Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India uses Asia/Kolkata, currently IST (UTC+05:30). No clock changes are scheduled in the next 12 months.
Chennai is one of the larger cities in India, with a population of about 4.7 million. It keeps the same time year-round, with no daylight saving changes.
The band below is your local scale — accent shows when everyone's business hours overlap. Add or remove a city on the left and this updates too.
Written for people arriving, calling in, or planning a trip around the time difference.
Central neighborhoods near the main rail and metro lines keep hotels, markets, and sights within easier reach. Coastal and southern areas offer a calmer pace but generally mean a longer commute into the busiest commercial districts.
Temples, the long stretch of Marina Beach, and colonial-era buildings are best visited early in the day before the heat and humidity build. Evenings along the coast offer a cooler, breezier alternative for a relaxed walk.
The city's metro and suburban rail network cover many key routes, with auto-rickshaws, taxis, and ride-hailing apps filling in the rest. Traffic can be heavy, particularly during weekday commuting hours.
Chennai is hot and humid for much of the year, with the cooler months from around December to February generally the most comfortable. The northeast monsoon brings significant rain between October and December.
India uses the INR, calling code +91.
India uses the Indian rupee, and while Hindi and English are widely used nationally, Tamil is the primary language spoken locally in Chennai. A polite, warm manner in greetings, often with a slight head nod, is generally appreciated.
