We Are A Family......: On the Marina Beach-Part-V

Saturday, November 20, 2010

On the Marina Beach-Part-V

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 Madras. 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.