Guide to Party and Nightlife In India
One of the fun things about traveling is being able to see the nightlife. You may not associate India with the party. However, the nightlife of India is diverse and growing. Tucked away, you’ll find everything from intimate bars and pubs to multi-level nightclubs. Those interested in something more traditional will find no shortage of cultural performances either. However, you need to know where to look and take into account the legal drinking age in India (it is much older than in many other countries).
Legal Drinking Age
The age for legal alcohol consumption varies in different states in India, and sometimes it even varies depending on the type of alcohol, which can be confusing. In Delhi, he remains at 25, despite ongoing discussions about reducing it. 25 years is also the legal drinking age in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh. In Mumbai (and Maharashtra), it’s 25 for spirits, 21 for beer, and there’s no age set for wine. The legal drinking age in Kerala is 23 years old (increased from 21 in 2017).
India’s party-state Goa has the lowest legal drinking age of 18, along with Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Pondicherry, and Sikkim.
In other parts of India, it is usually 21 years old. However, venues are generally not strict in enforcing these limits.
Ban and Dry Days
Gujarat is known as a ‘dry state’, where alcohol is illegal without a permit (foreigners can buy 30-day permits). Bihar also became a ‘dry state’ in early 2016. In northeast India, alcohol is banned in Nagaland (this does not apply) and is partially banned in Manipur. There are also restrictions in Kerala, although most were relaxed by the government in 2017 due to the negative impact on tourism and income. Currently, hotels classified as three stars and above may have bars that serve hard liquor.
Two-star hotels may have “breweries and wines.” Also, you will find that alcohol (especially beer) is widely available in places that are not licensed. This includes the beach huts in Varkala.
The “dry days” in India are often a surprise to tourists. Yes, there are specific days when the sale of alcohol is prohibited. These are determined by each state government and generally occur on important religious occasions. National dry days include holidays such as Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), and Gandhi Jayani (October 2). It is worth noting that five-star hotels are exempt from dry days and can serve alcohol.
Night Curfew
Nightlife generally starts early and ends early in India due to curfew. While Mumbai may have the largest selection of party spots in the country, at 1.30 am, most close at night. Clubs in luxury hotels are an exception. These will stay open until 3 or 4 in the morning. The scene is similar in Delhi and Kolkata (a 2 a.m. curfew has been introduced there, although most places close at midnight during the week). Most bars close at midnight in Chennai and Hyderabad.
However, the curfew was extended until 1 am in Bangalore in 2016. Even in Goa, many places are forced to close at 10 pm or 11 pm due to noise restrictions. As a result, more places are hosting one-day parties.
Pubs, Bars and Clubs
As traditional drinking is not part of India’s culture, the country’s bars tend to fall into two categories: cheap and seedy local bars frequented by India’s male population, and classy establishments catering to the progressive class crowd. medium and high. The latter can only be found in major cities.
Besides Friday and Saturday nights, Wednesday are also popular festivals in India. There will often be free or discounted drinks for ladies at bars and clubs.
An interesting term used in India is ‘resto-pub’ or ‘resto-bar’. These are restaurants that function as places where you can drink, and sometimes dance later in the evening, as many restaurants do not serve alcohol in India. An eclectic example of a restaurant bar is Bonobo, in the Mumbai suburb of Bandra West.
Mumbai is the most cosmopolitan city in India. It has a great variety of bars in neighborhoods like Bandra West, Lower Parel, and the Colaba tourist district. The bustling traveler hangouts in Mumbai offer cheap beer and a lively crowd. The live music venues in Mumbai are also excellent.
In Delhi, head to Connaught Place and Hauz Khas Village. Bangalore is known for its pub culture, and you will find dozens of them along MG Road. Besides Sikkim, Goa is the only state in India that has casinos.
Luxury hotel nightclubs have prohibitive cover charges (sometimes up to 4,000 rupees per couple) and the cost of drinks, which only foreigners and the wealthiest Indians can afford. The decor is opulent. If it weren’t for the music interspersed with the latest Bollywood tracks, prompting a frenzied display of dance from the crowd, you could easily forget you were in India. Dress to impress as you would anywhere else in the world (skimpy clothing is the norm).
Outdoor Parties
The hedonistic, hippie state of Goa has a reputation for psychedelic trance parties in the open air. They still exist to some extent, despite strict regulation. The scene has gotten very underground and impromptu, with parties in remote locations in the vicinity of Anjuna, Vagator, Arambol, Morjim, and Palolem. Hill Top in Vagator is famous for hosting iconic psychotronic parties.
Other legendary locations for open-air psychedelic trance festivals are around Manali and Kasol, in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Most take place from May to July and September to October.
Police presence is a constant threat, and parties are frequently shut down if the required bribe money has not been paid properly.
