Chennai – Travelogue90

It is truly said, ‘an ocean breeze puts a mind at ease.’ The beach can make everything around better – life, body, mind, and spirit. Much of India’s coastline is about 7,000 kilometres and you could witness some incredible beaches around. You could either experience solitude here or party till the sunrises.

India’s population works so hard round the clock, that they reward themselves with a visit to the beach. What is so fascinating about the beach? The sun that sets the tone of the sea or the sparkling sand or the shacks or the sound of waves? It is a combination of all four that gravitates us over and over again.

While during this COVID-19 we secretly dream of living in a tropical island with palm-fringed trees or laying on the sun bed with a drink and book all day long like a crocodile, here is a throwback of some awesome beaches which you could visit post the pandemic:

Candolim, North Goa: Right from fishing to seaside yoga to flourishing markets to party culture to scenic views, the Candolim beach in North Goa offers it all. The beach is in proximity to a lighthouse and a church, completing the look and feel . The walk towards the beach is serene as you can see villas lit up on a cool December. The best time to visit Candolim is between November to April.

Varca Beach, South Goa: Another gem from the city and this time from the south, is Varca. One of the cleanest beaches in Goa, it is known for the calm and quietness. It is completely hawker-free and ideal for spending quality time with your loved ones. If you seek some me-time, this is the beach to be. There is some adventure for the typical ones, i.e. paragliding. Experience the view of South Goa from up above. Varca is best to visit between November to March.

Ganpatipule Beach, Ganpatipule: Maharashtra is known for its rich coastal areas. One such place is Ganpatipule. City dwellers seek a break and come to Ganpatipule Beach as it provides the right combination of privacy and entertainment. Another clean beach in the Konkan, there are number of activities you can enjoy along with complete relaxation and scenic view. The beach is closer to the famous Ganesha temple. Best time to be here is between October to February.

Aare Ware Beach, Ganpatipule: If you want to escape the crowd of Ganpatipule, head to the Aare Ware beach situated near Nevare Village in Ratnagiri. It is flanked by clean blue water and white sand. It is also one of the lesser-known beaches of Ganpatipule. The beach is 3km long and boasts of beautiful landscape. It captivates the solo traveller in you, thanks to the breathtaking views in the mornings and evenings.

Malgund Beach, Ganpatipule: You can find this beach 6 kms away from Ganpatipule. It is renowned for the birth place of famous Marathi poet Keshavasta. He wrote many treatises in the language. The beach offers space to enjoy some isolation amidst the realm of nature. You could easily spend quality time with loved ones as it keeps commercialisation at bay and the landscape is a treat for your eyes.

Alibaug Beach, Alibaug: It is one of the beautiful beaches in Maharashtra and often thronged by the locals. Thanks to jaw-dropping scenic views and impeccable sunset, there is no dearth of visitors. Enjoy the spectacular views of the Arabian Sea at the beach between October to May. Do visit the Kolaba Sea fort, take a motorboat ride, and the animal rides at the beach.

Juhu Beach, Mumbai: It is the most popular and crowded beaches in Mumbai. The beach is also closer to some of the luxurious hotels and celebrity homes. The moment you enter the beach, you will have street food calling you towards them, right from cheesy pav bhajji to chaat to ice candy. You can witness the sight of the aircraft landing at the airport, which is closer to the beach. It you want to get up-close and personal with nature, this is place that offers you solace. You might as well visit the ISKON temple nearby the beach.

Marina Beach, Chennai: Moving down South is the second largest beach in the world, the Marina beach which is breathtakingly beautiful. If the nature and spectacular views were not enough to lure the beach bums, the historical monuments close by adds to the attraction. Come enjoy some idli-chutney with some beach view between November to February and rejuvenate.

Mahabalipuram Beach, Tamil Nadu: Sunny days, sandy beach, and rich history, this place has everything that a beach lover and adventurous soul needs. The beach is white, beautiful, and clean. It is abundantly enjoyed by tourists. If you visit during a full moon, you could watch the jaw-dropping reflection on the sea.

Rock Beach, Pondicherry: This place has numerous rocks attached to it beautifully. If you want to capture some stunning pictures of the sunrise and sunset you must surely head to the most serene place in Pondicherry. The most enticing beaches in the territory is best enjoyed with a croissant and walking by the promenade.

Let’s raise a toast to the beauty of the world! Remember, carry those shells in your pockets and sand in your shoes always 😉

Emirates installation in Dubai Garden © Travelogue90

Whenever I visit the airport, I witness family dropping off their child or a friend bidding goodbye to another or joyful reunions. It evokes various emotions within – sadness, happiness, excitement, and thrill. There is something about airports that excites me – my family and I carrying luggage in hand and walking around the vast airport.

I can sense the wheels carry my baggage smoothly gliding across the linoleum floor as I pull it along. There are some quite humming voices and a lady making announcements in a monotone voice to the passengers concerning the status of the flights. Then there are those who frantically run around, gathering their belongings, to the check-in counter and security point.

Apart from witnessing so many emotions, one thing that still makes me love airports is the excitement of travelling somewhere unknown. Away from my mundane life back home, it is going to a new place that races my heart. Airports are also an escape route. A change of environment. It was always about change of setting and discovering something I had not before.

I have been to a few domestic and international destinations, and the following airports is what I would recommend for a short or long layovers. P.S. The layovers in these airports are nothing less than an experience, I assure you –

Chennai Airport (MAA): When I visited Chennai around 10-12 years ago, the airport was not worth staying even for a second. The smell and clustered designs suffocated me. Four years back when I arrived at the airport, it took me by surprise. The domestic and international airports are adjacent and provide breathtaking connectivity. It is the fourth busiest Indian airport regarding international passengers. The future looks promising as the airport plans to connect the metro subway to passenger terminals by a connecting tube.

Changi Airport, Singapore: If you have a layover of a good seven to 10 hours, Changi Airport will entertain you with their leisure amenities. There is need to step out from the comfort zone, literally. Changi was awarded World’s best airport in 2019, which is a sort of record as it bagged the title for the seventh consecutive time. Apart from the splendid garden display which I got to witness back in 2015, there is a theater, vivid dining options, numerous shopping attractions, and new one added to the list is the Jewel Changi Airport. It is a nature themed entertainment that connects three passenger terminals. The center piece is the largest indoor waterfall called Rain Vortex.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport © Google

CSIA, Mumbai: Although many complain of the long arrival walk after landing, the T2 airport is the best place for layover. From varied brands for shopping to mouth-watering deals on duty free to fine-dining to lounge experiences to cafes, everything is available at the drop of your hat in Mumbai International airport. Not to forget, the domestic airport as well have upped their amenities. The moment you step out from the domestic airport, you have eateries and pick up and drop services lined-up. For long layovers, you could chill in any of the eateries for hours and enjoy a movie in one of the cafes.

Zurich Airport: One of the airports that tops my list after Singapore is Zurich. The arrival was such at ease thanks to the tube connectivity. Apart from the duty free, the business class area is peaceful and you could enjoy the lounge experience for long layovers. In fact, they operate nine lounges and no jokes, all offer champagne and whiskey. In summers, which I personally got to experience, was the outdoor observation deck where you could see the runways. At offset, the flyover connects you directly to the departure section. No wonder, it always stays ahead in the list of world’s best airports repeatedly.

Abu Dhabi Airport: Honestly, it reminded me of home. Apart from finding my own peeps around, the airport is homely indeed. A cosy space is ideal for a short layover. The outside view I promise is worth it when the sunrises. Abu Dhabi welcomed me in style.

Dubai Airport: One of the world’s busiest airport is Dubai. Divided into three terminals, each one has a duty free shop, and other such leisure amenities. The duty free brands are available at jaw-dropping prices. Precisely why, people spend hours into shopping. If you have a long layover, look no where and head straight to the duty free shops. You even get gold for attractive rates. And yes, do not get surprised if you find yourself lost amidst the crowd.

Charles de Gaulle, Paris: Although when I landed I found the airport pretty clustered and crowded, but I realised I am at Paris after all. The footfall is going to be large. In summers, you will see the sun shining bright even at 10 in the night. This image was taken then. It is perfect if you have few hours layover. I would not really recommend you to spend hours in the airport. Rather, you could head out at the streets and soak in the French architecture.

KL International Airport: If there is one place you can shop till you drop is KL Airport. One of the first international airports I have been to. Awesome transit through shuttle service from one terminal to the other, an entire floor of dining experience, and hands on passenger guide for baggage claims, security, etc. In case of long layovers and you have a small child, they have special kids play room at level five main terminal building.

Airports can be fun and filled with life. The next time you visit one, make sure to consume it all. There is so much you can learn by just sitting idle, en the way to your next place.

Tag: Chennai

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