Elliot's Beach Chennai (Tamil Nadu) | Edward Elliot's Beach in Besant Nagar

Elliot's Beach, Chennai Overview

Elliot's Beach aka "Besant Nagar Beach" or "Bessie" is located in Besant Nagar, Chennai. Also known as Besant Nagar Beach, It forms the end-point of the Marina Beach shore and is named after Edward Elliot (who was once the Chief Magistrate, Superintendent of Madras and Governor of Chennai during the British times). It has the Velankanni Church and the Ashtalakshmi Kovil in the vicinity. The mesmerising beach is one of the cleanest beaches in the city of Chennai. Located towards the south of Marina Beach, an incredibly calm and tranquil place, it does not offer much activity hence, is an ideal spot for long walks. Moreover, the site is perfect for the ones who want to soak their feet in the splashing sea water and lose themselves entirely in the arms of nature.

Elliot's Beach is quite famous among the tourists as well as the natives of the state. In the colonial times, it was a place limited to white people. The beach is popular with local college students and families. There are many restaurants near the beach with mouth-watering cuisines. There is a police outpost at the beach, and the crowd is managed via all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to prevent drowning mishaps. Many people drowned at the beach in 2010, seeing which the government sanctioned two more ATVs the very next year.

The beach is often visited by travellers for sunbathing, relaxing and visiting the famous ancient monuments nearby. It is usually less crowded than the famous Marina Beach and hence, preferred by the travellers. During the evening hours, one can spot various youngsters roaming around the beach as this beach offers the perfect retreat, away from the city life of metropolitan.

Attractions Near Elliot's Beach

1. Ashtalakshmi Temple
This temple is around 20 years old and is endowed with modern style architecture. It is quite distinctive in appearance and appears to be entirely different than other temples of Southern India. It is associated with the eight manifestations of Goddess Mahalakshmi.

2. Velankanni Church:
Located in the vicinity of the beach is believed to be built in honour of the Lady of Health, who is also famous as Madonna of Velankanni. The Lady of Health is considered to be a holder of miraculous powers. Other interactions include Temples of Tumbikai Aazhwar (Ganesha), Guruvaayurappan, Chakrathaazhwar and Narasimhar (on either side of the same idol), Aanjaneyar and Dhanvantri.

3.Restaurants
Some famous restaurants near the beach include Ponnuswamy Restaurant, Karaikudi Restaurant, Lee's Chinese Restaurant and the New Shangri La, a Malaysian restaurant.

Karl Schmidt Memorial

Karl Schmidt Memorial is an important landmark on this beach is the Karl Schmidt Memorial which is named after the Dutch sailor who lost his life while saving a drowning swimmer. Elliot's Beach is one of the cleanest beaches in the city of Chennai. Located towards the south of Marina Beach, an extremely calm and tranquil place, it does not offer much activity hence, is an ideal spot for long walks. Moreover, the ones who want to soak their feet in the splashing sea water and lose themselves completely in the arms of nature, head on. Elliot's Beach is quite popular among the tourists as well as the natives of the state.

Tips For Visiting Elliot's Beach

1. Carry camera, torch and light, and wear fully covered clothes, proper footwear.
2. Carry munchies, beverages and water along.
3. Finding a parking spot might be a little tricky here.
4. Hardly any water sports activities are available at this beach.

Best Time To Visit Elliot's Beach

The winter months in Chennai runs from November until February. These months serve as the ideal time to visit Elliot's beach, as the fresh sea breeze and warmth of the sun makes for the perfect combination. The summer and rainy season here are constituted by scorching heat and humidity and hence are not preferred by the travellers.

How To Reach Elliot's Beach

The beach is placed at a distance of 60 km from Chennai. It is well connected to the main city via all means of transport. Bus services are also quite prominent in this area, which makes reaching the Elliot's Beach quite feasible. So, it can be easily accessed via road with buses, taxis, cabs, and auto rickshaws.