It is located next to the southern tip of the Marina Beach,[1] and was named after Edward Elliot, a chief magistrate and superintendent of police of the Madras Presidency in colonial India.

[2] It has the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Health—also known as Annai Vailankanni Church—on its shore, and the Ashtalakshmi Temple nearby.

Today, the beach and its Kaj Schmidt Memorial are cultural landmarks of Chennai, visited by thousands daily.

The memorial is named after the Dutch sailor who lost his life trying to save a girl from drowning.

The Ashtalakshmi Temple, located near the southern end of the beach, was built in 1976 in modern style of architecture.