the major hangout for the people visiting Chennai. Running across the Coromandel Coast for 19 kms in length, the city which is popular for its beaches takes the credit of having the long coastal area. And, the long stretch of the Chennai Beach is named as 'Kamarajar Road' after the veteran and renowned politician Kamarajar.
This beach road is occupied by number of monuments and statues along with a morning walk, joggers' track, aquariums, shops, food stalls etc.Marina - Daughter of the Sea:
Marina Beach is the second longest beach in the world and stretches for about 13km. Known as the 'Pride of Chennai', this is one of the finest beach and ranks first in Asia. The beach is featured by good surf, golden sand, and a shimmering clean blue sea, which turn as a ground for several entertainments especially in the evenings. It is a wonderful feeling when people get to see the sunrise and sunset on the beach.
Remain in the stretch of coast, Marina beach is a place where sea turtles Olive Ridley nests during mating season between late October and April that reach the peaking from mid-January to mid-February.
Actually, the beach was just a strip of mud before the Madras harbor was built. During 1880s the then Governor Mountstuart Elphinstone Grand Duff took the necessary steps to facelift the beach, after which it becomes one of the major tourist centers.
Even though swimming and diving are strictly prohibited at the beach, it has a more to draw the visitor's attention. Just a slow and relaxed walk in the enclosures of palm trees will be a nice experience. The waves and winds of the beach, takes hold of your every sense and refresh your mind. Horse rides are also available to entertain both adults and children in the ground. There is a swimming pool that attracts the kids, which run by the State Government. One can find a lot of local vendors selling kites, toys, fruits, and many more to attract the children.
This most crowded beach attracts about 50,000 visitors a day during the holidays and on weekends, and about 30,000 visitors a day during weekdays. Some of the attractions of the Marina beach are given below:Light House:
It is the lighthouse in India that has a lift. Located close to the High Court, this lighthouse is 46 meters tall. Currently visitors are allowed to enter the lighthouse to enjoy the panoramic view of the city from its top. There is also a lighthouse museum on the ground floor.Ice House:
The Ice House, which is renamed as the Vivekananda House has changed its character throughout the years and plays an important role in cultural development. During British rule, this was the place used to store ice that was brought from Great Lakes in North America. Today, it is often used to conduct art/ painting exhibitions about the ideologies of the Hindu Religion, the life and mission of Swami Vivekananda etc.Aquarium:
Known for its rare and extraordinary collections, the aquarium at the beach has a splendid and an astonishing collection of marine and fresh water fishes. The aquarium is open to the public on all days where one can get a chance to see the underwater life in a closer shot.Beach Road:
The beach road, Kamaraj Salai comprises some of the beautiful and famous British buildings such as the University of Madras, Senate-House, Presidency College, Chepauk Palace (PWD office), and Ice House. In between, sentinels on the path, are several statues, including the Triumph of Labor (by Debiprasad Roy Choudhary, the first Indian principal of the Government of Madras School of Arts and Crafts), Mahatma Gandhi and many Tamil scholars. The beach has parks and artificial fountains, which adds elegance to its beauty.Anna and MGR Memorials:
The grand memorials of former chief ministers of Tamilnadu, M.G. Ramachandran and C.N. Annadurai, are located on the sands of Marina, where they were laid to rest, opposite to Chennai University.Events and Activities at the Beach:
Apart from one of the most prominent open spaces in Chennai, the beach land is used to host important cultural and national events like parades on Republic Day and Independence Day. Even the annual Chennai Marathon, country's largest city marathon, begins from Anna Square near the Marina beach.
An estimated 150,000 people will gather on the beach for the festivities of the Pongal celebration (a four day harvest festival celebrated by the state people) in January. The beach has been featured in many Tamil movies over the years.
There is a 34 ft tall artificial waterfall on the pathway. Aquarium, skating arena, and jogger's tracks are very popular with the locals. Giant wheels and merry-go-rounds are also on the beach to entertain the children.
Kite flying and beach cricket are popular activities on the beach. A giant chess board is decked up to mark the FIDE World Chess Championship that took place recently in Chennai city.hopping:
People who love street shopping can try the famous Pondy Bazaar and Ranganathan Street in T Nagar, Chennai. People can find the shopping centers like retail malls, sari showrooms, craft shops, and jewelry shops in and around Chennai beaches. One of the most popular shopping malls is the Spencer Plaza on the Mount Road. There are also shops that sell cloth merchandise, music instruments, electronic goods, and sports showrooms. What to Eat:
There are few restaurants, cafes, and shacks on the beach. Most of the restaurants serve vegetarian cuisine, while a few serve non-vegetarian cuisine.
One can also get delicious seafood on the beach such as fried fillets of vanjaram (seer fish), crispy nethili (anchovy), stir-fried shrimp, hot, puffy milagai (Chili) and vazhakkai (plantain) bajjis, the golden discs of onion and potato slices, diced raw mango dusted with red chili powder, and roasted corn rubbed with lemon-chili paste.Where to Stay:
Chennai offers numerous options of accommodation to suit every budget. Many of the 5 star hotels are sited near chennai airport and GST Road that provides the perfect destination of the stay for leisure or corporate purposes, whereas the mid-range budget hotels are in Guindy and Mylapore. Best Time to Visit:
The ideal time to visit Marina Beach is between November and February while the temperature is moderate in Chennai.
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