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Beaches Guide

Summary

  • •Chennai's two iconic beaches—Marina and Elliot's—offer contrasting experiences along the Bay of Bengal.
  • •Marina Beach is a vast, bustling urban promenade stretching about 13 kilometers, ideal for witnessing local life and historical landmarks.
  • •Elliot's Beach, located in the upscale neighborhood of Besant Nagar, is a more relaxed, family-friendly shore with a vibrant café culture and a memorial to the Dutch sailor Karl Schmidt.
  • •Together, they showcase the city's coastal charm, from its colonial-era heritage to its contemporary leisure scene.

Overview

  • •Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, sits on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal.
  • •Founded by the British East India Company around Fort St.
  • •George (1644), the city has a rich history reflected in landmarks like the San Thome Basilica, built over the tomb of St.
  • •Thomas the Apostle, and the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore.
  • •Marina Beach, one of the longest urban beaches in the world, has been a central gathering place for decades, lined with statues and colonial-era buildings.
  • •Elliot's Beach, named after a former governor of Madras, offers a more intimate setting near the Velankanni Church and the Ashtalakshmi Temple.
  • •Both beaches are integral to Chennai's identity as the cultural capital of South India, hosting everything from morning yoga to the December Margazhi music and dance season.

Tips

  • Visit Marina Beach at sunrise to avoid the heat and crowds, and to see the city wake up along the promenade. The early morning light is also ideal for photography.
  • At Elliot's Beach, go in the late afternoon and stay for sunset. The area is best experienced in the cooler hours, and you can then explore the nearby cafés for dinner.
  • Exercise caution when swimming at both beaches. The Bay of Bengal has strong currents and undertows; it is safer to wade or simply enjoy the shore rather than venture deep into the water.
  • Respect local customs: dress modestly, especially when visiting nearby religious sites like the Kapaleeshwarar Temple or Ashtalakshmi Temple, and remove footwear before entering temple premises.
  • Combine a beach visit with Chennai's cultural landmarks: from Marina, it's easy to reach Fort St. George and San Thome Basilica; from Elliot's, you can visit the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore or the Government Museum in Egmore to round out your day.

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Festivals

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Places to Explore

Marina Beach

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Kapaleeshwarar Temple

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Fort St. George

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San Thome Basilica

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Government Museum, Egmore

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DakshinaChitra

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Elliot's Beach

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Guindy National Park

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Poondi Reservoir

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Parthasarathy Temple

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Vadapalani Andavar Temple

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Ashtalakshmi Temple

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Marundeeswarar Temple

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Queenship Mary Church

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St. Andrew's Church

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Zion Church

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Sir Thomas Munro

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The Island

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Periyar Bridge

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Aysha Masjid

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Hynmers Obelisk

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Armenian Church of the Virgin Mary

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Victory War Memorial

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Triplicane Big Wallajah Mosque

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Kachaleeswarar Temple

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Napier Bridge

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Sri Kaalikambal Kamadeswarar Temple

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Chepauk Palace

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Triumph of Labour

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Perarignar Anna Memorial

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MGR Memorial

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Triplican Lebbai Mosque

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Kannagi

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Mahakavi Subramania Bharati Memorial

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Sri Parthasarathy Koil

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Thousand Lights Mosque

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Vivekanandar Illam

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St George's Cathedral

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St Peters Church

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Semmozhi Poonga

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Anna Flyover

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Valluvar Kottam

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Thiruvalluvar Koil

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Chennai Lighthouse

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Church of Our Lady of Light (Luz Church)

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Thiru Vi Ka Park

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Nageswara Rao Park

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St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica

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Ramakrishna Math Universal Temple

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Kesava Perumal Temple

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Anna Nagar Arch

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Panagal Park

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Anna Nagar Tower Park

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Natesan Park

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Tholkappiar Ecological Park

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Chennai Railway Museum

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Quibble Island

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Ambedkar Memorial

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Brodie Castle

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Sivaji Ganesan Memorial

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Madhavaram Botanical Garden

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Sri Kalyana Varadaraja Perumal Temple

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Birla Planetarium

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Madhya Kailash

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Tiruvalidhayam Tiruvalleswarar Temple

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Kaj Schmidt Memorial

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Snake Park

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Chennai Snake Park

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MGR Film City

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Arulmigu Santana Srinivasa Perumal Temple

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Marudeeswarar Temple

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Trinity Church

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St Patricks Church

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Chennai Trade Center

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St. Thomas Mount

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Viswaroopa Anjaneya Temple

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Kodi Baba Sai Baba Temple

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Secretariat Colony Govt Park

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Thrisulanathar Temple

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Full Gospel Telugu Baptist Church

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Cholamandal Artists' Village

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ISKCON Temple, Chennai

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Thirumalai Nagar Park

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Ranganatha Perumal Temple

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Tambaram Sanatorium Manavalakalai Mandram (Temple of consciousness)

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Annai Anjugam Ammaiyar Park

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Sri Skandashramam Temple

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Valli Devasena Subramaniyam Kovil Park

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Lord Shiva Temple - Navaleswarar and Akilandeswari Temple

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White Tiger

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Arignar Anna Zoo Park

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MGR Statue

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Vandalur Zoo

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Nitya Kalyana Perumal Temple, Tiruvidanthai

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Rajiv Gandhi Memorial

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Fort Geldria

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Crocodile Bank

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Veeraraghava Swamy temple

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Padaladhri Narasimhar Temple

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Tiger Cave

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Retro Surf Club

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Krishna's Butterball

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Ganesh Ratha

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Mamallapuram Shore Temple

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Sthalasayana Perumal Temple

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Arjuna's Penance

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Varaha Mandapam / Cave

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Shore Temple Complex, Mahabalipuram

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Krishna Mandapam

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Mahishamadhini Cave

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Mahabalipuram Lighthouse

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Five Rathas

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Thiruvalangaadu Vadaranyeshwarar Temple

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Vedhagirishwarar Temple

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