 Marina
beach lies to the east of Chennai (Madras) at Kamarajar Road, 3 Km from
the city centre. The fine sandy beach said to be the longest beach
in India and one of the longest in Asia, extends to a length of 13 Km,
from Fort St. George all the way to Mahabalipuram. There is a drive along
the beach fringed with palms and casuarinas running the whole length of
Chennai.
In early 1880's, the natural beauty of the beach was
enhanced by a facelift given by the then Governor Mountstuart Elphinstone
Grant Duff. Some of the most beautiful buildings in Chennai such as the
Fort St. George complex established by the East India company in 1641,
University of Madras, Senate-House, Chepauk Palace (now P.W.D office),
19th century Presidency College building etc are located on the beach
drive.
On the beach itself there is the Anna Park, named after
C.N. Anna Durai, the founder of D.M.K (Dravida Munnetta Kazhakam)
and a former chief minister of Tamil Nadu. The park is adorned with statues
of famous Tamil writers and sages, flanked at either end by memorials
of Annadurai and M. G. Ramachandran, a former matinee idol turned the
charismatic Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Further south there is a swimming
pool, an aquarium located opposite to the Presidency college and two splendid
bits of sculpture- that of the Victory of Labour and Mahatma Gandhi. At
the other end of the beach is the new lighthouse.
 The
aquarium has a collection of tropical sea fishes and fresh water fishes.
To the south of the Aquarium is the historic Ice House (1840) (now known
as the Vivekananda house) which was used to store ice brought from England
and America for 30 years. Later in 1892, it became a home to Swami Vivekananda
and the name was changed to Vivekananda house.
The beach can be ideally visited in the early mornings
or in the late evenings when the area throbs with activity. Food stalls,
hawkers and other entertainers line the beach. The Sunday afternoon market
is worth a visit. The large beach is often the venue for important state
functions. Kite flying is a common sport with the children at the beach
and there are also facilities for pony rides. As the undercurrent is very
strong, bathing and swimming can be dangerous, and should be done with
utmost care.
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Beaches 
