Marina Beach, Urban beach in Chennai, India

Marina Beach is a natural urban beach along the Bay of Bengal in Chennai, stretching 6.0 km from near Fort St. George to Foreshore Estate. It is primarily sandy, with an average width of 300 m and a widest stretch of 437 m. A low white fence with evenly spaced posts separates the sand from the paved area.

The beach began as a mudflat before the Madras harbour was built in 1881; sand accretion behind its breakwater widened the shore. Governor Mount Stuart Elphinstone Grant Duff laid out the promenade in 1884 and named it Madras Marina. Statues and memorials were added from 1909 onward.

Statues along the beach include the Triumph of Labour, Gandhi in his march to Dandi stride, and Tamil literary icons such as Avvaiyar, Tiruvalluvar, Kambar, Subramania Bharathiyar and Bharathidasan, erected in 1968 for the first World Tamil Conference. Memorials to leaders Anna, M.G.R., Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi also stand here.

Strong currents make swimming dangerous, so entering the water is not allowed. The shore fills up mostly in the late afternoon and evening, when large groups gather for walking and outdoor activities.

Olive ridley sea turtles come ashore between October and April to lay their eggs in the sand. Conservation groups mark the nesting sites with fences to protect the nests from visitors and stray dogs.