Kovalam, Chennai

A fishing community called Covelong (Kovalam) may be found in Chennai, India, 40 miles south of the city on the East Coast Road that leads to Mahabalipuram.  The Ostend Company built the port town of Covelong (Cabelon in French = Kovalam) in the 1720s on land given by the Nawab of Carnatic Saadat Ali (the port was then also known as Sa'adat Pattan, or Sadatpatnam, according to the name of the nawab). One of the few beaches on the East Coast where surfing is practised is Chennai Covelong Beach. In addition to a yoga centre in front of the beach, there is a surf school with a resort on the beach. The river mouth at Kovalam usually always has water flowing through it.