Where to Live in Chennai??

brewster · Sep 28th, 2006, 06:49

Hello, we are potentially moving to Chennai (I am 30, my wife 25 - no children) and were wondering if there were areas to stay away from (do not mean to insult anyone here) or even if there was an area where expats live and where younger people live (near bars, cafes, shops etc.) All feedback would be greatly appreciated

.

capt_mahajan · Sep 28th, 2006, 09:04

somebody from chennai should be around soon; it would help, though, if you indicated a budget.

Nick-H · Sep 28th, 2006, 09:27

It would also help if you tell us where you are working.

Quote:

where younger people live (near bars, cafes, shops etc.)

Oh dear... I'm wondering if Chennai might not be a disapointment to you

!

brewster · Sep 28th, 2006, 10:25

Sorry I didn't provide much detail. Work location would be about 45 kms West of Chennai on highway to Bangalore and my expectations for accommodation would be nice 2 bedroom place with small yard (and good tree to drink under

). Not too worried about $$ just want something nice.

brewster · Sep 28th, 2006, 10:28

oops, forgot to ad - why dissapointed

? Is there a strip/road in Chennai where there are shop, pubs, etc?? Maybe by the coast somewhere?

machadinha · Sep 28th, 2006, 11:03

<Cough> I hadn't meant to butt in, thinking maybe things have changed and what do I know.

Chennai was never exactly renowned for its nightlife (nor is much of India) so I guess this is what Nick was getting at. I'm sure he'll be back to give you the details. There's probably a bar somewhere to sit back in, but don't expect too much of it -- nor the coziness you may envisage with the concept.

PRW · Sep 28th, 2006, 11:11

also depends on how far you want to drive: from City, 1.5 to 2 hours each way not unusual...

There are hotels/ boarding houses along Bangalore highway (are you talking about Sriperumbudur?). This would be close, but no nightlife.

Other areas ECR Road, Boat Club, Poes Gardens - search on Google India to see these. If you stay here, would need to travel.

Nick-H · Sep 28th, 2006, 11:40

45 Km! You sure you want to live in Chennai and do that return trip dayly?

We don't have bars. Well... actually we do: government-owned "wine shops" where men turn up on their motorbikes, get pissed (there are usually no facilities other than a seedy counter: you stand in the street) and drive home again. Accuse me of snobbery if you will, but I don't find it an atractive scene ---and wouldn't even if I was a drinker!

Pavement Cafe culture in Chennai is paying Rs.2/50 for a small glass of chai (make your own judgement as to how well the glass was washed, or ask for a disposable...) and drinking it with the auto drivers, etc etc. Suits me: might not suit everybody.

The alternative is the expensive hotels, where you can have all the comfort you want, but I guess it comes at a price!

No chance of a taster trip before you commit? what happens if you hate it

?

I'd recommend that you stay in a nice hotel (on expenses, of course

) for at least a month to get the feel of things and find your way around.

ECR Road (East Coast Road road!) on the sea side is relatively expensive. Poes garden is pricey, Boat Club is for the seriously rich. Chennai is full of lovely leafy roads which would not be expensive at all to anyone on an ex-pat salary in areas like Mylapore, Adyar, Besant Nagar...

But if you must do that journey West every day you would want to cope with as little city traffic as possible.

That goes beyond my small horizons, but there are many Chennaiites here on IM. Someone will know the Western suburbs...

By the way, Chennai may be low on nightlife, but there is heaps of culture: if anybody in the family enjoys classical dance or music they will love it here!

Nick-H · Sep 28th, 2006, 11:41

Hello PRW. Another Chennaiite

Welcome to IM

brewster · Sep 28th, 2006, 11:57

Thankyou all. It sounds like if I end up near Sriperumbudur (you were right PRW) it would be best to live out that way - not one for traffic, especially when I would have no idea what I was doing

. I am still awaiting confirmation of location so I might hold on a bit until more details are known to me. Won't need a taster trip though (thanks for suggestion Nick-H), as myself and my wife are keen as mustard to give India a go

Can't go too for wrong I wouldn't have thought

Also, does anybody know what vaccinations I would need prior to coming over?

PRW · Sep 28th, 2006, 12:15

Thanks Nick-H....

Brewster, would the company be supplying a driver? I merely sit back, view the ipod (does wonders for speeding up the journey), and relax... We find it very enjoyable here, only possible negative is the time in traffic.

Injections we had were basically everything I know of: Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A & B, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies, Cholera, Polio...

brewster · Sep 28th, 2006, 12:37

Yeh, driver included. Where abouts are you living at the moment PRW? Sounds like drive distance from where you are is about far enough to handle

, maybe no further.

PRW · Sep 28th, 2006, 13:14

At the moment, in a hotel (Residency Towers) in Chennai. Will move to ECR Road in a week or two. The travel time will hopefully shorten slightly, as I will take a back route through the villages.

Difference to your situation is that I have 2 kids at the American International School, so staying near the SEZ wasn't an option.

Accommodation prices seem to be rising all the time here...

brewster · Sep 28th, 2006, 13:57

What are prices like out at Sriperumbudur? I also read that a company was looking to build accommoadation for expats out in the area - do you know if this has happened or is happening still?? Sounds like this might be the way to go - that is live near work, plus my wife could then have the car for the day perhaps ir I car pool with someone. mmmm scheeming

Nick-H · Sep 28th, 2006, 14:26

They ought to be next to nothing as it is miles away from anywhere. It's one of those places people are buying stuff in case it becomes valuable as Chennai spreads...

I await the next post telling me it's all changed already and a scrap of grounds copst crores already!

... ...

I think I'll go see if google knows anything about it......

Sep 28th, 2006, 06:49	#1
brewster brewster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 11	Where to Live in Chennai?? Hello, we are potentially moving to Chennai (I am 30, my wife 25 - no children) and were wondering if there were areas to stay away from (do not mean to insult anyone here) or even if there was an area where expats live and where younger people live (near bars, cafes, shops etc.) All feedback would be greatly appreciated .

Sep 28th, 2006, 11:03	#6
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,391	<Cough> I hadn't meant to butt in, thinking maybe things have changed and what do I know. Chennai was never exactly renowned for its nightlife (nor is much of India) so I guess this is what Nick was getting at. I'm sure he'll be back to give you the details. There's probably a bar somewhere to sit back in, but don't expect too much of it -- nor the coziness you may envisage with the concept. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Sep 28th, 2006, 11:11	#7
PRW Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 6	Traffic also depends on how far you want to drive: from City, 1.5 to 2 hours each way not unusual... There are hotels/ boarding houses along Bangalore highway (are you talking about Sriperumbudur?). This would be close, but no nightlife. Other areas ECR Road, Boat Club, Poes Gardens - search on Google India to see these. If you stay here, would need to travel.

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Sep 28th, 2006, 09:04	#2
capt_mahajan Infidel Sufi Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: styx Posts: 13,607	somebody from chennai should be around soon; it would help, though, if you indicated a budget.

Sep 28th, 2006, 10:25	#4
brewster brewster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 11	Sorry I didn't provide much detail. Work location would be about 45 kms West of Chennai on highway to Bangalore and my expectations for accommodation would be nice 2 bedroom place with small yard (and good tree to drink under ). Not too worried about $$ just want something nice.

Sep 28th, 2006, 10:28	#5
brewster brewster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 11	oops, forgot to ad - why dissapointed ? Is there a strip/road in Chennai where there are shop, pubs, etc?? Maybe by the coast somewhere?

Sep 28th, 2006, 11:40	#8
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	45 Km! You sure you want to live in Chennai and do that return trip dayly? We don't have bars. Well... actually we do: government-owned "wine shops" where men turn up on their motorbikes, get pissed (there are usually no facilities other than a seedy counter: you stand in the street) and drive home again. Accuse me of snobbery if you will, but I don't find it an atractive scene ---and wouldn't even if I was a drinker! Pavement Cafe culture in Chennai is paying Rs.2/50 for a small glass of chai (make your own judgement as to how well the glass was washed, or ask for a disposable...) and drinking it with the auto drivers, etc etc. Suits me: might not suit everybody. The alternative is the expensive hotels, where you can have all the comfort you want, but I guess it comes at a price! No chance of a taster trip before you commit? what happens if you hate it ? I'd recommend that you stay in a nice hotel (on expenses, of course ) for at least a month to get the feel of things and find your way around. ECR Road (East Coast Road road!) on the sea side is relatively expensive. Poes garden is pricey, Boat Club is for the seriously rich. Chennai is full of lovely leafy roads which would not be expensive at all to anyone on an ex-pat salary in areas like Mylapore, Adyar, Besant Nagar... But if you must do that journey West every day you would want to cope with as little city traffic as possible. That goes beyond my small horizons, but there are many Chennaiites here on IM. Someone will know the Western suburbs... By the way, Chennai may be low on nightlife, but there is heaps of culture: if anybody in the family enjoys classical dance or music they will love it here!

Sep 28th, 2006, 11:41	#9
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	Hello PRW. Another Chennaiite Welcome to IM

Sep 28th, 2006, 11:57	#10
brewster brewster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 11	Thankyou all. It sounds like if I end up near Sriperumbudur (you were right PRW) it would be best to live out that way - not one for traffic, especially when I would have no idea what I was doing . I am still awaiting confirmation of location so I might hold on a bit until more details are known to me. Won't need a taster trip though (thanks for suggestion Nick-H), as myself and my wife are keen as mustard to give India a go Can't go too for wrong I wouldn't have thought Also, does anybody know what vaccinations I would need prior to coming over?

Sep 28th, 2006, 12:15	#11
PRW Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 6	Thanks Nick-H.... Brewster, would the company be supplying a driver? I merely sit back, view the ipod (does wonders for speeding up the journey), and relax... We find it very enjoyable here, only possible negative is the time in traffic. Injections we had were basically everything I know of: Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A & B, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies, Cholera, Polio...

Sep 28th, 2006, 12:37	#12
brewster brewster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 11	Yeh, driver included. Where abouts are you living at the moment PRW? Sounds like drive distance from where you are is about far enough to handle , maybe no further.

Sep 28th, 2006, 13:14	#13
PRW Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 6	At the moment, in a hotel (Residency Towers) in Chennai. Will move to ECR Road in a week or two. The travel time will hopefully shorten slightly, as I will take a back route through the villages. Difference to your situation is that I have 2 kids at the American International School, so staying near the SEZ wasn't an option. Accommodation prices seem to be rising all the time here...

Sep 28th, 2006, 13:57	#14
brewster brewster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 11	What are prices like out at Sriperumbudur? I also read that a company was looking to build accommoadation for expats out in the area - do you know if this has happened or is happening still?? Sounds like this might be the way to go - that is live near work, plus my wife could then have the car for the day perhaps ir I car pool with someone. mmmm scheeming

Sep 28th, 2006, 14:26	#15
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	They ought to be next to nothing as it is miles away from anywhere. It's one of those places people are buying stuff in case it becomes valuable as Chennai spreads... I await the next post telling me it's all changed already and a scrap of grounds copst crores already! ... ... I think I'll go see if google knows anything about it......