Covelong and Muttukadu
Covelong (கோவளம் Kōvaḷam) and Muttukadu are two adjacent towns south of Chennai, at the north coast of Tamil Nadu.
Get in
Covelong and Muttukadu 40 km (25 mi) south of Chennai on the way to Mamallapuram. The drive from Pondicherry to Muttukadu is relatively scenic by Indian standards. The drive from Chennai to Muttukadu is mostly through increasingly larger suburbs of Chennai.
Get around
There are few private taxis for hire in Covelong and Muttukadu. If you want to get around or take short trips in the area (e.g. to Mamallapuram), your best bet is to negotiate a fare with an auto-rickshaw. Don't even bother asking the driver to use the meter, instead negotiate a price in advance. Westerners have the tendency to overpay rickshaw drivers. Bargain for as low a price as you can.
Before getting in the auto and once in the auto be firm about your destination. Drivers will try to take you to shopping destinations at which they earn a commission. So, regardless of how forcefully you state your destination at the outset, you may need to continue to state the destination throughout the ride as the driver offers "helpful suggestions" for additional stops. Try stating your destination as "[Destination name], only."
See and do
- 🌍 Covelong Beach. It is separated from the mainland by the canal from Chennai to Mamallapuram. A small public beach can also be accessed through a narrow drivable road. This beach is still mostly used by fishermen but gets crowded on weekends. As with other parts of India, locals and visitors do not show too much skin on the beach. Most people are fully clothed, with no adult females wearing bathing suits. Children were wearing bathing suits and frolicking in the surf, and a few adult males were wearing swim trunks.
- 🌍 DakshinaChitra. A venture of Deborah Thiagarajan and her associates from the Madras Craft Foundation. DakshinaChitra is an amazing place to visit, as various kinds of traditional houses have been transported to Chennai from interior parts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala and rebuilt here piece by piece. The exhibits portray the architecture, art, folk performing arts and craft of South Indian traditions. The amenities include a research unit, a crafts bazaar, a playground, an area to hold religious functions, a stone workshop, and souvenir kiosks.
- 🌍 Jagannath Temple. An exact replica of the Jagannath Temple in Puri. Those who have not been to Puri can take a look at this temple.
- 🌍 Madras Crocodile Bank (nestled in a patch of indigenous forest and fronting the Bay of Bengal, the zoo is easily accessed by one of the many buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws that ply the scenic East Coast Road), ☏ +91 90800 00123, info@madrascrocodilebank.org. Morning tours: 9:30AM–5:30PM (closed M). Night safari: 7:00PM–8:30PM. The brainchild of Romulus Whittaker, the acknowledged specialist on reptiles, this centre has gained fame as an endeavour for the preservation and propagation of endangered species of crocodiles. The centre also houses a large variety of snakes. The centre is a registered trust (NGO) and a recognized zoo. The Madras Crocodile Bank is not to be confused with a zoo. Yes, you can certainly take a look at the reptiles in captivity. However, unlike a zoo, this has a much more in-depth operation through ex-situ and in-situ conservation. It is home to around 17 crocodile subspecies and some other reptiles like frogs, lizards, snakes, and turtles, some of which have been listed by the IUCN as critically endangered. The park can be visited both in the morning and at night. Check the park's website for information regarding crocodile feeding time and other activities before visiting and plan accordingly. Night safari requires prior booking. Regular entry: adult ₹60, child ₹30; night safari entry: adult ₹200, child ₹100.
- 🌍 Mayajaal. 11AM–11PM. 100,000 ft² (9,300 m2) of air-conditioned space that houses movie theatres, bowling alleys, video games parlours and multi-cuisine food courts. This is Mayajaal, a multidimensional entertainment centre, on par with any entertainment zone found abroad. You can easily spend the entire day here.
- 🌍 MGM Dizzee World. Spread over 27 acres, this theme park offers joy rides, food stalls and other games. It features one of the first roller coaster rides of Chennai, and many of the rides offered could make your hair stand on edge. On the softer side, you have the dashing car drives, and the swimming pool with its water slides.
- 🌍 Muttukadu Boat House (முட்டுக்காடு படகுக் குழாம்), East Coast Rd. A water sports facility offering rowing, windsurfing, water skiing and speedboat riding. The boat house has a multi-cuisine restaurant named "Surf", a unit of Coral.
Buy
There is not much to buy in the area.
Sleep
- 🌍 Fisherman's Cove (Taj Fisherman's Cove Resort & Spa). A luxury resort with rooms in the main buildings and cottages at the sandy beach.
- 🌍 MGM Beach Resort, 1/74, East Coast Rd, ☏ +91-44-27472435, fax: +91-44-27472408, mgmbr@mgm-hotel.com. Free buffet breakfast included. Buffet breakfast is nice: dosai made to order and mostly south Indian breakfast foods (vada, idli, sambar, coconut chutney). Western omelettes are also made to order. Most guests are families with young kids. Expensive to get to (₹1800 from Pondicherry to Muttukadu) and expensive to leave (₹1000 from Muttukadu to Chennai). Also, beware of the touts on the beach trying to sell local crafts. Very over-priced dining. The resort's restaurants are about five times more expensive than other places. Also, the food was not very impressive. Eating at MGM Beach Resort is not recommended unless absolutely necessary. ₹5000 (includes tax) for a deluxe room (with actual double beds--not just two singles).
- 🌍 Sheraton Grand Chennai Resorts and Spa, 280 East Coast Rd, Vada Nemmeli. Beachfront luxury resort. ₹12000 per night.