Marina Beach

Location : In the eastern side of Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Tourist Attractions : Aquarium, Anna and MGR Samadhis, Icehouse, Senate-House, Chepauk Palace, Presidency College.
Beach Activities : Shopping, swimming, bathing and eating.

About Marina Beach
Marina beach, located on the eastern side of Chennai, adjoining the Bay of Bengal, is a perfect blend of golden sand, good surf and a shimmering clean blue sea. This 4.5 kms long beach is the second longest beach in the world. This 12-km long stretch was beautified by the fantastic face lift given by Governor Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff in the early 1880's and since then it became one of the important tourist attraction in Chennai.

A walk along the Marina, whether in the morning or evening, refreshes one. Beautiful trees bordering the beach offers a sight that pleases your senses. At the beach stand beautiful statues of Tamil scholars, patriots, and noted personalities. All in all Marina beach is a mesmerizing piece of nature.

Major Tourist Attractions
Some of the most attractive buildings in Chennai such as the University of Madras, Senate-House, Chepauk Palace, Presidency College, P.W.D office and Ice House are located on the beach drive. The new lighthouse is situated at the other end of the beach. There are several statues of Tamil scholars and two brilliant bits of sculpture- the Victory of Labour and the Mahatma Gandhi.

Aquarium
Aquarium is nearby the Marina beach and has some of the most exotic collection of tropical sea fishes and fresh water fishes. The aquarium lets you peep into the aquatic life from close quarters. The Ice House is situated to the south of Aquarium, used to store ice brought from Great Lakes in North America.

Anna And MGR Samadhis
Situated on the beach, the Anna and MGR Samadhis, are the memorials of the most popular, former Chief ministers of the state. This attracts a good number of people everyday.

Beach Activities
Bathing and swimming can be dangerous here, as the undercurrent is very strong. But still people come for swimming here. In the evenings, the beach turns into a fair ground with various kinds of entertainment and food stalls lining the beach. One can even shop around the beach, buying shell and glass baubles to kites and fruit juices. The Marina, is also the venue for important state functions, accommodate a good number of visitors. There are also facilities of pony rides at the beach site, which attract the children's interest the most.

Getting There
Air : Chennai has an airport with both domestic and international terminals. Regular flights connect Chennai with the major cities of the country and also with other countries of the world.
Rail : Chennai is well connected by rail with the important towns and cities within and beyond the state.
Road : State transport bus and private bus services connect Chennai with the major towns and cities within the country. For local transportation local trains, city buses, auto rickshaws and taxis are also available.

Accommdation
Chennai has a number of hotels and resorts, ranging from luxury to economy class. You just need to pick one of them according to your budget and requirements.