Stretching
two miles, from the Coovum River's mouth, south of the Fort, till the
northern boundaries of the 16th century Portuguese town of San Thome, is
this magnificent beach drive and promenade. At the southern end of the
Marina is the San Thome basilica, built in 1896.
To the east of
the road is the Promenade, well-kept gardens and a wide beach which claims
to being the world's second longest. At the north end of the beach is Anna
Square, the serene resting place of Dr.C.N.Annaduari, who founded a
populist party that ushered in anew the ancient glory of Tamil Nadu and
the Tamils. His samadhi is marked by a beautiful park, a striking memorial
sculpture and crowds pay homage daily.
Nearby
is the samadhi of M.G Ramachandran, one of the most popular Chief
Ministers of this State. In between, sentinels on the promenade, are
several statues of Tamil scholars and Mahatma Gandhi.
Chennai's
Aquarium is also on this beach. Across the road are several important
buildings of Chennai. The University campus has Indo-Saracenic buildings
of the 1930s blending with perhaps one of the country's finest building's
in this hybrid style, Senate House built by one of the founders of the
modern version of this school of architecture, R F Chisholm, in mid- 19th
century.
Chisholm's PWD buildings front, the striking Chepauk
Palace, once the home of the Nawabs of the Carnatic, but now government
offices whose exteriors still reflect Nawabi splendour. Presidency
College, another Chisholm's masterpiece, was the nucleus of the 125
years-old University of Chennai.
Vivekananda House, now a hostel,
was once a storehouse for imported ice; then home of Swami Vivekananda
when he visited Chennai. The long and impressive office of the
Director-general of police, another 19th century construction was built as
the city's first Masonic hall.
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