Besant Nagar

Besant Nagar is the neighbourhood of Chennai. Besant Nagar is named after the noted lady theosophist of colonial times Annie Besant. Besant Nagar was developed by Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) in the early 1970s and up to the early 1980s. It was developed in an area of about 4 sq km encompassing the surroundings of Indra Nagar and Shastri Nagar. Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) developed residential plots, apartments, commercial complexes, wide roads, school zones, bus terminus and large parks.

Besant Nagar is located on the coastal-line of Bay of Bengal to the East, and is bounded by Thiruvanmiyur to the South, Adyar to the West and Adyar Estuary to the North. The Theosophical Society Headquarters in Besant Nagar is located here. It was founded in 1875. Theosophical Society in Chennai is a worldwide body whose primary objective is the Universal Brotherhood and is famed for its Banyan trees and serene natural beauty.

Kalakshetra Academy, the world famous dance school started in 1936 by Rukmini Devi Arundale and her husband George Arundale and their associates at the Theosophical Society which was deeply committed to Theosophy and an arts academy was an extension to this commitment. Kalakshetra Academy is also present in Besant Nagar of Chennai.

Besant Theosophical High School was founded in 1934. It is the oldest branch of the Kalakshetra Foundation. Olcott Memorial High School is named after its founder Colonel Henry Steel Olcott who founded the school in 1894. The Panchama Free School was founded to provide schooling access to the children of the fifth caste who were denied access to the regular schools. Olcott Education Society is the education arm of the Theosophical Society.

Arignar Anna Govt Higher Secondary School was founded in the year 1964. The school is a co-educational school and it has classes from Class VI to XII. The Rajaji Bhavan building carries the British architectural heritage.

Tourism of Besant Nagar in Chennai covers the tourist destinations like Elliot`s Beach, Marina Beach, Velankanni Church, Ashtalakshmi Temple, Besant Nagar Beach, Varasiddhi Vinayaka Temple, Ashtalakshmi Kovil, Arupadai Murugan Kovil, Ratnagirishwarar Kovil and many other pilgrimage and nature tourism sites.

Elliot Beach
Elliot`s Beach is located in Besant Nagar. It forms the end-point of the Marina Beach. This beach is named after Edward Elliot, who was the Governor of Madras during the regime of British Government in India. In colonial rule of British East India Company, it was a fairly exclusive place limited to ex-patriates. Elliot Beach is a weekend gateway for the confined crowd in Chennai.

Marina Beach
Marina Beach is another beach in Chennai, which is easily accessible from Besant Nagar, located to the adjacent to the Bay of Bengal. The beach is twelve kilometres in length. Marina beach is the second longest beach in Asia. While the Juhu beach in Mumbai is made of short, rocky structures, the Marina Beach is primarily made up of sand. There is a drive along the beach whose environs are decorated with Casuarina tree and Palm trees. The Marina Beach extends from Fort St. George in the north to Beasant Nagar in the south. The beach is famous for its scenic beauty and rich ecosystems.

Vailankanni Church
Vailankanni Church is fondly known as the `Lourdes of the East`. Millions of people of Christian community visit the church throughout the year, praying to "Our Lady" for various needs. The tradition says that Mother Mary appeared with the Infant Jesus in this small village at the end of the 16th century. Ever since, Vailankanni is the most important Christian pilgrimage tourism destination.

Karl Schmidt Memorial
Karl Schmidt Memorial is an architectural landmark of British colonial times in the later phase. Karl Schmidt Memorial is placed on the Edward Elliot Beach commemorating a Dutch sailor belonging from Dutch East India Company who drowned in 1930 trying to save the life of a girl. This monument of British architectural time is in a dilapidated condition. This place has excellent position for photo shoot.