Marina and Elliot beaches are the gem to Chennai's crown. Their golden sand, heart-touching surf and a glittering azure water presents the ultimate beauty of Nature. Where Marina beach is counted among the longest beaches in Asia, Elliot beach is one among the many mesmerizing beaches in India. Besides, both the beaches are dotted with staying hotels and stand-alone food-stalls, which all together comfort the tourist, visiting here.

Things to do and See on Chennai Beaches
Beach activity on the beaches in Chennai ranges from collecting sea-shells to flying kites. Hawkers and vendors are usually seen promoting their selling items all through out the day. In the evenings, the beach turns into a virtual fair ground with various kinds of entertainment and food stalls lining the beach. They are also the popular destinations for picnickers and lazy beach walkers.

Marina Beach
The beautiful Marina beach is one of the prime tourist attraction for tourist visiting Chennai. Its natural sandy space is furnished with beautiful gardens and spacious promenade, which allures visitors to sit for a while and explore its magic. The University of Madras, Senate-House, Chepauk Palace, Presidency College, P.W.D office and Ice House are located on the beach drive. While, at the other end of the beach is the new lighthouse. Visitors can also witness the statues of Tamil scholars and two splendid bits of sculpture- the Victory of Labour and the Mahatma Gandhi.

Elliot's Beach
Elliot is the fabulous stretch of the sea and the sand. Beach lovers often tag the beach as Silver Sand or Fisherman's Cove. It looks ordinary from outside but once one find space on the cottage, he/she can enjoy the dramatic appeal of its location. Visitors, on the beach, are often seen engaged in beach volleyball, football and beach cricket. Elliot also offers the amazing catamaran ride in the Bay of Bengal.

Eating at Chennai Beaches
The endless options of eateries on the beaches in Chennai makes beach lover crazy. From easy-on-pocket to luxury dining cuisines, Chennai has all in its kitty. Some popular eating jonts in Chennai are Karaikudi, Banana Leaf, Vishranthi, Annalakshmi, Dakshin, Saravana Bhavan, Vasantha Bhavan, Amethyst and Adayar Ananda Bhavan. All this restaurants serve both the vegetarian South India Dishes and non-vegetarian Madars curry.

Getaway from Chennai Beaches
Muttukadu
Muttukadu, situated on the East Coast from Chennai, offers the scenic fusion of backwaters with the Bay of Bengal. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation(TTDC), presents before the visitors, the boating trips on these backwaters at reasonable tariff.

Place of Accommodation on Chennai Beaches
Only a few hotels in Chennai offers a spectacular sea view. Holidaymakers can manage their comfortable rooms at Taj Coromandel( 7 km from Marina Beach), Taj Connemara(4 km from Marina Beach), Le Royal Meridien(9 km from Elliot Beach), Park Sheraton & Towers(4km from Marina and Elliot Beach, The Raintree Ecotel Hotel(4km from Elloit Beach), New Woodlands Hotel(2 km from Marina Beach, Hotel President(1 km from Marina Beach) etc.

When to visit the beaches in Chennai
The best time to splash the turquoise water of Marina and Elliot is anytime between October to January

How to reach Chennai Beaches
By Air
The domestic Kamaraj and International Anna Airports are situated at Meenambakkam, situated 16 kms away. The aerodromes are connected to all major tourist destination of India and abroad by regular flights.

By Rail
The three major railway stations namely, Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore and Tambaram Station connects Chennai with the major Indian cities.

By Road
Chennai has excellent highways connecting Kolkata, Bangalore, Trichy, Hyderabad and Pondicherry via private and state-owned buses.