Covelong Beach: Secluded Coromandel Coast Beach Near Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Taj Fisherman's Cove (View 1)

Taj Fisherman's Cove (View 2)

Sectional view (1) Public Beach at Covelong

Sectional view (2) Public Beach at Covelong

Covelong Dargah of Syedna Hazrat Tamim bin Ahmed Ansari Razi Allathu Thala Anthu, a Sufi Saint

Covelong (Kovalam) Beach Is the very clear and clean beach with the breathtakingly beautiful and tranquil ambiance and a popular destination among beach lovers. It is located 40 kilometres south of Chennai on the East Coast Road (scenic coast of Coromandel) en route to Mahabalipuram.  This less crowded and secluded beach, with radiating sun, deep blue sea and calm waters,  lovely white glistening sand, swaying palms and scenic views,  is the perfect hot spot  to relax and unwind.  Pack a picnic  and head off to Covelong and you will experience as if visiting a faraway fairytale land with a plethora of water sport activities like wind Surfing, water surfing and swimming. The enchanting beach also lies in proximity to Mahabalipuram and Crocodile Farm. There is a canal running parallel to the Bay of Bengal divides the beach from main-land.

Covelong, a  picturesque fishing village in the Coromandel coast , was developed in 1746 as the port by the Nawab of Carnatic, Saadat Ali for political and strategic purpose and soon it became the primary port. The French East India Company captured this port in 1746 and the French navy under the French General Laboudonnais  anchored till 1746. Lord Clive defeated the French in Carnatic war and the fort captured and promptly destroyed by British East India Company to prevent further French attacks in future.

A fort was built in Covelong by Dutch East India Company and the fort site has been converted into  Taj Fisherman's Cove, often regarded one among the top private luxury beach resort. The ancient Catholic Church is a must visit place on the beach. Also there is a dargah of Syedna Hazrat Tamim bin Ahmed Ansari Razi Allathu Thala Anthu, a Sufi Muslim saint.

Once you enter here,  you will learn the history and  vast array of geographic features; placidity and your body and mind positively charged with enthusiasm and energy and you may not willing to leave.

Location :

Located on the ECR Chennai Mahabalipuram State Highway.

Best Season:

Best time to visit Covelong beach is the months of November to February.

How to Get There - By Road:

The Covelong Beach is easily reachable by excellent road network that connects the town with the nearby cities. Buses and taxies are the most popular way of reaching Covelong beach from Chennai and other nearby cities.

Dargah Hazrath Syed Moosa Sha Khaderi, Chennai

 

Dargah Hazrath Syed Moosa Sha Khaderi - Facade

Dargah Hazrath Syed Moosa Sha Khaderi - Tomb

Dargah Hazrath Syed Moosa Sha Khaderi - Muslim Women

Hazrath Syed Moosa Shah Qadri Baghdadi (RA) arrived from Baghdad Shareef in the middle of the 17th Century and lived on the site of what is now better known as the Mount Road Dargah. When he died, he was buried next to his house and here his family raised the Dargah Shareef. The descendants of Hazrath Syed Moosa Shah Qadri Baghdadi managed the dargah shareef since from inception. The dargah premises also houses the Makka Masjid, one of the largest mosques in South India with its taller minaret (100 feet).

Sufism is the most moderate sect of Islam which approached the Islamic faith in a mystical way. Hence Sufism is simply Islamic mysticism and the Sufi saints are known as Islamic Mystics.   The Sufi saints seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God. Tombs of Sufi Mystics exist all over India in large numbers.

Hazrath Syed Moosa Shah Qadri Baghdadi (RA), a Sufi Mystic is said to have had magnetic and spiritual powers which Almighty Allah has bestowed upon him. The divine power of this Sufi saint was revealed when a British engineer during colonial period instructed to demolish the dargah for widening the road. The workmen after initial resistance proceeded to excavate trenches around dargah and witnessed the spurting of blood from the soil. The engineer was unperturbed by this event and forced the workers to continue. The poor engineer collapsed suddenly and dropped dead. 

This Shrine is more than 450 years old. People of all faiths and religions visit this Dargah in a very large number from different parts of India and abroad throughout the year and pay their respectful tributes to the Hazrath Syed Moosa Shah Qadri Baghdadi (RA). Thursdays are considered as holy day and more people gather for prayers. This shrine of Sufi spiritualism promotes world peace, universal brotherhood, harmony and tolerance.