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Voykit pocket guide · India
Covelong
Spend a half‑day to a full day on Covelong beach; add one night if you want a resort stay – otherwise a day‑trip from Chennai.
Covelong is a small coastal town 40 km south of Chennai, known for its beach and the nearby Muttukadu boathouse. The beach can be explored in a few hours; a resort stay adds a night of beachfront relaxation. Most visitors combine it with a day trip to Mamallapuram or Pondicherry.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (heat), Jul–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,200–₹2,000 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,000–₹3,500 excl. bed · High ₹3,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Fire and ambulance 101 · General emergency (all services) 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coconut water (street stall) | ₹30–₹50 |
| Masala dosa (local eatery) | ₹80–₹150 |
| Auto‑rickshaw 5 km (3.1 mi) fareAuto‑rickshaw 3.1 mi (5 km) fare | ₹150–₹250 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MAA · Chennai International Airport
- About 45 min by taxi or auto‑rickshaw
Typical fares
- Chennai Airport → Covelong (auto‑rickshaw)
- about ₹1,200, negotiate before boarding (check)
- Covelong → Mamallapuram (auto‑rickshaw)
- ≈₹800–₹1,200, flat fare
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Auto‑rickshaws are the main local transport; negotiate a flat fare in advance and state the destination firmly. Private taxis are scarce and pricey.
See and do
Known for
- Covelong Beach
- Muttukadu boathouse
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mamallapuram | Auto‑rickshaw or hired car, about 40 km (25 mi), 1 h driveAuto‑rickshaw or hired car, about 25 mi (40 km), 1 h drive | ≈1 h 15 min |
| Pondicherry | Auto‑rickshaw or hired car, about 70 km (43 mi), 1 h 30 minAuto‑rickshaw or hired car, about 43 mi (70 km), 1 h 30 min | ≈2 h |
Sleep
- MGM Beach Resort
- Deluxe room ₹5,000 per night, includes buffet breakfast
- Sheraton Grand Chennai Resorts and Spa
- Beachfront luxury, ₹12,000 per night
- Taj Fisherman's Cove Resort & Spa
- Luxury resort and beach cottages, price check
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | மன்னிக்கவும்mannikkavum |
| Thank you | நன்றிnandri |
| How much? | எவ்வளவு?evvalavu? |
| I want to go to … only | …க்கு மட்டும் போக வேண்டும்…kku mattum poga vendum |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Beach touts sell overpriced crafts – ignore.
- Auto drivers may try to add extra stops for commission; keep repeating the exact destination.
Covelong is generally safe for tourists; stay alert to beach touts and ensure auto‑rickshaw fares are agreed beforehand.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Covelong yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Covelong Beach
- Muttukadu boathouse
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Covelong, revision 5303171 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5303171
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/covelong). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.