Being situated on the Eastern Coast of India, a number of beaches border Chennai. Needless to mention, most are mainstream tourist attraction points. So, the Marina Beach, Gandhi Beach are more of public parks than beaches. Bustling with tourist and hawkers, these are far from peaceful.
In stark contrast to these, you have the Covelong alongside the East Coast Road.
The Fishermen’s Enclave
Every time you reach a beach, the vast blue expanse mesmerizes you once again. At Kovalam, the sea is calm. Although pollution is at a minimum, the skyline of Chennai in the distance is a grim reminder of man’s never-ending quest for urbanization.
Perfect for a day trip, Kovalam Beach is a refreshing destination, just 40 Km South of Chennai. It’s a quaint fishing village that apparently does not intrigue one at first sight. But the presence of a dargah, a Catholic church as well as a temple, are all evidences of Covelong being a part of Nawab of Arcot’s schemes, it’s tryst with the French settlement(Pondicherry is just 120 Km down the coastline) and Clive’s conquests.
Selvam Surf (Mobile : +91 7845605921 and +91 9600125250) offers catamaran rides and takes tourists out to the sea besides offering life jackets that allow one to take a dip for an hour or so, 3 Km from the coast.
Moments of Bliss!
They will charge about Rs 300 depending on the season and demand, but it’s quite worth it!
This is one of the only places on the East Coast where one can surf, thanks to the natural bend of the cove. Bay of Life Surf School and Surf Shop and Covelong Point Social Surf School.The latter also offers opportunities of shallow scuba diving, kayaking as well as paramotoring.
One simply does not visit Kovalam and not enjoy the sea food!
The way they keep the fish on display, marinated with spices, is quite enticing.
Back from the sea, we relished over a delicious chunk of Koduvai, while we waited for Akka to fry the Vanjiram. The shrimps at Rs 50 are a great bargain along with the crabs. And don’t miss the platter of Neythili!
Veg and non veg pakodas, fruit juice sellers, bhajjis, steamed corn, cotton candy , ice cream stalls and everything, you have the entire lot there.Occasionally one may come across the fishermen preparing their lines or weaving the fishing nets. Fishing boats, which are quite colourful by the way, adorn the narrow beach.
But,erosion is a grave threat at Kovalam. At one point of time, Mangroves used to border this part of the coast. With whatever limited resources the Panchayat has, they have tried their best to deposit rocks and halt the process, but of course sponsors for mangrove plantation and awareness will only help the locals and ensure the livelihood of the fishermen. After all, it is solely because of them that this place is one of the best weekend getaways from Chennai.
Location :40 Km South of Chennai(Quite a nice drive down the East Coast Road!)
Options of Stay: Vivanta by Taj Fisherman’s Cove. Other hotels and resorts are also available.
Courtesy: Camera Courtesy Yuvraj Tyagi and thanks to Sahil Siddiqi for having faith in my ideas.
RicardosLive 