The Magical Tamil Nadu Coast

The Coromandel Coast, as it is called, stretches along the Bay of Bengal all the way from the Sunderbans to the southern tip of India. Of this, Tamil Nadu boasts a 1,076-kilometre-long stretch, the second longest coast of any Indian state. About half of the Tamil Nadu coastline comprises fine, sandy beaches, making it a delight for beach lovers. Stretching from Chennai in the north all the way to Kanniyakumari at the southern tip of India, it’s a beautiful coastline, rich in history and heritage dating back thousands of years. This historic coast was part of the ancient silk route and an important part of the global spice trade. It was frequented by Roman and Greek traders throughout antiquity. Many Tamil dynasties too were great seafarers. Major ports in those times included Poompuhar, which was destroyed by the sea around 300 BC. Today, Tamil Nadu’s beaches offer tranquillity in pristine environs as well as a range of watersports activities for those inclined that way.

CHENNAI

The capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is a bustling metropolis by the sea noted for its fine beaches. The most famous of them is Marina Beach. This 13-km long beach is the longest urban beach in India and the second longest in the world. It’s a lively beach with street food vendors thronging its length in the evenings. The smaller Elliot’s Beach begins where Marina Beach ends in Besant Nagar. A prominent landmark of Elliot’s Beach is the Kaj Schmidt Memorial, built to commemorate a European sailor who died here in 1930 trying to rescue a drowning girl. Tourist sites in the city include Fort St. George, Kapaleeswarar Temple, Santhome Cathedral Basilica Guindy National Park, Dakshinachitra and Arignar Anna Zoological Park.

KOVALAM BEACH

About halfway to Mamallapuram is Covelong or Kovalam Beach. India’s first surfing village, it is home to many surfing schools. In September 2021, Kovalam Beach was awarded the coveted Blue Flag Certification by the Denmark Environment Agency. With a grey water treatment plant, 40 KW off-grid solar power plant and a solid waste management unit with automatic composting machine, Kovalam is a “zero liquid waste managed beach”. Clad in green cover, the beach offers facilities like a safe swimming zone, outdoor fitness equipment, children’s play area and amphibious wheelchairs for the differently-abled to swim safely.

MAMALLAPURAM

Around 60 kilometres south of Chennai in Chengalpattu district, Mamallapuram, aka Mahabalipuram, is a tranquil beach destination home to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites designated as ‘Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram’. Comprising 40 ancient monuments and temples, these include Arjuna’s Penance, one of the largest open-air rock reliefs in the world, monolithic ratha temples, and the famous Shore Temple. A major Pallava port, Mamallapuram was named after Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, who was also called Mamalla. Today, Mamallapuram’s beaches are lined with upmarket resorts and watersports facilities. In fact, the entire East Coast Road stretch is lined with beautiful resorts and beaches. The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology at Mamallapuram is an eye-opening experience. In the December-January period, the town hosts the Mamallapuram International Dance Festival, an event to behold.

AUROVILLE

Close to the Union Territory of Puducherry, in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram District, lies Auroville, an experimental township of people from around the world living together in harmony. Set up by MirraAlfassa, or ‘The Mother’, a devotee of Sri Aurobindo, its main attraction is the Matrimandir. There are lots of nice cafés and artisanal workshops here.

CHIDAMBARAM

Located 250 kilometres from Chennai, the coastal temple town of Chidambaram is home to the Thillai Nataraja Temple, but many travellers are drawn to it by the Pichavaram Mangrove Forest. A popular attraction, it covers 1,100 hectares and joins the Bay of Bengal, where it’s isolated by a long sand bank. There are 50 islands of different sizes, with waterways running around them. It is a birdwatcher’s paradise and a boat ride through the Pichavaram backwaters is an experience to remember. Nearby Cuddalore boasts the Samiyarpettai and Silver beaches as well as a slew of ancient temples.

POOMPUHAR

This was once a legendary port city called ‘Kaveripoompattinam’ or Puhar. The Poompuhar Beach starts from the Kaveri River and stretches around three kilometres north towards Neithavasal. Chitra Pournami held in April-May is an important festival when people in large numbers gather at the beach to take a dip and celebrate. A seven-storied Silapathikaram Gallery exhibiting the Sangam and Post-Sangam Era is located nearby.

THOOTHUKUDI

A centre of pearl fishing, Thoothukudi is a natural port and home to the Panimaya Matha Church which was built by the Portuguese in 1711. The district is also home to Ettayapuram, the birthplace of the revolutionary poet Subramaniya Bharathiyar, 35 kilometres from Thoothukudi town. Not to be missed are the Kazhumugalai Jain caves and the 150-year old Muthuraman Temple on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. Kayalpattinam was a famous port in the 12th and 13th centuries; situated 30 kilometres from Thoothukudi, it has a fine beach. Nearby Korkai was also a port city in Pandian times. The Tank of Korkai has an extent of 250 acres. The ancient Vettrivelamman Temple is situated here. The coastal village of Manapadu in this district was visited by St Francis Xavier in 1542. The Holy Cross Church built on a cliff attracts thousands of pilgrims throughout the year, especially at festival time (September 1-14). Five of the nine Lord Shiva shrines highlighted as Navagrahas (aka Navakailayam or Navakailasam) are located in Thoothukudi district.

NAGAPATTINAM

Nagapattinam was an important port in Chola times, and the Chudamani Vihara here is an important Buddhist structure from those times. Nagapattinam Beach still sports the lighthouse built by the British in 1869. Vaitheeswaran Kovil and Soundara Raja Perumal Temple are among a slew of temples that attract devotees all year round. Close to Nagapattinam, the small town of Velankanni is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, one of the country’s biggest Catholic pilgrimage centres. It is popularly known as the ‘Lourdes of the East’ and can be traced back to the 16th century.

RAMESWARAM

The 1914-built Pamban Bridge connects the mainland town of Mandapam with Pamban Island and Rameswaram, which is home to the Ramanathaswamy Temple. Dhanushkodi, the southernmost tip of the island, houses the Kothandaramaswamy Temple dedicated to Rama. Lying between Thoothukudi and Dhanushkodi, the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park is a protected area consisting of 21 islets and adjacent coral reefs. It is a biodiversity hotspot.

KANNIYAKUMARI

Kanniyakumari has symbolic value in being the southernmost tip of the Indian mainland. Known as Cape Comorin in colonial times, both sunrise and sunset over the ocean can be witnessed here. This is after all where the Triveni Sangam occurs, the waters of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean merging into one. Main attractions here are the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, where Swami Vivekananda achieved enlightenment in 1892, 133 ft height Thiruvalluvar Statue, Our Lady of Ransom Church, Tsunami Monument, Kanniyakumari Beach, Mathur Aqueduct and the Padmanabhapuram Palace. Tamil Nadu is truly a treasure trove of coastal destinations. The beaches are beautiful, but the best part is the wealth of heritage and other attractions to savour beyond the sea, making coastal Tamil Nadu an enriching experience like no other.

(Website: www.tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in; Social Media: @tntourismoffclTamil)

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