Beaches are not just a long stretch of yellow or white sand layer dotting
the coastline . It is a nature’s gift with Glittering Sea, Roaring and Curving waves
and cool breeze. It is a package of nature for human pleasure. Some of them are
sun tanning beaches , some more are water sport adventure spots, many are cooling
off sites on a hot and sultry weather. There is no need for Season or reason to
go to beach. Age and denomination is no bar here. Tamil Nadu has a 1076 km coast
line and it is the second largest coast line from Chennai on the Coromandel
Coast. 57% of the coastline are Sandy Beaches. Some of the beaches
have elaborate water sports activities and others are aligned with exotic attractions
like Monuments, Fort, popular Temples and Churches. Beaches with Sunrise and Sunset
view and unique spectacle of Sunset and Moonrise simultaneously on full moon days
are also found in Tamil Nadu. Of late, health conscious people walk along the beach
tracks for a morning or evening walk. These combinations makes the beaches even
more appealing and unique. Altogether beach is one stop multipurpose pleasure location
of a town for people .
Marina Beach : A beautiful and mesmerizing 13 km stretch of
beach from Fort St.George to the north of Besant Nagar. This is the second longest
of the beaches of the world. This was a stretch of mud, before the Madras Port was
built. Personal interest of , M.E. Grant Duff , erstwhile British
Governor of Madras [1881-86], captivated by its beauty, modified the stretch to
form a promenade and it was named as Madras Marina. Activity here
ranges from enjoying sun rise on clear days and the waves touching the feet; playing
different beach games; walking along the beach track; mouth watering local delicacies
of the eateries around; children and youngsters enjoying a pony ride
and tasting the delicious and Marina’s brand equity Sundal and Murukku.
Almost all the evenings will find Marina crowded and heavily crowded on festival
and weekly holidays.
Elliot Beach : Elliot's beach is considered as a good and neat
stretch of beach due the presence of Elite Society and the Government bureaucrat’s
residence. Velankanni Church, Ashta Lakshmi Temple and the Arupadai Veedu Temple
just around one kilo meter radius brings more visitors to this beach, next
to the Marina. The youth of the town find this as an exotic location to enjoy the
evening hours.
Covelong Beach : The shining sun, calm sea and shimmering white
sand and lined up palm trees form a unique aura of cheerfulness and magnetism .
This is also called as KOVALAM beach, along the Coromandel Coast now called as East
Coast Road. This was originally a Fisherman’s village located around 40 km from
Chennai City. But it is currently a luxurious beach resort where national chain
of hotels have their presence. There was a fort built by the Nawab of Carnatic,
Saadat Ali.
Mamallapuram : It is 60 Km south of Chennai City. Mamallapuram
beach is a 20 km long stretch . This was originally a Pallav Dynasty’s Port. This
beach is visited by millions of tourists throughout the year. Again it is a paradise
for the younger generation too. It is known especially for its Temples in the form
of Chariots called rathas, mandapams (cave sanctuaries), huge open-air
reliefs and the temple of Rivage. long and beautiful sea shore attracts millions
of tourist throughout the year. Mahabalipuram was included in
the World Heritage Monuments list of 1984 by UNESCO. Mamallapuram
Dance Festival during December - January attracts
Exponents of Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Mohini Attam, Oddissi and
Kathak dance styles. Dakshin –A heritage Centre on the way from Mahabalipuram to
Chennai.
Kanyakumari
Beach : Many call it KOODAL meaning it is the
Confluence of three oceans Bay of Bengal, Arabian
Sea and Indian Ocean. Kanyakumari shore is popular world - wide,
because it is the only places on earth, where you can see the Sun Rise and
Sun Set from the ocean. It is the only place in India where one
can enjoy the unique spectacle of Sunset and Moonrise
simultaneously on full moon days. It is even more special and spectacular on Chitra Paurnami [full moon that occurs in Apr-May] when one can view
both the sun and the moon facing each other on the same horizon, a rare sight of
unique grandeur, which seems to happen by prior arrangement. This beach is visited
not by the people from Tamil Nadu and Neighboring States alone, International tourists
visiting South India have Kanyakumari on their itinerary too.
Poompuhar Beach : This was once a legendry port city called as ‘ Kaveripoom
pattinam’ or Puhar. The beach starts from the Kaveri river and it stretches
around 3 km north side towards Neithavasal. GRANITE BOULDER WALL has been created
on the shore to stop erosion. Chitra Pournami [Apr – May] is an important festival
when people in large numbers gather in this beach to take a dip and celebrate. Holy
dip at the mouth of Kaveri river is celebrated during new moon in the Tamil month
of Thai/ Adi. A Seven storied Silapathigam Gallery exhibiting the
Sangam and Post Sangam Era is located nearby.
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