Marina Beach is a natural urban beach along the Bay of Bengal located in the Tamil Nadu city of Chennai. The beach stretches for 13 kilometers and is the second-longest natural urban beach in the world. It is also the most crowded beach in India, with nearly 30,000 tourists daily.
The scenery of Marina Beach Tamil Nadu is enchanting and tranquil, with a white sandy shore that seems to stretch into infinity. The beach’s surface is mainly made up of sand and littered with numerous merry-go-rounds and gift shops. You can enjoy the calm evening sea breeze and a hot dish of crispy sundal and murukku while strolling around the Marina beach with your loved ones or yourself. It is awe-inspiring and enthralling from the beach to watch the sun climb the sky or even sink below the horizon.
Marina Beach History
There used to be a lot of inundation situations here, especially before the 16th century, due to sea level rise. Several peaks and lagoons did, however, remain as the sea slightly receded. Presidency College’s current location is along a sand ridge that ran from the mouth of the Cooum River at that time. Nowadays, Marina Beach is located on this slope.
Marina beach Chennai was only known as a strip of mud until Madras Harbour was built. The Madras Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff, governor at the time, was mesmerized by the area’s natural beauty and decided to construct a promenade next to the beach. The beach was given the name Madras Marina once everything was finished.
Marina Beach Activities
Marina beach Chennai Tamil Nadu is a popular picnic spot. Fishing, windsurfing, sunbathing, kite flying, and beach volleyball are among the activities available to visitors. The place is an all-time favorite for those who wish to spend some time amid natural beauty and tranquility. And this is not all; there are many food stalls around the beach where people can enjoy lip-smacking snacks. People can also enjoy pony rides that are available on the beach.
Marina Beach Attractions
The aquarium and the Ice House are the two primary draws on the Marina beach. In addition, on the beach road are several ancient structures, including the Senate House, Chepauk Palace, the PWD office, the Presidency College, and Chennai University.
The Victory of Labor and Mahatma Gandhi are two notable statues on the Marina shore. In addition, the statues of Swami Sivananda, Avaaiyar, Thanthai Periyar, Subramaniya Bharathiyar, Kamarajar, Robert Caldwell, Kannagi, Kamarajar, M.G. Ramachandran, and Shivaji Ganesan are among the others that are dotted along this Chennai beach.
Marina Beach Entry Fees and Timings
There is no entry fee for the beach and the Marina beach timings for the Marina Beach chennai is 12:00 AM to 12:00 AM.
Best time to visit Marina Beach
Marina Beach is one attraction that you really can’t miss. The unmatched beauty of the beach promises to leave every visitor spellbound. November through February are the ideal times to explore Marina Beach. Compared to the rest of the year, these months are comparatively cooler.
Summertime beach trips should be avoided because Chennai can become hot and muggy. Due to the possibility of a strong current and high tide during the monsoon season, these months are also not advised. The best times to go to the beach are also early in the morning or late at night. So try to avoid getting there at lunchtime.
How to reach Marina Beach
St. George’s Fort to Besant Nagar is the length of Marina Beach. Take the North Beach road, which runs parallel to and directly to the beach, if you travel by car. You can board a Chennai Corporation bus at the Mofussil Koyambedu bus stop to travel to Marina Beach.
Attractions Nearby Marina Beach
Marina Beach is well-known among locals. However, bathing and swimming are prohibited due to the strong undercurrent. Moreover, numerous places near Marina Beach are beautiful and exciting. Below are some places near Marina Beach which also hold great value in Chennai.
- Vivekananda House
- Santhome Cathedral Basilica
- Connemara Library
- Valluvar Kottam
- G. U. Pope Statue
- M.G.R. Memorial