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Marina Beach in Chennai - Incredible Beach Destination of Tamil Nadu

8 Incredible Beach Destinations of Tamil Nadu (2024)

The state of Tamil Nadu has a vast coastline dotted with beautiful and untouched beaches. Tamil Nadu has some of the best beaches on the east coast of the country. From Chennai to Kanyakumari, there are many popular beach destinations in Tamil Nadu that attract tourists from all over the world. Here are some of the best beaches in Tamil Nadu.

8 Incredible Beach Destinations of Tamil Nadu

1. Marina Beach in Chennai

Located in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the Marina Beach is the most famous beach in South India. This is a very popular tourist attraction and is usually always crowded. This is a natural urban beach situated along the Bay of Bengal and stretching over a distance of 13 km. Marina Beach is the longest natural urban beach in India, the second-largest natural urban beach in the world, and also the most crowded beach in India. It is estimated that this beach draws over 30,000 visitors every day.

The white sandy shore with the azure waters of the Bay of Bengal stretching out in front makes for a mesmerizing view. The beach is has a majorly sandy terrain, dotted with many small shops selling souvenirs and merry-go-rounds. You can take a walk along the beach to enjoy the sunrise and sunset.

Marina Beach in Chennai - Incredible Beach Destination of Tamil Nadu

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Being a prominent tourist spot in Chennai, the Marina Beach is a gastronomical delight. There are many places where you can enjoy a delightful seafood platter. The Zuka Cafe, Bistro 1427, Libarrel, the Sundari Akka Sea Food Stall, and the Nagaraj Kulfi Stall are some of the well-known restaurants and food shacks on the Marina Beach.

The best time to visit Marina Beach is between November to February as the weather remains pleasant and you will get relief from the humid and hot climate in Chennai. The morning and evening hours are more pleasant and cooler than visiting in the afternoon.

2. Kanyakumari Beach in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

Kanyakumari Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in India. Located in the southern tip of India, the Kanyakumari Beach in Tamil Nadu stands at the confluence of three water bodies – the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian Sea. The unique feature of this beach is that you can see the separate water of the three water bodies as they do not mix. You can distinguish between the deep blue, the sea green, and the turquoise blue waters of these three seas.

However, the beach is not ideal for swimming or surfing as the sea is very rough in this part and the beach is also rocky. To get the best view at sunrise and sunset, you should visit the Triveni Sangam Point and climb up to the famous lighthouse watchtower here to take in the beauty in its entirety.

Kanyakumari Beach in Kanyakumari, Tamil NaduImage Source

There are many buses and auto-rickshaws that ply throughout the day to take you to the beach from any part of the main city. The best time to visit Kanyakumari Beach is between November to March. It is best to avoid the months of December and January as the beach remains overcrowded at this time.

3. Mahabalipuram Beach in Mahabalipuram

Also referred to as the Mamallapuram Beach by locals, the Mahabalipuram Beach is located about 60 km from the capital city of Chennai. This beautiful beach of Tamil Nadu lies on the shore of the Bay of Bengal. There are some rock-cut sculptures on the beach that are a popular tourist attraction. The beach is also known for massive rathas, chariots, and caves. There is even a temple on the beach that is a great spot for getting away from the crowd on the beach. Known as the Shore Temple, it goes back to the Pallava dynasty.

The Mahabalipuram Beach is perfect for relaxing and getting away from the hustle-bustle of the city. Many locals and people from nearby states flock to the beach. This is a popular beach destination destination in Tamil Nadu for surfing and swimming, and there is even a crocodile bank nearby that has over 5,000 crocodiles belonging to over six different species. There is also a unique snake venom extraction center here that draws a lot of visitors.

Mahabalipuram Beach in MahabalipuramImage Source

The strategic location of the beach amidst the lagoon and rocks is a perfect destination that combines tourism, history, and golden sand, making this 20 km long beach the ideal vacation spot.

4. Covelong or Kovalam Beach in Mahabalipuram

Situated on the coastline of the beautiful Bay of Bengal near the Covelong village, the Covelong beach in Tamil Nadu is also known as the Kovalam Beach. This beach was once used as a port for the Carnatic Nawabs, after which the French took control of the place in 1746. In 1752, the Britishers destroyed the area. The beach has since been transformed into one of the most popular picnics and excursion spots in Mahabalipuram.

Covelong or Kovalam Beach in MahabalipuramImage Source

A unique attraction here is the country’s first Surfing School, and due to this, there are a plethora of water activities at the Kovalam Beach. You can also take a beginners class to surf here if you are new to the sport. There is an old Dutch fort located nearby that has since then been turned into a resort. The blue waters and golden silver sand of the beach make this an unforgettable tourist spot for families and couples.

5. Auroville Beach in Puducherry, Tamil Nadu

Also known as the Auro Beach, the Auroville Beach is located in Puducherry or Pondicherry. This beach is a part of the Auroville Ashram and is located about 10 km away. This beach is just 12 km away from the main city, located on the right-hand side of East Coast Road.

Auroville Beach in Puducherry, Tamil NaduImage Source

Auro Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Puducherry and attracts a lot of local and foreign tourists. This is a quieter beach and does not have too many establishments and shops that sell snacks or food. The Aurobindo Ashram has successfully managed to maintain the serenity of the beach and ensuring that the natural environment of the beach is not tampered with.

6. Sothavilai Beach in Kanyakumari

The Sothavilai Beach is another famous beach in Kanyakumari that stretches across the whole district of Kanyakumari. This offbeat attraction in Tamil Nadu and many people don’t know about it. So if you prefer to go to a quieter and more serene spot for your vacation, then the Sothavilai Beach is ideal for you. This beach stretches over 4 km, making it one of the longest natural beaches in Tamil Nadu. The glistening white and silver sand with the high dunes of the beach offset by the clear, pure azure water stretching indefinitely to the horizon is a breathtaking sight.

Sothavilai Beach in KanyakumariImage Source

The Sothavilai Beach is known for having quiet and shallow waters, which makes it an ideal place for swimming and water bath. There are several resting cottages at the beach and also a viewing tower that is visited by many tourists every day who gather to take in the panoramic views. The 2004 tsunami had caused massive damage to the beach, but with constant building efforts, the beach has since then be reconstructed and refurbished.

7. Elliot’s Beach in Chennai

Also known as the Besant Nagar Beach or ‘Bessie’, Elliot’s Beach is located in Besant Nagar in the capital city of Chennai. You will be surprised to see that this beach forms the endpoint of the shore coming from Marina Beach and is named after Edward Elliot, the erstwhile Chief Magistrate and Governor of Chennai in the British era.

The beach has the Ashtalakshmi Kovil and the Velankanni Church in the locality. Elliot’s Beach is known as one of the cleanest beaches in Chennai, located just south of Marina Beach. This calm and tranquil place does not offer too many water activities here and is an ideal spot for taking long walks. This site is also perfect for those who want to soak their feet in the seawater.

Elliot's Beach in ChennaiImage Source

This beach is popular with the local college students and has more of a family crowd. To maintain safety on the beach, there is a police outpost, and all-terrain vehicles manage the crowd to prevent any drowning accidents. There are many mouth-watering cuisines dishes being sold on the beach.

8. Tuticorin Beach in Tuticorin

Also known as Tuttukkudi or Toothukudi, Tuticorin is a famous beach town in Tamil Nadu and has one of the most beautiful beaches in all of South India. At sunset, the Tuticorin Beach also referred to only The Beach is a sight to behold as the orangish sky melts into the azure waters of the sea. The beach is located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, and it is ideally situated at the southernmost tip of Tamil Nadu. Tourists and local residents both flock to the beach here, and there are lots of small vendors selling different types of snacks, coconut water, and other little knick-knacks.

Tuticorin Beach in TuticorinImage Source

The best time to visit the Tuticorin Beach in Tamil Nadu is from November to January when it has pleasant weather and less humidity. The temperature at this time is neither too hot nor too cold, allowing you to visit the beach comfortably.

The shimmering sand of the beaches in Tamil Nadu is one of the most beautiful and serene places to spend a vacation. There is an absolute joy associated with having a beach holiday, and every beach in the state is extraordinary in its own sense. From the Marina Beach to the Kanyakumari Beach, the blissful environs of Tamil Nadu beckon you to its beaches.

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