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.

Evolution of Fort St.George 1673 (As Documented by Col.DM Reid)

Col. DM Reid's Map showing the Fort St.George. Fort House at Centre

At the Fort Museum, Fort St.George, Chennai, one can see maps and illustrations which documents the evolution of the fort and settlement over the centuries. Col. D.M.Reid (Douglas Muir Reid) prepared drawings of the fort with Madras volunteers. These drawings describe the evolution of this fort. He has also written a book title: 'The Story of Fort St. George.'

The  Fort House was planned as a square enclosure and the factory was raised at the centre. Fort was so named as Fort St.George since the construction was completed on April 23rd, St George's Day. It became the company's eastern centre of government in 1652 and was blockaded by the Dutch in 1673.

1670s -- The Dutch invaded San Thome. The book Vestiges of Old Madras by H.D. Love informs  that when Dutch first arrived in 1673 it was not viewed as a threat. They came again from Sadras and Pulicat. “News arrived that 500 Hollanders had landed at Sadras and were marching on San Thome, and that Rijklof van Goens was bringing another force from Pulicat. On the 11th September, the Netherlanders were established on the site of the former Moslem camp, and two days later 500 to 600 Dutch, supported by Moorish cavalry, threatened the town.” Three days later, they set up camp at the Triplicane temple. A few months later San Thome fell.

The Fort House began to function as a trading warehouse in the early part of the 17th century. Much against the wishes of the East India Company, Fort St. George grew as the trade grew.

Reference:

Vestiges of Old Madras by H.D. Love Quot in The Sadras saga Anusha Parthasarathy The Hindu July 10, 2013