A winding pathway in Kundrukadu seems to have been made just for this column. Don’t picture Kundrukadu in an untrammelled wilderness far removed from the city centre. It is equidistant from Thiruvanmiyur and Mamallapuram and belongs to a section of Covelong where the Fisherman’s Cove is located.
Now, for those of you whose eyebrows have met and lips curled in derisive incredulity at this revelation, this trail, though located in a well-known part of East Coast Road, remains suitably hidden.
In fact, it will remain hidden no matter how much we discuss it, for it will draw only the impractical and happy-go-lucky lot that believes life is best lived only if lived off the beaten track.
On the way to Mamallapuram, Kundrukadu arrives after Muttukadu, announcing itself with a crop of stunted rocky hillocks stripped down to their bare, grey bones. ‘Rocky formations’ is a description closer to the truth. The name of the locality — Kundrukadu — seems to hit the nail on its head. In Tamil, Kundru means a mound of earth or a rocky formation that is shorter than a hillock. The soil on this section seems to be both sandy and rocky.
This range of rocky formations, bang on ECR, seems to have been chopped and cut systematically with mammoth cookie-cutter machines for their stones. According to residents, this activity was stopped many years ago and now these gigantic stones serve as receptacles for rainwater. Clothes are washed at this section. For a closer look at these grey rocky formations, one has to first have his olfactory nerve numbed. Turds turn up at every step around these rocks.
Anyway, we are here not for these rocks, but for a trail leading to the sea, and this pathway is sufficiently clean.
Taking the road — on shank’s mare or circular pneumatic rubbers — that leads to Fisherman’s Cove, and going past the gates of the luxury beach resort, one would see it fork into two; now, the one on the right is our pathway. For most part, this winding route will be lined with compound walls of buildings.
Going by a hurriedly-scribbled message on a compound wall, this pathway leads to the ‘New Beach’. To err on the side of caution, let’s just say this trail leads to the northern section of Covelong beach, where one comes upon the Muttukadu backwaters.
The charm of this section lies in the fact that any vehicle — I drive a small car with an extremely low-powered engine — can be brought to the tip of the sea.
The winding pathway connects to walkway into the sea, made of stones. Walking down the stone groyne only enhances the charm.
Heading to the placid backwaters is another option. Around the backwaters, motorised fishing boats can be seen parked. The contrast between the quiet and seemingly recalcitrant backwaters and the rushing sea waves make for an arresting view.
( This column shows you how to be a tourist in your own city. )
