What is different about Chennai?

snonymous

Couldn't agree with you more. Life, as in a nice laid back way, unlike in the other metros of India.

himmat01

I find Chennai conservative as compared to Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.

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Scandojazzbuff

Chennai is still a low-rise city. It is not modern in any sense of the word. The only thing it has in common with India's major cosmopolitan areas is the traffic. Insane! It worse than Bangkok, traffic-wise. It has virtually no taxis to flag down, only tuk-tuk. This is one of the big problems with the traffic. Tuk-tuk's are slow. As a tourist, if you want to get around Chennai, you are almost forced to take a tuk-tuk unless you want to spend some bucks. So, you are forced to breath the exhaust from all the other unclean vehicles on the road. No transit system like a train. Buses will take forever and as a tourist, trying to figure out how to go from point A to point B is a major puzzle. Combine this with relatively few interesting attractions in the city (except Nick-H, of course), it is really not a tourist spot.

But, it is a more relaxed city than Delhi and Mumbai. The people seem much more at ease and easy to approach. But, I think if there is nothing specific one wants or has to do there, I don't know why one would want to visit as there are many more interesting cities in India to spend time in.

For myself, the only reason to return there beside it being a gateway to the South, is to go to the Carnatic Music Festival in December. This is something really special.

Nick-H

Ah! And to think that one had slipped my mind! Goodness knows how.

Yes, Chennai is the home of carnatic music, and the annual December festival is an absolute extravaganza of said music.

True, we do not have taxis to flag on the street, only to call by phone. But, when we want to get somewhere quickly, we actually choose autos. They may be slower than a car on a clear road, but they can get through traffic that a car cannot. But, sadly, many of their drivers put the locals off, never mind the tourists!

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theyyamdancer

Also there is the unique experience of the Theosophical Society and its wonderful gardens. Amazing bookshop there. Good place to escape the frenzy of the streets. Only small problem is finding it in the first place. Two years ago we were in Chennai and asked a rickshaw to take us there. He had no clue and dumped us someplace. We had no map. A Chennai-ite lady on her lunch hour came over and asked us if we needed help. When we said where we wanted to go she offered to take us. She drove us there and accompanied us to the bookshop!

snonymous

Yes, the Theosophical Society property is indeed beautiful, an oasis of peace. An elderly aunt of mine lives in there, so it is a must visit for me whenever I go to Madras. Some years ago they had a unique 5 branched coconut tree, each branch had coconuts. It was a natural genetic mutation - apparently one of only two in the world, the second being somewhere in Brazil. My aunt informs me that it died a few years ago.

linnmenzel

This is such a great way of getting the kind of information you cant find by reading guides
i think cities dont necessarily have to be a centre of temples, palaces, old buildings and similar sights to become an attractive tourist destination. for me its just as exciting to experience other aspects of indidan life. So if Cheannai has a special touch of the south , I guess its worth a visit

zakjac

Hi Lin
I have visited Chennai a few times and it has a good cultural flavour.Chennai is much safer than the north and you have some god places to visit which are close by-Mahabalipuram,Kanchipuram,Pond icherry.people are really friendly too.The only thing I didn't like about Chennai was the climate hot and humid. Have fun!!