Kovalam Beach, ECR, Chennai
I was aware of the Kovalam beach earlier, but I was undecided on whether to visit it or not. I mean, there is not exactly a scarcity of beaches in Chennai, and that too on the East Coast Road (ECR). I went anyway just to check why this beach had become so popular. I found that this beach is indeed different from all the other beaches in Chennai!
For starters, we don’t find waves splashing on rocks (see the above photo) on the other beaches in Chennai. On the other hand, rocks are present on certain beachless(!) beaches such as the one you find in Pondicherry. But there is no sand in such places (generally). This beach has both! It has a decent stretch of beach sand and a few rocks. The waves are strong and the location is just too perfect for people to splash in and enjoy. But,
But, But, But, unlike the other beaches in Chennai that are maintained at least to a certain extent, this one seems to have been totally neglected. It is swarmed with locals and tourists (I guess from around the place), and there are so many shops/rides all around. As a result, the beach is a total mess. Even the parking area (thank god, it has one) is quite messy. The parking was full, as I went on a Sunday.
You know what surprised me, people were rafting! Local people here have rafts and they were playing with it bravely in spite of the fierce waves (look at the photo below). Of course, you might be able to get rafts from around here, but you should use it at your own risk. There are absolutely no life-guards around. Your safety is at your own peril!
This beach is almost perfect. It has smooth sands, rocks on the shore, heavy waves, water splashing all around, people enjoying every bit and it even has an awesome curve that will make the straight marina/besant nagar/mahabalipuram beaches jealous.
But due to lack of maintenance, I can’t (yet) recommend it for foreigners and even Indian people from other states. But if you live in Chennai, know the local ways, are a brave-heart, want to kick/splash in water and have the maximum fun, this is the place to visit.
Here are some photos I took at the Kovalam beach –
Destination Infinity
beautiful beach
Yeah, I took photos only in the areas that look good 🙂
Destination Infinity
beautiful picture DI..
looks lovely
Appearances can be deceptive 🙂
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This is so beautiful DI. I have visited Kovalam Beach in it’s most ugliest form years back. But yes, I like those rocks and water splashing on them.
I have gone to a nearby beach in the name of visiting Kovalam beach as we wanted to play football there, many years ago. That beach was like any other beach and it was neat as not many people were visiting that place. This beach has an excellent location but there are too many tourists and too much littering!
Destination Infinity
Seems like a beautiful beach. You should have put the pics of kiosks too though 🙂
This thought didn’t occur to me while I was taking photos 🙂
Destination Infinity
DI, i so hope to live on ECR once more! These posts of yours make me feel so nostalgic…..
You can always visit anytime you want 🙂
Destination Infinity
yes i was there .. i was there .. and i was there so many times…
i still remember the days that i spent on ECR Kovalam beach … days that now i stopped counting … this post brought back those memories .. thank you Rajesh Sir…
Good to know that you have visited this beach many times earlier. Inspite of having been born and brought up in this city, I have been to this beach only a couple of times!
Destination Infinity
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Destination Infinity
Amazing pictures and a very beautiful beach!
Yeah, the beach looks beautiful in these pictures due to my selective photography! 🙂
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Not sure if I have been to this beach. But have visited couple of beaches in Chennai and they were good.
You might have visited other popular beaches like Marina and Besant Nagar. They are being maintained relatively well. This one is far away from the city.
Destination Infinity
My personal favorite of this beach was the curve shore, which brought the name Covelong (Kovalam). Yes, during Sundays the place looks nasty. But u can try the road through fishermen cove resort, leading to beach which looks somehow better.
Wonderful shots and splashes!
I tried to take a picture of the curve shore, but there were too many people in it. Thanks for telling me about the name – Covelong. I was wondering where that beach was? 🙂 Last time, we visited the beach near the fisherman’s cove private beach. Yes, it’s better.
Destination Infinity
Awesome pictures, I would definitely like to go rafting too if they were safe. And It’s not fair on our part to neglect beaches like this.
Maybe the locals want to keep this beach for themselves, without tourist disturbances 🙂
Destination Infinity
I was wondering why you said it wasn’t well maintained and read your comment above 😛
A lot of my friends have mentioned this beach but I have never been there! I don’t understand why beaches aren’t maintained. Seriously.
I have been to some beaches in Orissa (that I will share) you wouldn’t even think as being so perfect! I mean, these beaches are a little untouched by many people but still – it is maintained very very well! Or maybe, it is matter of time 🙁
really sad.
Reminds me of Muttom beach, there too one can find huge boulders… and the waves crash gleefully into them. Your pictures actually make the beach look good, doesn’t look like what you’ve described.
Wow. A captivating picture. Want to go straight into that spray!
Also ashamed, never visited the place though lived in Chennai.
It’s a nice beach. With some maintenance, it might work wonders.
Destination Infinity
Quiet useful. I am heading to this beach this weekend. Was wondering how it will be like. We are planning to visit Mahabalipuram and we heard the beach is not really enjoyable there. Now I know what to expect when I head here