Nightlife in India

“Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” With every passing year, this age-old adage seems to be making a lot less sense to the Gen Y, perhaps because, “Man is a social animal”, which is another million-dollar truth. And since he is caught in his hectic life, to fulfill such wants of merry making, relaxation and forming new bonds, we are left with no other option but to exploit the few post office hours that our packed routines allow. Dancing to heavy EDM, hanging out with the known and the strangers, drinking to the hearts’ content, and hence rejuvenating the body for another humdrum week is the very idea of the nightlife in India. Globalization and the corporate industry have played a major role in transforming some of the cities into proud party cities, where one can enjoy life, literally.

Taking a look at 5 of the top Indian cities famous for their nightlife in India:

1. Goa

(Ingo’s Saturday Nite Market, Photo by Ipshita B, CC BY 2.0)

Goa is unquestionably India’s best party spot. Long beaches, bordering the Arabian Sea, the moderate temperature and the vibrant lanes, there is something unique in its air that demands celebration and the residents as well as the tourists do complete justice. The foundations that the hippies laid way back in the 1960s have sprouted into uncountable pubs, bars and lounges that offer the truest essence of the nightlife. The live music scene is top notch and the city certainly has one of the best tastes in EDM which is why we have here, the annual trance festival of Sunburn. Titos, Butter Lounge, Mambos and Shiros are the favored destinations. Goa is also famous for a variety of exotic alcoholic drinks that summarize the delicious sea food. A single advice for the travelers, visit Goa only after you’ve seen everything else- save the best for the last.

2. Mumbai

(Pub, Photo by unsplash, CC0 1.0)

The economic capital of the country, Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is another coastal city of India that is ranked highly on its nightlife. Being the hub of the Indian film industry, the city never compromises on its status quo and the party life here, is genuinely of international standards. The clubs and discos are overcrowded with both native and overseas partygoers, echoing with the music played by DJs from all around the globe. Colaba and Lower Parel in South Mumbai have some of the best centers for entertainment.  Insomnia of Taj Mahal Hotel, Enigma at Juhu Tara Road, Aaziano bar, Zenzi at Bandra, Totos in Bandra and Fire on Ice are the main attractions of Mumbai.  One can simply opt for a walk down the ever lively Marine Drive, relishing yet another undiscovered aspect of the nightlife of the City of Dreams.

3. Delhi

(India Gate, Photo by Shashwat Nagpal, CC BY 2.0)

The capital city of India has a remarkable feat of appearing in almost every list of the bests of the country. With perhaps the most advanced crowd, the city doesn’t lag behind in the nightlife scene. The world-famous Connaught Place in Delhi has innumerable bars, cafes, pubs, discos, lounges, clubs and restaurants that offer the best food that is soothing to both the belly and the ears. Both the electronic as well as the live music scene is high quality with equal proportion of budding bands, artists and professionals wooing the audience and making them want more. Hauz Khaas is another hub offering insane nightlife where people dance till their last breath. TGIF and Elevate at CP, Capitol in Ashoka Hotel, Ivy, Baci Bar, Mirage, The Piano Man Jazz Club, Cafe Morrison and Agni at the Park Hotel are the few places to hang out at night.

4. Bangalore

(Sky bar, Photo by Ming-yen Hsu, CC BY-ND 2.0)

Bangalore is one city whose nightlife in India fostered purely because of corporate reasons. The city is the IT capital of India. After, hours and hours of clicking keyboards and staring at those 15 inch screens, meeting and negotiating with hundreds of clients, the geeks of Bangalore seek refuge in its pubs and bars, which interestingly are extremely fun and motley and in stark contrast to the pale corporate buildings. Bangalore is a college by day and a carnival by night. The M.G. Road area alone has around 50 pubs and is a great place to start with. Some of the famous spots in Bangalore include Athena, The Club Inferno, Geoffrey’s, Insomnia, Pecos, iBar at Park Hotel, Zero G and Purple Haze.

5. Pune

(Hard Rock Café, Photo by Roycin D’souza, CC BY-ND 2.0)

Pune’s proximity with the glamour capital gives it a slight edge over other Indian cities and offers an amazing nightlife in India. The result is an unorthodox mix of Bollywood, trance, music, dance and alcohol that keeps you glued and going till close to dawn. There is an abundance of pubs, clubs and discos in the all major places of Pune which have something for every party animal. Some of the most iconic hubs are Havana, Club Polaris, Hard Rock Café, Ten Downing Street Nightclub and CO2 Lounge.

“All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy.” To entertain his self is every man’s responsibility and to form new social networks, a natural want. Partying and nightlife have what help these two forces combine. Thankfully, with such festivity in these cities and in many more, the night is neither dark nor full of terrors.

Rohit Agarwal, TransIndiaTravels | April 18, 2017

As a lover of traveling and writing, Rohit’s blogs onTransIndiaTravels.com give a lot of knowledge through his many experiences of touring the most amazing locations of India.