Delhi Nightlife
The nightlife scene in Delhi is in full swing, with the advent of pubs and private nightclubs. During the week, the clubs are empty - stick to central restaurants and the well-stocked bars at upmarket hotels if you want some atmosphere. Come the weekend, though, bars are full by 9pm and clubs take off at midnight. Most clubs are in five-star hotels and operate couples-only policies at the door; women usually get in free, and men pay Rs400. Another option is to take an auto to India Gate and Rajpath any night after 8pm for a nightly people's party that attracts huge crowds who mill about, snacking and eating ice cream; women on their own are likely to encounter hassle.
The city fares well on the cultural front. A range of indoor and outdoor venues host performances of classical dance such as Bharatnatyam and Kathakali; one Sunday a month a classical concert is held free of charge in Nehru Park - but you'll have to be there very early to get in. Check any of the listings magazines we've detailed to see what's on at India International Centre , a good place to catch art exhibitions, lectures and films on all aspects of Indian culture and environment. The colossal new India Habitat Centre , the British Council and the art and theatre auditoria around India Gate are all renowned for their innovative shows and high-standard drama in both Hindi and English mediums. If you crave a Hollywood or a Bollywood hit, there are a number of good cinemas , such as the Regal in Connaught Place and the Chanakya in Chanakyapuri - this has just been refurbished, is safe for women on their own and shows recent Hollywood blockbusters, as do the PVR Priya in Vasant Vihar and the PVR Anupam in Saket.
BARS
Blues , N-17 Connaught Place. A snazzy bar and restaurant, offering an eclectic range of loud music but little in the way of blues and jazz. The bar staff are all pros at mixing extravagant cocktails.
Djinns , Hyatt Regency Hotel , Bhikaiji Cama Place. A huge bar, pool table, darts, live bands from Europe and the Caribbean, innovative Indian snacks and pitchers of beer and cocktails. Packed on Wednesday and the weekend with the Delhi jet-set, so get in early. No entrance after 11pm, even though it stays open until 2am.
Geoffries , Ansal Plaza. A very popular "English" pub with bar meals and beer on tap.
Jazz Bar , Maurya Sheraton Hotel , Diplomatic Enclave. Live jazz of varying standards from Indian musicians. Serves beer in pitchers, and cocktails.
Maikada , Hotel Marina , 59 G-Block, Connaught Place. Comfortable bar with a small outside terrace but pricey drinks.
Le Meridien , Windsor Place. Two exclusive and rather staid bars, Aloha and Henri's , with extortionate prices but nothing less than five-star treatment.
Park Baluchi , Deer Park, Hauz Khas. Pleasant restaurant-bar situated in a leafy corner; a great place for a beer after hectic shopping.
Patiala Peg , Hotel Imperial , Janpath. A plush but cosy atmosphere, offering imported and local beers, spirits and great cocktails.
Pegasus Pub , Nirulas, 135 L-Block, Connaught Place. Part of the Nirulas complex, a reproduction English pub with a plush a/c ambience and expensive beer outside the happy hour (6-8pm).
Radisson , NH8, Mahipalpur. The sports bar at the Radisson (near the airport) is a great bar to kill a few hours if you are waiting for a plane- there are four top-notch bowling alleys, billiards and snooker, nonstop TV coverage of the match of the day, and lots of beer and cocktails.
Rodeo , 12 A-Block, Connaught Place. Bustling atmosphere in restaurant-bar serving a full range of drinks, including tequila slammers. Mock-saddle seats at the bar play on the rodeo theme; Tuesday is karaoke night. The early evening happy hours are great value.
Saqi , Hotel Alka , 16-90 P-Block, Connaught Place. Very dimly lit bar that's a little sleazy, but you can take your drink out onto a small veranda.
DISCOS
Most, if not all, of the discos popular with elite Delhi-ites are in the luxury hotels; many now are free but you have to buy at least one drink.
Ghungroo , Maurya Sheraton tel 011/611 2233. Delhi's oldest Western-style disco, with very Eighties decor - a flashing dance floor - but it plays the latest dance and trance. Restricted entry for nonresidents of the hotel.
Mirage , Surya Palace , 4826-28 Main Bazaar tel 011/683 5070. A studenty club with an emphasis on the latest dance tracks, rather than the cheesy classics; ladies' night on Wednesdays.
My Kind of Place , Taj Palace , 1 Sardar Patel Marg tel 011/611 0202. One of Delhi's most popular clubs, especially with the expats and especially on Saturday nights, with hip-hop, drum'n'bass and reggae. Occasional theme nights such as belly dancing. Closed Mon & Tues.
Someplace Else , Park , 15 Sansad Marg tel 011/373 3737. Popular place for those who want cheaper beer; and a DJ who is willing to play requests, especially more alternative tracks. Jazz night on Wednesday.
DANCE AND DRAMA
Dances of India , Parsi Anjuman Hall, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg tel 011/623 4689. Excellent classical, folk and tribal dance. Daily 7-8pm.
Habitat World , India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road tel 011/469 1920. Popular venue for dance, music and theatre as well as talks and exhibitions; look up the local press for listings or enquire by phone.
Kamani Auditorium , Copernicus Marg tel 011/338 8084. Concerts and theatre; check local press.
Triveni Kala Sangam , 205 Tansen Marg tel 011/371 8833. A popular venue for dance shows by professionals and talented student groups.
CULTURAL CENTRES AND LIBRARIES
There is nearly always some cultural activity going on in Delhi - check at the tourist office, or get hold of local newspapers and publications like First City and Delhi Diary .
Alliance Française , D13 NDSE Part II tel 011/625 8128. Hosts film shows and has an art gallery.
British Council , 17 Kasturba Gandhi Marg tel 011/371 1401 & 371 0111. Talks, film shows and concerts, plus a good library and reading room and internet.
India International Centre , 40 Lodi Estate tel 011/461 9431. Daily films, lectures, dance, and music performances; look up listings magazines or enquire by phone.
Lalit Kala Akademi , Rabindra Bhavan, 35 Firoz Shah Rd tel 011/338 7241. Delhi's premier art academy, with an extensive collection of paintings, sculpture, frescoes and drawings. Also hosts films and seminars, and has a photographic section and a sales counter.
CINEMAS
After gloriously hyped releases, Bollywood movies make their way to the capital where there is passionate enthusiasm for burly heroes and red-lipped maidens. If you're interested in enjoying a classic Indian experience, the best cinemas to head for are the Regal, Odeon and Plaza in Connaught Place. All show popular films with the compulsory goodies and baddies, a generous dose of manly courage and shy love, much singing and dancing, and happy endings. An alternative branch of Bollywood has recently emerged, producing films in English that ooze attitude, with sex scenes and lots of designer wear. Suburban cinemas, such as the Priya in Vasant Vihar, the Chanakya in Chanakyapuri and the PVR Anupam in Saket, provide a diet of relatively recent Hollywood films (in English, with Hindi subtitles) with digital surround sound and superb popcorn. In addition, many of the cultural centres we've listed run international film festivals
2007-02-25 02:23:58
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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