Archive for the ‘Chennai Beaches’ Category
Marina Beach
The Marina Beach is the second largest beach in a city after the Ocean Beach, San Francisco, California, the world’s longest city beach. If you want to escape the heat, hurry to Marina Beach, one of the longest beaches in the world. And also the most crowded all year through. What makes it special is a promenade created by Governor Grant-Duff, who gave Marina its name in 1884. A series of statues line the promenade. Marina beach is a major tourist attraction. People visiting Chennai make it a point to visit the beach. The beach is popular for its shopsand food stalls. The memorials and statues, morning walk, joggers’ track, lovers’ spot, aquarium, etc., make it a hangout for people of all ages.The sea is rough and waves are strong. There are fishermen colonies present at both ends of the beach. Summer brings extra life to the Marina. The waters look appealingly blue and inviting. The kite season, the raw and ripe mango sellers, masala papads- it is a hub of activity. A trip to the beach would be incomplete if you don’t dig into the yummy typical Madrasy Sundal. You do not have to go looking for them. They come searching for you. The street hawkers, usually a young chap, may run up to you and tug at your shirt and say ’saar, sundal’. Indulge, it is a taste that sure will linger in your memory.
Elliot’s Beach
Elliot’s Beach is one of the cleanest beaches in the city of Chennai. It is located towards the south of Marina Beach and is an extremely calm and tranquil place. The beach is known as ‘Bessei’ amongst the locals. Elliot’s Beach is a popular hangout for the young and the old alike. There are rows of trendy casual clothes shops and fast food joints along the shoreline where you can stop for a snack. It is also the favorite destination of foreign tourists for enjoying sun bath. Elliot’s Beach offers very subtle activity, with only few food joints and restaurants. You can relish the mouth watering South Indian snacks and pamper your taste buds, here. Apart from this, there are some religious and historical monuments, to be explored, to add to your adventure. Ashtalakshmi Temple and Velanganni Church are some worth visiting places in the vicinity.