Going to Chennai for the first time.
Hi Everyone. I am going to Chennai for the first time. Any advice on location, food, people?
Beaches and beach roads are beautiful although overcrowded.
ECR and OMR roads are a bliss if you drive often.
Many options for shopping and entertainment from Phoenix Mall, Marina Mall to Sathyam Cinemas, Chepauk stadium, Nehru Stadium.
Not sure of daily food options (especially if you are not from TN) as I couldn’t find anything decent during my stay.
For planned lunches and dinners, there are plenty of restaurants, hotels, resorts in ECR Velachery OMR and almost everywhere with the best sea food menu.
People who work in chennai are generally smart educated and welcoming but serious about their language pride. Having said that, beware of local goons in disguise of auto drivers, bike drivers. Getting into heated argument with them is the last thing you would consider if you want to feel safe in the city
If you don’t have transport, use CMRL metro/MTC buses and local trains for travel within the city. Cheap and best.
NEVER EVER BOOK AN AUTO/TAXI/BIKE DIRECTLY FROM CHENNAI CENTRAL/CHENNAI EGMORE/AIRPORT. The inflated prices they’d charge you would cover your 2 week expenses in the city. Tip here is take metro/local train from airport/egmore/central to an intermediate station and book your auto/bike from there or use bus.
You can visit temples/beaches/malls during your free time. There are plenty of them out there which can’t be covered in your entire stay.
Overall, beware of local goons, respect the local culture, plan your travel smart and feel the sea breezes.
All the best to you.
Note: Opinions are personal and based on experience. No offence intended.
Thank you. That helps. I’m moving to Chennai for my first job switch. Would you recommend staying in a PG or renting a flat? I’m currently single.
Stay in a PG first and get familiar with good areas and flatsin the first few months. Once you adapt to the city, you can move to a flat either single or with people you are ok to colive with.
Chennai is garbage and people are awful and scammers. Every other auto guy will shout at you randomly. Food is avg, roads are disgusting. Beaches smells like fish poop.
Everyone overhypes ECR it's the only decent place in that garbage city so everyone overhypes that. Little rain, you can happily swim your way to your office, drainages overflow even after a little rain. Outskirts smells like dump yard.
That doesn’t sound too great. Can you suggest some good areas where I can find a premium or luxury PG or home?
Beaches are pretty clean, you can visit them and chill there. Decent food around them too.
Murugan idli shop
Try Kothu Paratha , You may like
When are you planning.... I'm also going for a couple of days next month ....
I will be relocating to Chennai early next month.
So it depends on where your office is, depends on where your office is, I'd suggest you to rent out a place. Places to eat, if you're a NV, then I'd suggest you to go to Triplicane/Royapettah. Mylapore is famous for its temples!
People are generally friendly here, they just let you be and are pretty helpful.
DM me if you need anything else!
