Covelong Beach, Chennai
Covelong Beach is located in Covelong (Kovalam) which is
a fishing village in Chennai, India, 40 kilometers south of Chennai, on the East Coast Road en route to Mahabalipuram. Covelong was a port town developed by the Nawab of Carnatic, Saadat Ali. It was
taken over by the French in 1746, and destroyed by the British in 1752. Along
with the beach, the village of Covelong, famous for its fishing activities
draws many tourists.
Covelong beach is one of the few places in the East Coast
where wind surfing takes place. There
is a surf school with resort in the beach. This beach has now turned into a
beautiful resort owned by Taj Groups of Hotels and named as Fisherman's Cove
Resort. The beach is located on the way to Mahabalipuram and is separated from
the mainland by a canal running from Chennai to Mahabalipuram.
Apart from its lovely white sand and clean blue waters, this beach
is also known for its calm environment and of course its water sports. Over
time the beach has carved a niche for itself and is today considered amongst
the more exquisite beaches of India.
Covelong Beach is well worth checking out. It’s such a charming
place. This apart, the beach has a very old Catholic Church and mosque bounding
it. Once you are through with sunbathing on its sandy shores, stroll around
these places of tourist interest. The beach is so beautiful that you could
sunbathe, frolic on the shores or even meditate here. The ancient ruins of the
fort take you back to a bygone era.
The historic town of Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) is a hop, skip
and jump away. The gorgeous Shore Temple here is one of India’s most well known
tourist spots. If you are a wildlife buff, the Crocodile Farm is a fascinating
place to spend a few hours.
Covelong Beach is a lovely little beach between Chennai and
Mahabalipuram. In fact, it is one of the most stunning and virgin beaches of
Tamil Nadu, India and is close to a small but pretty fishing village on the
coast of the Bay of Bengal. From a sleepy fishing village till the early
nineties, Covelong Beach has transformed itself into a trendy picnic and
excursion spot.
Covelong Beach is a popular destination among beach lovers.
Covelong Beach is regarded as one of the finest beaches in the state of Tamil
Nadu. Located on the coast of Coromandel, between the cities of Chennai and
Mahabalipuram, Covelong Beach is famous for beach activities and its serene
beauty.
History
Covelong Beach was a principal port in the 16th century. It was
Saadat Ali, the Nawab of Carnatic, who built a port at Covelong Beach in the
year 1746. In 1746, this place was an important political hub for the French.
In 1752, the port was captured by the French and it was soon
seized by the British East India Company. Today, Covelong Beach has transformed
to become one among the top beach resorts in the South. Covelong Beach, though
famous for its clear waters, is less crowded.
The Dutch built a fort in Covelong during the colonial times,
which has been made the Taj Fisherman's Cove, a private luxury beach resort. An ancient Catholic church on the
beach is another attraction. There is also a Dharga & temple nearby the
beach.
Highlights
·
White sand – One of the
major attractions of the Covelong beach is the white sand that it has to offer.
The beach is spread all along the East Coast Road and allows for some great sun
bathing during the day. At night, the moon brings the beach to life, in
more ways than one.
· Water sports – The highly
spirited village of Covelong is well known for its brisk fishing activities.
Being frequently visited by tourists from all over the world, Covelong is the
ideal place for sea surfing, as the sea and the wind are very gentle. Besides
swimming and other water sports, one can seek the help of local fishermen and
set out to sea in catamarans. These are the popular activities among the
tourists. Thus this cool beach spot is the right place for adventure seekers. Water
sports like mid-sea floating, swimming and water surfing are very common on the
Covelong Beach. Wind surfing is the one sport that is offered on this Indian
beach exclusively. The winds here are highly favourable for this sport and a
number of wind surfers can be seen here enjoying this activity.
·
Church – A short walk down
the beach is a small catholic church which plays host to the Christian
community around the beach and in the fishing village.
·
Mosque – Just a few steps
down the church is a mosque.
· Fishing Village –
There is a small fishing village near the beach. The village allows a glimpse
into the world of those who use these waters for their fishing ventures. Their
boats and nets can also be seen on the beach.
Tips
· Bargain – The water sports
rates are not fixed. The rates are decided based on the season and
availability. Bargain with several organizers before paying.
· Heat protection –
Like most beaches in Chennai, Covelong Beach is also warm. Make sure you apply
sunscreen and bring a beach umbrella.
· Food – Keep in mind that
there are no restaurants aligning the beach so carry food, water, and snacks,
especially if you are planning to spend more than half the day here.
·
The beach of Covelong lies
in the lee of an ancient Dutch fort. You can see a few walls of the fort which
still remain in ruins.
· The ancient Catholic
Church is a must visit amongst the other religious monuments at Covelong.
· Take a relaxing sunbath
and rejuvenate your body and soul in a serene and pristine atmosphere.
·
Visit the marvelous
Mahabalipuram which is located nearby, just 19 km. away.
· Don’t miss the Crocodile
Farm and watch the crocodiles from close quarters.
· When it comes to
accommodation, Covelong Beach offers plenty of options that suit various
budgets.
·
The hotels at Covelong,
Chennai and Mahabalipuram may suit your needs.
Connectivity
This beautiful beach is easily accessible by Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR)
and East Coast Road (ECR)
from Chennai.
By Road
Metropolitan Transport Corporation
(Chennai)(MTC) and TNSTC Villupuram operate bus services which connect almost all areas in Chennai city and Covelong. & Long distance buses to Cuddalore, Villupuram,
Chidambaram, Nagapattinam & Pondicherry plying via East Coast Road also
stops here. Apart from this, the village can also be accessed by boat, along
the seashore of Chennai or Chengalpattu.
Metropolitan Transport
Corporation (Chennai)(MTC) bus routes plying in Kovalam:
Via ECR
Route Number
|
Start
|
End
|
Via
|
19E
|
MGM,VGP, Thiruvanmiyur,
Adyar, Mylapore, Royapettah, Central
|
||
19G
|
MGM,VGP, Thiruvanmiyur,
Adyar, DMS, TVS, Central
|
||
PP19xt
|
MGM,VGP, Thiruvanmiyur,
Adyar, Santome, AIR, Secretariat
|
||
PP49
|
Vadapalani, Liberty,
T.Nagar, Saidapet, Adyar, Thiruvanmiyur, VGP, MGM
|
||
T151K
|
MGM,Uthandi, Akkarai,
Sholinganallur, Medavakkam, Camp road
|
||
588
|
Thiruvanmiyur, VGP, MGM,
Kovalam, Thiruvidandhai, Vadanemmeli, Devanery
|
||
588B
|
Annasquare,AIR,
Santhome, AMS, Adyar, Thiruvanmiyur, VGP, MGM, Kovalam, Thiruvidandhai,
Vadanemmeli, Devanery
THIS ROUTE IS AVAILABLE
ONLY ON SUNDAY AND GOVERNMENT HOLIDAYS
|
||
588C
|
Vadapalani, Ashok nagar,
Guindy, Madhya kailash, Thiruvanmiyur, VGP, MGM, Kovalam, Thiruvidandhai,
Vadanemmeli, Devanery
|
||
589
|
SRP Tools,
Thiruvanmiyur, VGP, MGM, Kovalam, Thiruvidandhai, Vadanemmeli, Devanery
|
||
599
|
Via Kelambakkam
Route Number
|
Start
|
End
|
Via
|
T151
|
Kelambakkam, Navalur,
Sholinganallur, Medavakkam, Camp road
|
||
517
|
Tambaram,Vandalore zoo,
Mambakkam, Kelambakkam, Kovalam, Thiruvidandhai
|
||
517K
|
Kelambakkam, Navalur,
Sholinganallur, Medavakkam, Kovilambakkam, Echangadu, Vels college
|
||
566B
|
Kundrathur, Pallavaram,
Tambaram, Vandalore zoo, Mambakkam, Kelambakkam
|
||
587
|
Thiruporur
|
Kelambakkam, Kovalam,
MGM,VGP, Thiruvanmiyur, Adyar, Santome, AIR, Secretariat
|
By Train
Chennai is well connected to rest of India by Railways. Nearest
Major Railway Stations are Egmore & Chennai Central. From Chennai Central
one can take local train to reach Thiruvanmiyur Railway Station from which this
beach is connected by excellent Number of Buses.
By Air
Nearest Airport is Kamaraj Domestic Airport and the Anna International Airport
located at Meenampakkam at a distance of 20 km from the city.
It is about an hour’s journey from the airport to the beach and a
round trip would cost roughly INR 2500.