Marina Beach
The Marina Beach, the pride of Chennai is the second longest beach in the world and has a wide sandy shore. You should come, see and enjoy its sandy beach in the evening to understand the beauty of it.
Marina beach lies to the east of Chennai (Madras) at Kamarajar Road, 3 Km from the city centre. The fine sandy beach said to be the longest beach in India and one of the longest in Asia, extends to a length of 13 Km, from Fort St. George all the way to Mahabalipuram. There is a drive along the beach fringed with palms and casuarinas running the whole length of Chennai.
In early 1880's, the natural beauty of the beach was enhanced by a facelift given by the then Governor Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff. Some of the most beautiful buildings in Chennai such as the Fort St. George complex established by the East India company in 1641, University of Madras, Senate-House, Chepauk Palace (now P.W.D office), 19th century Presidency College building etc are located on the beach drive. The road side is adorned with statues of famous Tamil writers and sages, apart from Mahatama Gandhi's staute at the south end, while the norht end has a tabloid where a group of peope are tyring to lift or roll a rock by using crowbars. This piece is dedicated to the Labour force and on the Labour day, there is a throng of people who come over to this spot to celebrate the day. The beach has also has the memorials of Annadurai and M. G. Ramachandran, a former matinee idol turned the charismatic Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. . At the other end of the beach is the new lighthouse.
The next vantage point to the Mahatama Gandhi Statue is the historic Ice House (1840) (now known as the Vivekananda house) which was used to store ice brought from England and America for 30 years. Later in 1892, it became a home to Swami Vivekananda and the name was changed to Vivekananda house.
The beach can be ideally visited in the early mornings or in the late evenings when the area throbs with activity. Food stalls, hawkers and other entertainers line the beach. The Sunday afternoon market is worth a visit. The large beach is often the venue for important state functions. Kite flying is a common sport with the children at the beach and there are also facilities for pony rides.
However, as the undercurrent is very strong, bathing and swimming can be dangerous, and should be avoided totally. There are many apeople who having ignored the warnings have paid with their lives.
Nowadays, the New Year brings in a whole crowd who wait till 12.00 clock to celebrate the New year with crackers, greetings and what not.
Even today, I recall my younger days where the outing to the Beach was the best treat we could have as we were able to run around freely, play in the sand, stand in the waves and enjoy the see hitting your legs, enjoy the small treats of sundal, bajji (delicaces of the south) and come back home totally tired out but with happiness.
The visit to Chennai is incomplete without the enjoyment of our great Marina Beach. So come and enjoy the evening sun, breeze and the sand.
Marina beach lies to the east of Chennai (Madras) at Kamarajar Road, 3 Km from the city centre. The fine sandy beach said to be the longest beach in India and one of the longest in Asia, extends to a length of 13 Km, from Fort St. George all the way to Mahabalipuram. There is a drive along the beach fringed with palms and casuarinas running the whole length of Chennai.
In early 1880's, the natural beauty of the beach was enhanced by a facelift given by the then Governor Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff. Some of the most beautiful buildings in Chennai such as the Fort St. George complex established by the East India company in 1641, University of Madras, Senate-House, Chepauk Palace (now P.W.D office), 19th century Presidency College building etc are located on the beach drive. The road side is adorned with statues of famous Tamil writers and sages, apart from Mahatama Gandhi's staute at the south end, while the norht end has a tabloid where a group of peope are tyring to lift or roll a rock by using crowbars. This piece is dedicated to the Labour force and on the Labour day, there is a throng of people who come over to this spot to celebrate the day. The beach has also has the memorials of Annadurai and M. G. Ramachandran, a former matinee idol turned the charismatic Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. . At the other end of the beach is the new lighthouse.
The next vantage point to the Mahatama Gandhi Statue is the historic Ice House (1840) (now known as the Vivekananda house) which was used to store ice brought from England and America for 30 years. Later in 1892, it became a home to Swami Vivekananda and the name was changed to Vivekananda house.
The beach can be ideally visited in the early mornings or in the late evenings when the area throbs with activity. Food stalls, hawkers and other entertainers line the beach. The Sunday afternoon market is worth a visit. The large beach is often the venue for important state functions. Kite flying is a common sport with the children at the beach and there are also facilities for pony rides.
However, as the undercurrent is very strong, bathing and swimming can be dangerous, and should be avoided totally. There are many apeople who having ignored the warnings have paid with their lives.
Nowadays, the New Year brings in a whole crowd who wait till 12.00 clock to celebrate the New year with crackers, greetings and what not.
Even today, I recall my younger days where the outing to the Beach was the best treat we could have as we were able to run around freely, play in the sand, stand in the waves and enjoy the see hitting your legs, enjoy the small treats of sundal, bajji (delicaces of the south) and come back home totally tired out but with happiness.
The visit to Chennai is incomplete without the enjoyment of our great Marina Beach. So come and enjoy the evening sun, breeze and the sand.
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உலகின் முதல் இந்து கோயில் என்று சொல்லப்படும் கோயிலிது.
அன்புடன்
அரவிந்தன்
பெங்களூர்
thanks for your suggestion. I will do it but may take some time as I have to visit the temple and get the facts rights