Kanchipuram, a small town in Tamil Nadu famous for its silks and temples, has been named the "cheating capital of India" according to the June 2025 report by Ashley Madison, a dating app catering to married individuals seeking extramarital affairs. Kanchipuram jumped from 17th place last year to the top spot this year, surpassing major metros like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. This ranking is based not only on the number of signups but also on user activity and engagement on the platform. The surprising lead of this small town could be attributed to increased internet and social media access, facilitating secret connections, and possibly marital dissatisfaction or desire for more freedom outside traditional relationships.
Despite Kanchipuram's number one rank, Delhi-NCR dominates with nine cities on the top 20 list, including six Delhi districts (Central, South West, East, South, West, and North West) and nearby cities Gurgaon, Noida, and Ghaziabad. Central Delhi ranks second after Kanchipuram.
The top 20 Indian cities for extramarital affairs in 2025 according to Ashley Madison are:
Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu)
Central Delhi
Gurugram)
Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida)
South West Delhi
Dehradun
East Delhi
Pune
Bengaluru
South Delhi
Chandigarh
Lucknow
Kolkata
West Delhi
Kamrup
North West Delhi
Raigarh
Hyderabad
Ghaziabad
Jaipur
Interestingly, Mumbai, once second on the list, did not appear in the top 20 in 2025. The trend shows increasing cheating activity in smaller towns and tier-2 cities in India. This data highlights a shift where digital infidelity is not just an urban phenomenon but also thriving in smaller and traditionally conservative areas.