Exploring the Best Dating Places in Chennai

My limited-but-enlightening interaction with colleagues who have either worked or are based in Chennai has clarified one thing - dating in Chennai is not particularly challenging. As compared to other metros, particularly Delhi, the fear of being hounded by policemen is much lesser. Most of my friends have a similar view, i.e. as long as you know your limits, and don’t enter the realm of indecency; people in Chennai are least likely to bother couples.

It seems that Chennai dating patterns are a lot similar to that of dating in Bangalore or Mumbai. Firstly, the weather is rather humid and having three showers in a day is the law—just kidding! On a more serious note, just like Mumbai, Chennai’s dating scene benefits from its vast coastline. The beaches in Chennai have turned into perpetual dating spots for married and unmarried couples.

Lesser Known Dating Places in Chennai

One of the best dating places in Chennai that is rarely explored by young couples is the two/three-start spas. Please don’t get the wrong impression. These are spas in every sense of the word and don’t promote any kind of unsolicited activity. With increasing dispensable incomes in Chennai and nearly everyone above the age of 21 years working, spas tend to attract a huge crowd. As a result, many medium-budget spas have also opened. Many of these don’t remain rushed, particularly during the weekdays and the first half of the day. This is when couples can pamper their senses with massages, saunas and spend some quality time in the lobby where there are no time constraints.

 

Cafes/Restaurants Often Referred to as Best Places to Date in Chennai

I might not have the complete list but the following names have been extracted after detailed discussions with a lot of Chennai residents. This includes:

• Geoffrey's (Arumbakkam) at Hotel Radha Park Inn, near the SAF Games Village—this is more of a pub and restaurant rolled into one.
• Cha Bar (Nungambakkam) at the Oxford Book Store.
• Amethyst (Gopalapuram) near Saravana Bhavan on Peters Road.
• Cafe Ashvita (Mylapore).
• Fruitshop the Juice Parlor at Greams Road.

 

Best Dating Places in Chennai after Office Hours

The Kovalam Beach emerges as the common choice for dating during the mid-evening period, i.e. as the sun is setting. This is when lots of couples returning from work like to unwind. College-goers make best use of this trend, getting mixed-up with the working crowd. Another such, safe dating location is the small stretch along Harrington Road, just after passing the Lady Andal School. From what I have learnt, this area usually remains uncrowded. Just nearby, couples can find a small bakery shop to grab a quick bite.

 

Best Dating Places in Chennai for Couples with Deep Pockets

• Cornucopia - I would recommend to check your credit card limit before heading to this slightly upmarket restaurant. It is both famous and infamous for its intensely couple-oriented vibes. It started out as a continental food serving eatery but now, it is also regarded as the place to take your girlfriend for impressing her with your spending prowess and cozying up to her.
• Benjarong - This is counted among the best of Thai restaurants in the city. During the evening and night hours, it remains quite crowded. However, if you are ready to spend and are available during the daytime, Benjarong can promise you the privacy couples seek.

If a couple is seeking a weekend getaway that doubles-up as their dating pad, then a trip to the St. Thomas Mount is recommended. I recollect guys from office telling me that the climb isn't steep but it is slightly demanding. So, if you two are a bit outdoorsy types, this is a good and affordable option.

What to do to Impress Women

Guys try too hard to impress girls but not everyone succeeds in gaining girls' attention. Impressing a girl is not easy. They are weird creatures who need something more than just words to get impressed. 

When guys approach me, I easily make out they are trying to impress me. You don't need to make it to obvious. Keep it subtle so that the girl feels it is coming naturally.

I personally feel that instead of trying to impress a woman, it is better to not impress her at all. When a beautiful girl is ignored, she automatically feels attracted. Most of my friends also feel that they dislike the extra efforts men put in impressing women. They like the rough attitude men show.

I have come across men who try to act extra smart and it really is very irritating. A woman can catch you in a minute when you show your fake attitude. Be fun loving, be smart and make us laugh. That is all we want. If you can manage to make a girl laugh and enjoy your company, understand that you have already impressed her.

Once a male friend of mine asked me, 'how do I impress a girl I like?' I looked at him from top to bottom and said, 'you can't impress a girl.' He felt so offended that he asked another friend, 'how do you impress a girl?' I made him turn towards the mirror to have a look at himself. He asked me what was wrong in him, and I just said 'please groom yourself.'

Guys it is very important to groom yourself before you go out to impress the girl you really like. Please be clean shaved, wear neat, ironed clothes and match them with good accessories. Don't wear just anything thinking it is your style. It will not impress any girl.

When you are well groomed and use good language, you not only show your good personality to the girl, but also give her respect. No girl wants to get approached by just any guy.

While it is important to have good conversations with women, listening to her is also equally important. Do not bombard her with your success stories, listen to her also.

Impressing a girl also requires you to do a little flirting. Pay compliments, make eye contact and give her a smile. I personally feel really good when a guy flirts with me.  You get to know how good a guy is at keeping the excitement alive in a relationship. Learn how to flirt with a girl because it will make you at ease with her.

Some guys like to become a girl's pet dog because they think this will impress a girl. But this is just not true. I would never like to date a man who agrees with whatever I say. I want my man to have his own opinion and some dignity.

Even though all guys should have their own opinion, they must not forget to make a girl feel good about herself by giving her compliments. That doesn't mean you praise just her beauty. Praise her intelligence, her style, the way she carries herself, the way she manages both office and home, anything that you think will impress her.

Dating an Indian Guy

Who doesn't want to date Indian men? Even guys wish they were a girl and eventually a girlfriend of an Indian man. Ting tong. It is time to wake up. I am an Indian girl and I can say for sure that Indian men are not the most attractive lot. They might score an extra point on one or two aspects. But, really, dating an Indian man, I do not want to do it.

I have gone around with nothing less 10 guys in my life and all of them Indians. No points for guessing that. Here is what I have learned from my experiences.

Indian men are hairy. All of them. I am not saying that Indian women are not, but they know how to take care of it and they do. Men are still going through the evolutionary process of learning to worry about their hygiene. The hair in unventilated areas and then the heat makes them stink. I wouldn't lay the responsibility of Indian summers on men, but they need to be well prepared.

Indian men are way too emotional. That's probably because Indian culture and upbringing makes them like that. They are taught to respect elders, love the siblings etc. This is not inappropriate by any means, but the kind of love and respect we exchange with each other, at times, obstructs our mental growth and leaves the men a little immature.

Indian men are less manly/masculine. Indian men lack that confidence, which guys from other countries like USA would carry. No wonder dating in India is a lot tougher for men. This happens because they are pampered and cared all through their childhood and most part of their adulthood. I have known this since forever that kids in the west are kicked out of their homes once they touch 14-15 and are asked to learn to earn on their own. Parents and grown up kids living under the same roof is not uncommon in India.

Indian men are brainy. I really have no reason for this, but I have found this to be true. This probably happens that Indian parents always instruct their kids to study hard or get ready to face the consequences when they grow up. "It's not at all easy to find a job these days". Sounds familiar?

Indian men are caring. No second thoughts about this one. Being more emotional than their western counterparts, they know how to take care of their partners. They know how to shower love and emotions on their girlfriends. They would pretty much do anything to prove that they love you. But, alas, there is so much more to life than sharing love and joy.

Indian men believe that men are superior than women. While this may  not be true for all men, but the fraction of people having this as their deep-rooted belief would be a lot more in Indian than anywhere else.
As a disclaimer, all that I have written above is my own thought and opinion.

How can I find a date?

After many attempts to find me a date over the years, I have realized that dating itself isn't difficult, i.e. it is our approach that can make it demanding or a smooth ride. When I was an absolute novice in this niche, I used to ask around, hoping someone could tell me how can I find a date. Later, I realized that there are no secret formulas to this. With some confidence and the right approach, finding a date can be rather easy.

 

How to find a date with a girl when she seems more like a friend?

This issue is often among guys who are not able to establish that typical, relationship or dating aura about them. As a result, they end-up making a lot of female friends but not girlfriends. So if you are often faced with the predicament of asking your female friends to find you a date, you are lacking the body language required to push friendships towards dating. Basically, you need to develop certain traits that help you become better, Boyfriend Material. It is vital that your communication with women is slightly suggestive. Indulge in a bit of flirting. Try to ask them about their dating status. Ensure that you tell them about your search for a girlfriend but in a subtle manner.

 

How to ask a girl out without sounding desperate?

There is a fine line between asking out a girl and begging her to date you. You don’t want to commit the mistake of taking the latter approach. This will reduce you to a doormat and the lady is going to walk all over your pride. Ensure that you dominate certain aspects of the conversation when trying to set-up the date. For instance, you could be a bit adamant about the kind of place you would like to take her out. Don’t hold back in arguing your perspective when sharing opinions. Don’t smile excessively, as if you are trying to please her. If some of her mannerisms seem outrageously wrong to you, subtly remind her about how she could have conducted herself better.

 

How to find a date quickly at the office?

The workplace provides many options to find a date, rather quickly. You just need to have the right approach towards the object of your affection. Ensure that you pay some attention to her. Compliment her on the hairstyle, mobile or apparel ensemble. Take the first step forward in asking for her contact number. During lunch breaks and impromptu get-togethers with colleagues, pay special attention to her. Even if your affection for her is a bit transparent for others to see, it will not create an issue since dating within the office is now, largely acceptable.

 

How to find a date for a meeting when I hardly know a lady?

I would recommend venturing beyond your comfort zone. Update your Facebook and Gmail status, clearly indicating that you need female company for an evening. Try to scout on online dating forums. You could even announce your reason for finding a date in Yahoo chatrooms. Asking out a lady to accompany you on an official meeting sounds like a rather genuine reason to search for date and girls might be more forthcoming that you would have imagined.

-- Anubhav Kapoor

Dating in Bangalore

 I have had the pleasure of knowing many college friends and workplace colleagues who belong to Bangalore. Further, I also got the opportunity to spend nearly three months in this beautiful city that is counted among the most progressive cosmopolitans of India.

Getting Started with an Overview of Dating in Bangalore
Bangalore has emerged as a globally-renowned center of technological services and innovation. This is also reflected in the city’s overall socio-cultural landscape, particularly its dating scene. Dating in Bangalore is synonymous with dating in the most contemporary and fashionable way.

Yes, the city still has a deep-rooted, Indian aura to it but it has also emerged as the most fast-paced dating locales across the nation. The large influx of people of foreign origin in the city translated into the city’s dwellers becoming familiar with a more liberal form of dating, i.e. much before other cities like Delhi or Kolkata became date-friendly. Bangalore is also probably the first city where the BPO culture erupted.

Combined with a plethora of colleges, a hoard of multinational firms and higher dispensable incomes, it was just a matter of time before Bangalore developed a very tolerant, dating outlook. This is reflected in the large number of dating places in Bangalore.

Commonly Known Places to Date in Bangalore
From my exploration of Bangalore and my interaction with Bangalore-based buddies, some places are clearly the best dating spots in Bangalore. This list includes:

 
Cubbon Park
This green patch epitomizes the garden-centric beauty of the city. The expansive garden offers plenty of shaded spots, under the trees that offer shelter and privacy to couples. Ask any youngster in Bangalore about the one park in Bangalore where going for a date is parallel to a ritual and the name of Cubbon Park is most likely to surface.

Jamavar Restaurant
This is counted among the slightly-formal dating places in Bangalore. Located near the Leela Palace, the restaurant offers the perfect ambiance where couples, with some depth in their pockets, can get privacy and delicious food.

Nagawara
This is my personal favorite since it offers a more casual backdrop. The Lumbini Gardens and the Nagawara Lake are perfect for those first, few dates when you are trying to get to know each other. The cool air and the openness of this place make it just about perfect for an early, evening date.

More Bangalore Dating Wisdom: Culturally-themed Places to Date
If you are one of those intellectually-inclined couples, then the parks and restaurants are going to bore you. Obviously, you need something more intellectually-stimulating to keep the evening interesting. For such folks, the Nani Cinematheque is recommended. This is essentially a local film club that runs film series based upon feedback/requests from members. You can also try the Collective Chaos or the Bengaluru Film Society where getting entrance might be slightly problematic but is definitely worth the effort. These places are known for their cultural events, including screening of foreign film series and performances by local bands.

Bangalore’s Ease with Dating Comforts You
In my opinion, most people, including the elderly, seem comfortable with the widespread dating culture here. Perhaps, this is because of the manner in which couples in Bangalore handle themselves. Public expression of love and getting cozy in places that are due to engage attention is seldom seen. Somehow, there is an unspoken language of maintaining a certain level of decency that is understood by people here.


By Aubhav Kapoor