Not Mumbai or Bengaluru: Why this temple town is India's 'affair capital' for the second year running

When people think of India's most secretive dating hotspots, sprawling metros such as Mumbai, Delhi or Bengaluru usually come to mind.

Instead, for the second year in a row, the title has gone to Kanchipuram, a Tamil Nadu city better known for its ancient temples, silk sarees and spiritual heritage than clandestine romance, as per a report in India Today.

According to the latest rankings released by Ashley Madison, the dating platform marketed towards people seeking discreet relationships, Kanchipuram recorded the highest level of member activity in India, beating larger urban centres and once again earning the label of the country's "affair capital".

The rankings have reignited conversations around modern relationships, changing social expectations and the growing popularity of discreet dating platforms in India.

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A surprising top 10

Alongside Kanchipuram, Ashley Madison's latest India rankings feature a mix of tier-two and tier-three cities, including Tiruchirappalli, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Nashik, Kochi, Jaipur, Raipur and Nagpur.

The list's biggest surprise is not who made it, but who didn't. India's largest metros, often assumed to be the epicentres of changing relationship dynamics, failed to dominate the rankings.

While the company does not reveal exact user numbers, it says the list is based on sign-ups and engagement levels on the platform.

What is driving the trend?

Ashley Madison believes the growing interest in discreet dating reflects broader social changes rather than simply a rise in infidelity.

Speaking to Open Magazine in May 2026, Paul Keable, Ashley Madison's chief strategy officer, suggested that younger Indians are increasingly questioning traditional relationship expectations.

"I think there are lots of young people in India who have entered into traditional monogamous relationships, who are discovering that the story they've been told by their parents, their governments and potentially by their religions doesn't really hold up as well," Keable said.

According to him, many younger adults are exploring relationship models that differ from those of previous generations.

Why Kanchipuram?

The rankings do not explain why Kanchipuram consistently tops the list, leaving room for speculation. Some observers point to growing internet penetration, wider smartphone access and changing attitudes towards relationships beyond India's biggest cities. Others suggest that smaller cities may simply be underrepresented in discussions about dating and intimacy.

More than an affair ranking

Ashley Madison's list is not a scientific measure of infidelity, nor does it reveal how many people are actually having affairs. It is, ultimately, a snapshot of activity on a single platform.

Yet the rankings continue to attract attention because they tap into a larger cultural shift. As younger Indians rethink marriage, companionship and personal fulfilment, platforms like Ashley Madison offer an unusual, and controversial, window into those changing attitudes.