Barring the major cities like Mumbai, Kolkatta, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Goa, there is no ‘nightlife’ as understood in the West. Mumbai never sleeps. No matter what time of night you venture out, there are bound to be others going about some business or other. Mumbai has always led the nightlife scene in India and there are bars and clubs to suit every taste.
Delhi is also catching up. With the advent of pubs and private nightclubs, the nightlife scene in Delhi is also in full swing.
Almost all the major upmarket hotels in India have a night club with a well-stocked bar.
In a few major cities clubs, discos and western-style shows are available. India is still a conservative culture by most western standards so don't expect to go out and find the typical nightclubs that you might find in Amsterdam. In fact, you might go to a bar and find that all the men are congregating together and the women were all left at home. India has lot to offer. But nightlife has still to catch-up.
Alcohol (generally linked to nightlife) was previously banned in India. It is now legal, but there is still a certain taboo around it.
The attraction in the evening will be cultural shows of Indian dance and music. In cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkatta etc. frequent western classical and jazz concerts and recitals take place. A range of indoor and outdoor venues host different performances including English language plays.
In India the main attraction in the evening will be the cinema. India is the largest producer of full-length films in the world. Mumbai, Kolkatta and Chennai are the main centres of film production. Mumbai is known as "Bollywood" and produces more films than Hollywood. Almost all large towns will have a cinema. Music and dancing are an important part of Indian cinema. The films are in local language and are not subtitled. In comparison with western cinemas Indian movies are longer. Sometimes the screening of a film may take more than three hours. In the villages where there is no cinema hall mobile cinema shows take place.
In the large towns there will be Cinema Theater where films in English will be screened.
Images by courtesy of Indian Tourism, Amsterdam.
