Chennai: Most Hated Indian City?

I hate You. See the poll and not even one has hated chennai. I Don’t like to hate any other city as well. If you want to write try to write some thing optimistic. Write about cities you like.

Bangalore seems to be more hated than my dear old chennai…! There are more to chennai than those three attributes you mentioned and you will not find those anywhere coz chennai is as it always been my favourite city. You will not find a place where both the culture and modernity are so excellently blended.

Hi Arun, don’t take it personally. I’m always writing about cities I like, and people’s favorite places. Here’s something different.

This is absolutely baseless, ignorant and amature comments. There is no details also. If you don’t have any idea about Chennai’s history and if you are not visited recently then don’t write about Chennai.

This is false.. Lonely planet’s report is not correct.

Lonely Planet based their list on the feedback they received. ie. What people who are familiar with Chennai said to them. It has nothing to do with me, but rather is opening the way to discussion. Perhaps you’d like to provide some details as to why you like Chennai.

It would be nice if people actually visited and stayed in a place (anyplace) before commenting on the place. To an outsider, New York city might seem to be one of the most rudest places in the world. But in reality, it is one of the most hospitable places – if you understand the attitude of the Yankees. I am not saying Chennai is similar to NYC. But. without staying at a place for an extended period of time and understanding the culture, the only comment you can make on is the tourist spots and nothing else.

lol.. I am sure LP would have got some hate mails now. Very contentious topic!

Depends on who you ask. I am an American expat living in Chennai and have been to several other cities that I find far more lively, cultural, beautiful, clean, and fascinating than Chennai, including Bangalore, Mysore, Panaji, Madurai, and Mumbai. It’s not to say that Chennai is a bad city, but I would agree that it is my least favorite/most hated. venkatesan made a good point about the balance of culture and modernity, but I would argue that while Chennai does have that, it is stagnant and there is little progression in either direction. Furthermore, that’s a characteristic that you can find in most cities in India, but the culture and modernity are explored and interactive, not just exhibited like in Chennai. I can see why people would claim Chennai as their most hated Indian city.

this is ridiculous…

Chennai is rich in tradition, culture, values, virtues…and what more???you name them and we have them….

Just because few people think so and hate chennai doesnt make it bad to live….

and the last part…not so being hot?? i think you guys have forgotten the immense talent that lies within the walls of the town…to name a few

A R Rahman
Manirathnam
Kamal Haasan
Sri Devi….and this list is endless…

Each place has its charms and failings. People visit places for various reasons and will have a tendency to compare, which is natural. Why be offended by that? I’m from Madras and I love my city, but I’m glad to accept its drawbacks as well. Welcome those who come your way with open arms and hearts. Don’t worry about the rest. Peace!

I am a Chennaite and am proud of my city. I agree there are some drawbacks but that is true of any city around the world. Chennai has something for everyone. If you want to be traditional and have a laid back atmosphere you can get it here, if you want party and fun you can try that too. You can eat on a banana leaf and you can have a big mac. You can shop for traditional Kanchivaram silks and you can find Espirit T shirts with Swarvoski crystals to go with it. You can enjoy Shakespeare theater and Mama Mia here as well as Kollywood hits….the list of how awesome this city is can go on….more than anything else I think everyone loves a city for something it offers and making a list of the most hated city just seems ridiculous and downright obnoxious!

Don’t like Chennai?

Suck it up or choose a different city for your living! and BTW who gives a damn! whether goindia says this or not!

Vidya, now that sounds really appealing. Thanks for sharing.

I am glad people hate Chennai because, I want Chennai to feel like Chennai and not like Mumbai or Delhi or Bangalore.

This is some report by people who think ignorance is bliss i would say .They are least interested to know about my city. Chennai has its own unique characteristics. I have written a blog on this “http://www.venky-says.blogspot.com/” . No person who has lived in Chennai for long enough would accept this.

Your blog is really interesting Venkatesh. You should write more.

Thanks a Lot Sharell Cook …. its Chennai which is seen as automobile hub , in near future you can find lot more malls than what you wanted . Its one of the most peaceful cities in India, which has set an eg in many ways …. Its not justified in saying its most hated city .. I accept there are lot things to be improved here and I take it as a constructive criticism but People who have not lived here should understand what chennai is really about .. I pity on people who go by the ratings of Lonely Planet …

Chennai like many captivating cities around the world offers the whole landscape as part of the experience. Chennai offers its visitors much more than delineated tourist attractions, the city is the destination”…….Chennai is the second largest exporter of softwares, countless MN fabricating industries, HVF (military vehicles production) and numerous others like it…….The music season in December is a feast to senses to anyone with a ounce of taste..I think Chennai is summed up quite beautifully by this line from Kipling’s If
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch…Chennai is exactly that, we do what we do better than others, we just dont like to show off….

The person who has commented about the city has to first live in it, jsut going by some North indians words or report will not work out.

Does anyother India city is as clean as Malmo or Copenhagen, Then so called American expat who has commented here has travelled in mumbai suburban train from Thane to VT, has he seen those stations with horrible spitting everywhere, has he seen places like Masjid bunder in Mumbai, has he travelled length and breadth of Bangalore- place like JC road, Siddiah road, Jalahalli, KR Puram and to count many… has even ever see Delhi Nizamuddin station, in and around it…

I can just point and say all the bad things about cities in India…but what is the use.
So in many ways Chennai is far more better than other cities. Beautiful beaches, nice hotels, shopping places, ever developing economy…I don’t want to elaborate further…

American culture is babes and booze …so he likes other cities..

Why the hell you have such a biased and stupid website contents. I can read from your website that you are also a person who hate Chennai & Tamil nadu. Because you have not highlighted Tamil Nadu at all in your blogs, this reveals that you have all half baked information about India. (not even half baked)

Tamil nadu has famous four hill staions, wild santuries,worlds second longest beach, it has beautiful temples you can see no where in India.
It is temple state of India and rich in cultural heritage.

Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur & Mahabhalipuram are world heritage sites!!!!.
http://www.indiapicks.com/Heritage/Intro.htm
http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/in

Just go to proper sites about tamilnadu and know more..See if you are not well aware of India don’t write about it and mislead people by giving all biased informations..

There should be some rule imposed : if this many number of people report a website to be biased and abusive one..then it should be scrapped and unreadable to public,then only website with such wrong information like Lonely planet and yours will not thrive. Also, before publishing they will try to get proper information and throw to public.

Movie star not that hot…
AR Rahman winner of oscar is from Chennai
Maniratnam “the best director of India” is from Chennai
Hemamalini- once upon a dream girl of Indians is from chennai
Vijayanthimala, Sridevi, Asin, all rocking ladies in bolly wood are from Chennai…

DeepuRaj, you may like to refer to my blog dated Thursday July 23, 2009, and revise your opinion about me hating and not highlighting Tamil Nadu.

http://goindia.about.com/b/2009/07/23/what-to-see-and-do-in-tamil-nadu.htm

I would agree but I would not call Chennai a hated city. Its just a very depressing city.

People are very argumentative, very selfish, every time they cut the line, they will have a 5 minute long rapid fire explanation of why they need coffee before you and everyone else in the line. Sometime its hard to follow what they are saying when they speak rapid fire English.

I agree with film stars too. Too overweight and very very average looking.

I have lived in Chennai for years. It used to bellwether of the Indian culture. But lately you can see how it is crumbling. I feel so depressed in Chennai that I would not go to chennai again if I can.

YOu guys r disgusting to even think of a title like this. And if u guys hate our city…all I have is a biggggggg thank u for u guys for hating us. That way u guys atleast dont populate and pollute our city more like how u guys did to bangalore and mumbai. We love chennai. This is heaven. Our stars rock. Our freedom and freestyle and uniqueness always rock….Love u chennai. i wud be nowhere other than chennai

You can gather from my name that I’m not likely to be Indian-born. No, I have never lived in Chennai either. But my wife and I spend considerable time travelling India, extensively. Our last visit was for 6 months duration. Prior to that, numerous visits ranging from 4 month and 3 month duration and this coming February we are returning yet again for another 3 months. We have travelled from Leh in Ladak to Trivandrum down south amd from East to West.
Having said that we feel reasonably qualified to comment on the matter that is causing so much angst to those who have grown up and love their Chennai.
The point that is being missed by all the posters so far, I think, is that the Lonely Planet is a very experienced and useful resource for travellers who are only likely to spend a few days, at best, in any par particular places in anyew dayto only spend a favellers who are likely

Michael continues his broken posting……..
As I was saying, the average tourist wants only to see the sights and to enjoy those things that differentiate him or her from the native of that place.
On that basis, the Lonely Planet seeks and receives feedback from TOURISTS. It is not concerned, nor should it be, with the many strata of culture etc. that only a native would or could be engrossed in.
My wife and I, regrettably and with respect, feel that Chennai is one of the most unsatisfying cities for TOURISTS.
For those who feel bewildered may I suggest that to start with, just have a look at the dirty condition of your beautiful beach . Clean it up and maybe tourists could start feeling differently. I could go on but I don’t want to hurt feelings any more.
So don’t be too upset with LP. They publish opinions as expressed to them by tourists. Accept this criticism as an opportunity given to you to do something about it.
My wife and I will not be going out of our way to spend time in Chennai unless we have to. That’s our opinion.
Cheers ! Namaste !

Thanks Michael for your valuable contribution. Visiting a city is indeed very different to living and being brought up there!

As somebody who is putting together an itinerary for a four week trip to Southern India, I must say that I value such information.

People usually only tell you about the nicest places they visited, not about the ugliest ones. It is thus very interesting to know what others have listed as their most ‘hated city’! This is a valuable heads up to me as well as many others.

And the fact that some people would like to censor this information instead of engaging in a discussion about its merits, just makes it more believable.

And by the way, I will still go to Chennai, because I like to see things for myself and form my own opinion. But thanks to the heads up, I will make sure to only book one night in the hotel and make tentative plans to move right on if I don’t like it there.

And I will post my own impressions here upon returning, be it negative or positive.

Michael,

Those are wonderful comments. You are right, one sees what they want to see. Isn’t that all of life after all!

I agree, Chennai has a beautiful beach. A while ago when I was living in India, my apartment was right by the beach.

With more than half the world’s poor in India, corruption that runs to it’s roots, and with 2 in every 5 homeless/malnutrition child in the world living in India – cleaning the beaches, might not be a significant priority, I’d say.

Cheers!

Michael, You did not clearly mentioned whether you visited Chennai or you just Felt about chennai with the comment and writeups you read. You mentioned that you travelled to Trivandrum down south of india. Sir, the down south of India is not trivandrum, but Kanyakumari which is more than 500 kms south to chennai.

I do agree that the article in lonely planet is for travellers and not for people living in the city. But popular website must refrain from giving such factless comments and ranking for cities.

The reason given for ranking Chennai at 7th hated city is so stupid that it does not talk about cleanliness, non availability of hotels or any useful reason for travellers, but highlight is that it does not have “hot” actors.

Chennai as compared to Mumbai is a very calm, quiet place till date there were no terrorist activities and no bombblasts, religious violence in public places (the only mishap was Rajiv Gandhi’s assasination in 1991 that too in a political gathering.

We have top class hotels as well as budget hotels, mass transport service (train, bus) a good international and domestic airport.

Like any city, there are traffic snarls, but not that horrible like calcutta & Mumbai.

Chennai is not that “hot” as we do not have much partying.. boozing and babes. Chennai is not that where you can find alcohol in all hotels/restaurants and nor you have a designated ‘redlight area’.

Chennai is also famous temples, sarees, Mahabalipuram (town knows for sculptures) port, beaches…and what not.

IT corridor with IT Companies, Automative industries with Ford, Hyundai in chennai.

Chennai was in world top with AR Rahman bagging Oscar and accepted with his speech in Tamil.

Chennait’s English is better than bombay or calcutta.