Beaches In Tamil Nadu

Walking on the beaches of Tamil Nadu endows you with an ethereal feel. The golden brown sand sets a striking contrast with the deep blue sea and adorning them are lush green palm trees. The southernmost state of India of Tamil Nadu is a part of Indian peninsula that lies near the Bay of Bengal. Tourists from all parts of the world come to visit an amazing range of beaches that Tamil Nadu offers. The coastline of Tamil Nadu runs through 900 km. Marina Beach, the second largest beach in the world, is something that Tamil Nadu can boast with pride.

Marina Beach

With a length of 12 km, the seemingly never-ending Marina beach happens to be an ideal place to spend a day of your holiday. It is located in the eastern side of Chennai. Not only Mother Nature has bestowed utmost scenic beauty to the place, but as you take a stroll along the beach, a romance of the bygone era seeps within you. The old Sarascenic buildings, standing tall on the other side of the Kamarajar road, reflect the majesty of British architecture. A drive across the beach would make you pass through some of the most important buildings of Chennai, like the University of Madras, Senate House, Ice House, P.W.D College, etc. Moreover, the numerous sculptures such as 'Statue of Labour', 'Statue of Mahatma Gandhi', 'Tiruvalluvar', 'Bharathidasan' and that of many other legendary Indian personalities are situated on the Marina beach... together the ambiance infuses a historical angle to the nature's beauty.

Coming to the nature's beauty, from Marina beach one can view wonderful sunrises and sunsets, which make the clear blue waters slowly turn into crimson. However, there is a word of caution. Do not get too adventurous while bathing or swimming while at Marina beach, because here the undercurrent of Bay of Bengal is really strong. One of the main attractions in the proximity of the Marina beach is the aquarium, which has an impressive collection of sea and fresh water fish. Just south of the aquarium is the Ice House, which used to store ice brought from Great Lakes in North America. On the beach you will also get to see the Anna and MGR Samadhis, memorials of the most popular former Chief Ministers of the state.

Covelong Beach

The exotic ambiance of the Covelong beach offers tranquility and serenity. Located forty kilometers away from the bustling Chennai city, the beach is located in a lively fishing village named Covelong. It is the best place for all adventure lovers. The sea tides here are gentle and thus provide chance to swim and indulge in a range of water sports activities. The most captivating sight of the place is the Dutch Fort. However, the monument is in ruins, yet the architecture is worth looking at. Some of the famous beach resorts and hotels are at Covelong beach so you can unpack your bags and enjoy sunbathing right away.

Kanyakumari Beach

Kanyakumari beach lies at the southernmost point of India, at the confluence of three seas- the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. The spectacular view of sand in different hues and speckled over it are different kinds of shells is magnificent. However, the sea in Kanyakumari is quite turbulent, thus making it dangerous for swimming. But a lack of swimming or bathing exposure would be more than compensated by the beautiful views of sunrise and sunset at the beach. Here you can actually watch sun rising in the sky and going down from the sea shore. Sangam and Vivekananda rock are the two places mostly flocked by the tourists. These places have certain religious as well as spiritual significances, which make them pilgrimage spots for many.

Sangam is a bathing ghat, which happens to be the exact meeting point of these three seas .The steps of the ghat leads to a lagoon, formed between lands. Vivekananda Rock is a huge rock, protruding out from the sea. Vivekananda was said to have meditated on this rock. The rock-island now houses the statue of Vivekananda and a memorial dedicated to him. Kanyakumari Temple, named after the virgin Goddess Kanyakumari, from whom the beach town got its name, is also a worth visiting sight. It is located just on the shore, so one can easily combine nature and religious tourism in one go.

Mahabalipuram Beach

The pristine beach of Mahabalipuram, located 58 km from Chennai, is rated as among the finest beaches of India. Besides natural beauty, the beach also houses a treasure trove of ancient Indian heritage in its vicinity. Numerous tourist sights like Tiger Caves, Dakshinachitra, Arjuna's Penance, Five Rathas and Shore Temple are also to be found near the beach. Here it deserves a mention that Arjuna's Penance is the world's largest bas relief measuring 27 m by 9 m, which obviously attracts awe and amazement.

The holiday goers are also attracted to the crocodile farm, and snake venom extracting centers, which are in proximity to the Mahabalipuram beach. At the crocodile farm, about 5000 crocodiles of varying species, along with alligators and reptiles, are bred in captivity. Thus, Mahabalipuram is not just a beach destination, but also affords a glimpse into the rich culture and history of India. However, at the same time, the beach itself is also extremely beautiful, with its golden sands and shimmering sea, in the backdrop of picturesque hills. Here you can sunbath or laze for hours, but refrain from swimming as the sea is rough. Just stare at the waves with the descent of the dusk, and ruminate on the bygone glory of the Pallavas, who established a port here. Yes then too nature was perhaps the same...but the world has become more noisy and crowded. But that doesn't disturb the approaching waves...

The Department of Tourism of the Government of Tamil Nadu organizes a month-long dance festival during Jan-Feb of each year at this port town, where classical and folk dancers display their talent on an open-air stage. This annual cultural event, hosted against the historical backdrop of rock sculptures of the Pallava era, lends further tourism potential to this historic town.

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