This is from my journey to India in 2015, and I spent a wonderful time in MAHABALIPURAM . A World UNESCO site that is well worth a visit right as it says on the shore of the Bay of Bengal.
The last in what is said to be seven temples built on the shore line.The other six are under the ocean!
The shore temple, built by Rajasimha, is dedicated to Shiva in the form of ‘Somaskanda’.
Although the beach is visible from the temple you cannot go to the water from the temple because of the wall in between. You have to come out of the temple campus and go by the side of the temple to get to the water.
This temple was built during 8th Century by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman. That time Mahabalipuram was a port for trading purposes. Now the northern side beach is used for fishing and is known as fishing beach.
Journeys From A Small Room 