Marina Beach

About Marina Beach, Chennai

Broad natural urban beach along the Coromandel.

• Marina Beach runs along the Bay of Bengal for roughly six kilometers, spanning from Fort St.
• George down to Besant Nagar.
• The British administration developed the current promenade in 1884 under Governor Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff.
• Visitors walk along the wide sandy expanse to see the historic lighthouse at the southern tip, statues of Tamil literary figures, and the Victory War Memorial.
• Street food stalls sell fried fish, roasted corn, and raw mango sprinkled with chili powder every evening.
• Swimming is banned due to strong undertows and rough surf.
• The beach stays open twenty-four hours without an entry fee, though the lighthouse admits public ticket holders from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, except Mondays.
• Late afternoons from November through February offer tolerable humidity and cooler sea breezes.