Beaches of Tamil Nadu: From Marina to Kanyakumari

Tamil Nadu has a long coastline along the Bay of Bengal, curving all the way down to the southern tip of India. Along it you will find busy city beaches, ancient temples by the waves, fishing villages and places where you can watch the sun both rise and set over the sea.

Here is a beginner-friendly guide to some of the best-known beaches in and around Tamil Nadu. Before you go, please read the safety section at the end. The sea here is beautiful, but it can be very strong.

Marina Beach, Chennai

Marina Beach is the heart of Chennai's evenings. It is a very long, wide urban beach running along the city's eastern edge, and it is full of life from early morning walkers to late evening families.

• Enjoy sundal, roasted corn, bajji and other snacks from the stalls.
• Watch the fishing boats and kites, or simply sit on the sand with friends.
• The road along the beach has several statues and memorials that are worth a slow walk.

Marina is a place for walking and relaxing, not for swimming. The waves and currents are strong, and swimming is not allowed.

Elliot's Beach, Besant Nagar

A little south of Marina, Elliot's Beach in Besant Nagar is smaller, cleaner-feeling and a little calmer. It is popular with young people, families and joggers, and the area around it is full of cafes and snack shops. The Ashtalakshmi temple stands close to the shore nearby, and the Velankanni church in Besant Nagar is also a well-known landmark in the area.

Mahabalipuram

A short drive south of Chennai along the East Coast Road, Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) combines beach and history beautifully. The famous Shore Temple stands right beside the sea, and the town is filled with rock-cut temples and carvings from the Pallava period. The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After exploring the monuments, many visitors relax on the beach, enjoy fresh seafood, and visit the stone-carving workshops in town where sculptors still work by hand.

Pondicherry, just next door

Many trips along the East Coast Road continue to Puducherry (Pondicherry). Strictly speaking, Pondicherry is not part of Tamil Nadu; it is a separate union territory. But it is so close and so easy to combine with a Tamil Nadu trip that it deserves a mention.

The Promenade along Rock Beach is perfect for an evening walk, and the French-style streets nearby, with their colourful buildings, are lovely to explore on foot or by bicycle.

Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi

Rameswaram is an island town and one of the most important pilgrimage centres in Tamil Nadu, home to the Ramanathaswamy temple. The journey itself is part of the experience, as the island is connected to the mainland by the Pamban bridges across the sea.

Beyond Rameswaram lies Dhanushkodi, at the tip of the island. It was largely destroyed by a powerful cyclone in the 1960s, and the ruins of old buildings, including a church and railway station, still stand among the sand dunes. Today the drive to the end of the land, with water on both sides, is unforgettable. Weather can change quickly here, so follow local advice and stay out of the water where it is marked unsafe.

Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari sits at the southern tip of mainland India, where the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean meet. It is one of the few places where you can watch the sun rise and set over the sea, and early mornings on the shore are crowded with people waiting for the sunrise.

• A ferry takes visitors to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, built on a rock just off the shore.
• The tall Thiruvalluvar statue stands on a nearby rock, honouring the poet of the Thirukkural.
• The Kumari Amman temple is close to the shore.

The sea here can be rough, so enjoy it from the shore and the viewing areas.

Velankanni

Velankanni, on the coast near Nagapattinam, is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, a major pilgrimage centre visited by people of many faiths. The beach close to the basilica is busy with pilgrims and families, especially during festival times. As at other beaches on this coast, be careful in the water.

Sea safety: please read before you go

Many beaches along the Tamil Nadu coast have strong waves and currents. Every year there are sad incidents where people, often young visitors, are pulled into the sea while bathing or playing in the water. A few simple rules can keep your trip happy:

• Follow the signs. If a beach says no swimming, do not swim. Police and lifeguards have a reason for those boards.
• Stay in shallow water. Even knee-deep water can be risky when waves are strong.
• Watch children every second. Hold their hands near the water.
• Avoid the sea after dark, during rough weather, or after drinking.
• Do not climb slippery rocks for photos, especially where waves are breaking.
• Know your group. Agree on a meeting point in crowded places.

Also, please carry your rubbish back with you. Clean beaches are better for everyone, including the fishing communities who live and work along the coast.

Plan your beach trip

Before a trip, it helps to ask people who live nearby about the best time to visit, local food spots and which areas to avoid. On the TNChatZone app you can ask in district rooms such as Chennai, Kanyakumari or Thoothukudi.

Want to escape the heat instead? Read our guide to hill stations of Tamil Nadu, or check how well you know the state with the geography quiz.