Edward Elliot's Beach sits at the southern end of Chennai's shoreline in the Besant Nagar neighbourhood and is a calmer, more compact counterpart to Marina Beach. Affectionately called 'Bessie' by locals, it is popular with families, students and evening strollers.
Edward Elliot's Beach sits at the southern end of Chennai's shoreline in the Besant Nagar neighbourhood and is a calmer, more compact counterpart to Marina Beach. Affectionately called 'Bessie' by locals, it is popular with families, students and evening strollers.
The beach is fringed by cafes, ice-cream parlours and eateries, and its most notable landmark is the Kaj Schmidt Memorial, a small heritage monument to a Danish sailor who drowned near this spot on 30 December 1930 while trying to save others. Restored from a derelict state in the 2010s, it is the beach's only heritage structure.
Entry: Free entry to the beach (indicative)
Getting there: In Besant Nagar in south Chennai; reachable by city bus, auto or taxi, and a short ride from the Adyar and Thiruvanmiyur areas.
The Kaj Schmidt Memorial on the beach is the only heritage structure here and can be viewed from outside its enclosure.
Road km to Chennai; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Late afternoon into the evening, especially in the cooler months of November to February.
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Late afternoon into the evening, especially in the cooler months of November to February.
Entry: Free entry to the beach (indicative). Timings: Open access; liveliest in the evenings (indicative — confirm on site). Fees and timings are indicative — confirm on site before you travel.
Come in the late afternoon or evening when the sea breeze picks up and the beachfront is at its liveliest. Stroll to the Kaj Schmidt Memorial at one end of the beach to read its inscription and history. Combine the visit with a coffee or snack at one of the nearby Besant Nagar cafes.
About 1 to 2 hours for a walk, the memorial and a cafe stop.
Nearby you can pair Broken Bridge (170 m), U.Ve. Swaminatha Iyer Library (590 m), Arupadaiveedu Temple (730 m), Ashtalakshmi Temple (800 m).
As on all of Chennai's Bay of Bengal coast, the sea can have strong currents; avoid swimming and keep children away from deeper water. Stick to lit, populated stretches after dark and keep an eye on personal belongings.
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