Experience in Chennai, India by Sridhar

What is it like to live in Chennai? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Chennai is a place I have been visiting on and off ever since I was a kid. It is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu in India, at its far South. Chennai is hot, humid with a predictable maritime climate. Summers are long and winters almost non-existent. A brief spell of rain is present during monsoons- July,August.
Chennai is a very old, conservative city with a nearly 500 year history of continuous habitation. The buildings are quintessentially British, with a health mix of the old Hindu style of architecture. The beach is the principal attraction in the city. But it is not very clean and it is very crowded too. The culture of the city is typically Hindu, which can particularly seen in areas like Triplicane and Mylapore. A number of temples are there throughout the city, and some of them date back to 1000s of years.

The transport is fairly good. Bus connectivity is decent. There is a line of suburban train running North-South, but expect it to be really crowded especially in mornings and evenings. Availing season tickets in the train is a safe option, since there is an eternal queue in any train station.

What is the student lifestyle like in Chennai?

The student life style is not that great. Chennai is a typical working-class city and apartments/rooms at the centre of the city are expensive.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Chennai? Is there any advice you can give?

Yes, accommodation can be very difficult to find, as the people are conservative and dont easily let out to single, foreign students.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The cuisine is your typical vegetarian fare- hot, spicy with a colourful array of dishes. Plenty of options exist for non-vegetarians as well, especially the sea food as Chennai is in the coast.

What places would you recommend visiting in Chennai?

The Marina Beach and the beach at Besant nagar are very popular.