HistoryThe beach washed up close to the present day road for a long time until the harbor was built in 1881. Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant-Duff, the governor of Madras from 1881 to 1886, conceived and built the promenade along the beach and christened it the Madras Marina . Eventually, the north-drifting current widened the beach to its present extent
The Marina used to be famed for its pristine beauty, jolly ambiance, and rich ecosystems. However, since the middle of the 20th century, the beach and water has become polluted. A proliferation of plastic bags, human waste and other pollutants have rendered many parts of the beach unusable. In recent years, many voluntary organizations have taken up the task of cleaning up the Marina and protecting the ecosystem. Particular efforts include protection of Olive Ridley turtle nests along the Neelangarai section of the beach.
The Marina Beach, the pride of Chennai is the second longest beach in the world and has a wide sandy shore. Situated on the beach, are the Samadhis or memorials dedicated to C.N.Annadurai and M.G.Ramachandran, both former Chief Ministers of the state. They attract thousands of visitors everyday. Some of the most beautiful buildings in Chennai such as the University of Madras, the Senate House, Chepauk Palace, Presidency College and the Ice House are located on the beach drive.
Attractions Around The BeachMark Of The Legends - The roadside skirting the beach is embellished with a sentinel of statues consisting those of Mahatma Gandhi, local legendary personas like Shivaji Ganesan, Kannagi, Thiruvalluvar, while others with symbolic significance like the Statue of Labour. On one end of the shore is a majestic lighthouse.
Turtles At The Beach - The Neelangarai section of the beach falls under the ambit of conservation efforts for the protection of the endangered Olive Ridley turtle. Lucky ones might get a chance to see them as well, don't forget the camera in awe!
Frolicking Fish - The venue of the Aquarium house near the shore compliments the ambience well. The exotic fishes and the blue waters feel like a slice of the deep sea itself.
Buildings Of Importance - The Presidency College, University of Madras, Senate-House, Chepauk Palace, P.W.D Office and the Ice House are significant buildings around the beach adding an aura of formal decorum to the whole surrounding.
Anna And MGR Samadhis - Situated on the beach are the memorials of the most popular, former Chief ministers of the state - the Anna and MGR Samadhis.
Chennai Must-visits - The entertainment arcade Mayazaal with FEC's, Theme Park, Resort and Sports Village, Vandalur Zoo with its hordes of butterflies besides the wild denizens, the hundred yaer old Maskaan Chavadi or the bird bazaar for bird-rearing enthusiasts, the artificially created shores of the Golden Beach Resort, the Crocodile Bank with hundreds of them basking in the bank, the water park Dash and Splash - to name a few. Go for one of our tour packages if you want to make the best of your vacation.
Reaching Marina BeachAbout 20 km from the main city is the Kamaraj Domestic Airport and the Anna International Airport. Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore railway stations are connected by rail with all major towns and cities in India. And if you are travelling by road, you can board one of the many private operators for domestic and interstate transportation. For those planning to drive on their own, Chennai is 334 km from Bangalore, 704 km from Hyderabad and 790 km from Trivandrum.
View Larger Map
