Elliot’s Beach, one of the cleanest urban beaches in Chennai, also called as the Bessie Beach by the Chennaites, is a rare gem among all other beaches in the city. Visited more often by tourists and locals, Elliot’s Beach is less crowded than the Marina Beach, and is primarily visited by the residents in and around Besant Nagar. In the colonial times, access to the beach was limited to the English natives and tourists and not so for the commoners.
Now, it is quite popular among the locals as a family beach, as the shore overlooks affluent buildings, quiet neighborhoods, and is close to hotels, airports, metros, shopping streets, and heritage buildings. Named after Sir Edward Elliot, the then Chief Magistrate of Chennai, the beach lies at the end of the Marina Beach, and is widely known for the notable Karl Schmidt Memorial, built after a Dutch sailor for rescuing a girl from drowning in the sea.
Just a mile away, from the Elliot’s Beach is the Huddlestone Garden of the Theosophical Society Adyar, spread over 260 acres that promotes universal brotherhood in a nostalgic calmness and tranquil surrounding of lush green plants, birds, and trees aged over 450-years, offering shelter to birds, butterflies, hares, and flowers of all kinds. It also houses the famous dance academy, Kalakshetra founded by Rukmini Arun Dale, and is open to the public for dance recitals, skits and other literary events.
A walk in the nearby lanes overlooking the shore, leads to religious worship places visited by devotees all-year round the year, besides having a walk-through around colonial era bungalows and independent residences. There are renowned public institutions, educational institutions and heritage buildings, in the surrounding neighborhood closer to the Elliot’s Beach, and the easiest way to get around is to rent a car to save time and traffic.
The beach shores are lined with shacks for sea shells, crabs, fish, corn-hub, and other lip-smacking food joints for the crowd by street vendors. Besides scrumptious food, the sandy shores, and the foaming sea waves with sunset backdrops, there is kite flying, pony rides, building sand castles, street cricket, football, morning walks, yoga, reading clubs, and other regular activities for the public at Elliot’s Beach.
A perfect place for sun-bathing, workouts, long walks, joggers, photography, and sand carving, the the beach comes alive with the young and old, and is an ideal spot to socialize or wander about gazing and soaking in the not-so-clear-frothy waves washing across the shore. The night life at Elliot’s Beach is a great way to unwind with food, drinks, and entertainment in a relaxed environment for quiet times with family and friends.
The best time of the year at the beach is November – February, as the temperature soars between 21- 30 degrees, and weekends are the ideal time to visit the beach. In general, weekends are usually more crowded than the weekdays, with people hanging out at the high-end restaurants, cafes, pubs, boutiques and enjoying fine dining. Even with all the banter of the crowd, a drive to Bessie beach will never disappoint you anytime!
Address
Elliot’s Beach
Besant Nagar,
Chennai 600090, India
Directions: Google Maps
Phone: 044 – 25333444 /25333333 (Tamil Nadu tourism)
