Edward Elliot's Beach, also known as Elliot's Beach or Besant Nagar Beach or Bessie, is a natural urban beach situated in the Besant Nagar neighborhood of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The beach holds significant historical and cultural importance.
The city of Besant Nagar itself derives its name from the renowned social activist Annie Besant, who played a pivotal role in India's development during the British colonial era.
Elliot's Beach, adjacent to the southern tip of Marina Beach, was named in honor of Edward Elliot. Elliot, a chief magistrate and superintendent of police in the Madras Presidency during colonial India, made notable contributions to the region.
A notable feature at the beach is the Kaj Schmidt Memorial. Legend has it that Kaj Schmidt, while at the beach, witnessed an English girl struggling against the tide and selflessly jumped in to rescue her, ultimately sacrificing his own life. Surprisingly, the English girl attended a party the next evening without acknowledging the incident. In response to this indifference, the then governor constructed the memorial to commemorate Schmidt's heroic act.
