Club/Disco goers in Mumbai- Female seeks advise

machadinha

LOL no vivid description

I'm sure you could club your head off if you wanted to really, a report would be welcome. I just remember some kids on a train who I shared no comon language with introducing me to Baba Sehgal on a dodgy walkman and assuring me in no uncertain terms that he was "pepsi!!!" (meaning good presumably.) He sure was dudes! Is he around still? I really took a liking to (some of) his albums, he seemed to have something to say too.

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Gini

Thanks! to everyone for your comments. I have a much better idea of what to expect/not to expect now. I will certainly not be replacing my Malaria pills and mosquito net with my favorite beaded, black, backless top.

No worries, Clubbing isn’t even near the top of my to-do list for my eight-week stay in India. I simply did not want to be unprepared for the possibility… since Clubbing is a significant source of my cardio routine here in the states.

Nick-H

That doesn't surprise me. Adding middle-aged to the description would definately keep me out. It would also ensure that I didn't want to get in the first place! But then, it wouldn't have been my scene even at 30-years-younger

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Auntyji

Yeah, this just occurred to me too....clothes aren't the whole deal, need an entirely new self (hoping for a new self with completely problem-free skin,not even the occasional zit)

devenking

Hey,

Mumbai is an extremely happenning place, as far as the night life is concerned. Unfortunately, we Indians just excel at preaching morality to the entire world and hence try to ban all night life (blaming bad influence on youngsters). But, still maintain...there are too many things you can do...and clubbing is definitely one of them. I love salsa and love dancing at a lot of discs/pubs/clubs at mumbai...check out "polly esther" at Gordon House. This place rocks...and cover is inexpensive too. stays awake late as well. enjoy mumbai.

rohan5577

Mala,

Well if you have not seen women dressed like that out of Bollyood parties or even in New York, I would perhaps mention here that thare are certain ares and pockets in the big cities that such dress code is extremely common. Try out some of the "pubs" in Delhi especially South Delhi viz. Buzz- (saket), Hash (vasant vihar), Elevate (Noida) and numerous others in the hotels and clubs around here. And no it is not the elitist class that frequent this place, these are anyone and everyone belonging to Gen-X, or the "Yuppy" (Young upwardly mobile) generation.

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phobal

I went to a club full of the uppity wealthy, which was fun, being that I spent the transpiring three weeks getting stared at and gossiped about in Hindi. At these clubs, race had no meaning to these people. They're out to have a good time like everyone else, and unlike Westerners, they dance flamboyantly and without shame. I'm 6'3'', and I tend to bash into people. In my country, you get stabbed, in India, they give you a grin and a pat on the back. Nicest people at these clubs, it was so nice to chill out with fellow drunkards while dancing to some wicked hindi dance music.

Also, in regards to Ikuru's post about lack of space for club clothing, I'm going around 3.5 weeks with a 24 litre backpack, and I have been able to fit a nice pair of pants and a long sleeved shirt. I just picked up some dress shoes off the street for 400 after haggling HARD, so it's doable.

You will not be disappointed at the club. You gotta do something more than going around backpacker hotels staring down other backpackers, or hanging out with hippies (I mean, hippoes) at some rave. Although if you're in it for only dancing, raves are where it's at. But if you want substance and an experience, you gotta do the club thing. The Indian music is SO fun and the western music they play is so amusingly bad, which is the appeal (I hope). Have fun!

byronic

Yeah I have heard about Polly Esther's in Mumbai. Its a "retro-bar" Here is the link with a photo of the bar.
http://www.marsrestaurants.com/polly.htm
I have actually heard postive reports about this place from a friend. Polly Esther's also has clubs in Denver and I think Texas? I have also been hearing that there are clubs like Polly Esther's popping up in Colaba.
Here is a good article I found that talks with the editor of TimeOut Mumbai. He explains how the night life and club scene in Mumbai has radically evolved over the past 10 years. Its a good read.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/02/...vel/trmum.html
Plus at the bottom of the article is a list of clubs and places talked about in the article.
The thing is, as with clubs anywhere in the world. Where is hip and cool to club one month, may be a dead scene three months from now.

(PS I'm the fool who posted those pics from the eros entertainment site at the beginging of the thread. I guess I'll never live that one down on IM I just posted them as examples of what people might be wearing at a club in Mumbai. Yes those are all bollywood folks, industrualist kids, and models in those pics. which make up about less than .001% of the population of Mumbai. right?)

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phobal

Poly esther is a retro lounge? It seems like a normal place to me. I went on a Wednesday and it was CROWDED AS HELL. It took 10 seconds to walk a meter, and I'm an aggressive crowd walker. Best of all, not only was the place above capacity (if Mumbai even has building codes), there was ONE exit. Heh. Nice lounge, like I said earlier, AMAZING people, but too crowded to do any dancing. Being that it was my ONE night of clubbing, I put up with it and had a grand ol' time. Definately a place worth visiting. Hot girlies there too

rockyS

clubbing is definitely diffy in India than other parts of the world, mumbai is a nice place to party , thou of lately most of the places close down by 1.30 , mumbai does have stand alone establishments like VIE(bandra) OLIVES(Bandra), RAIN(Juhu) ROCK BOTTOM(juhu) ATHENA (behind TAJ) LUSH (lower parel) BED(linking road) HAWAIIAN SHACK(Bandra) , some of this have cover charges , adjustable against drinks , thou most like rains and olives are exp places to party.bombay over all is an expensive city .

Calcutta is the only city where most of the niteclubs/lounge bars and all are opened till as late as 5am/6 am (wed, fri and sat nites), a few of the places to party are Tantra, SHISHA, RED LOUNGE, CLOUD NINE, VIRGOSSE,Dublin, Some Place Else,and a few other opening up by june /july, and in comparison to mumbai , calcutta is cheapaer place to party.

Ikuru

so what happens in the clubs? Do people go home on onenight stands? Do young people in india live on there own, or is it more common that you live with fammelly? That would naturally make the physicall bit harder.
Is there allot of hot steam in the open in this clubs? People kissing in public and such?
I read a fiction book on this subject, pretty funny book called Paperback Raita
(book review is further down on this page here...) by Will Rhode.
Anyhow in his book people are basicly having sex in this clubs, I guess its just ficktion... Or?

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rockyS

the book u read is fiction all the way, ok kissing and all does happen , in many of this clubs , some go home alone some get lucky. Many do stay with families , thou the concept of moving away and living on ur own has come into India.

iyou

I'm impressed by the durability of this thread. I can't believe it struck a chord with so many people. I didn't think I could add anything else to the conversation, but it occurs to me that I should mention the GayBombay parties and pub nights, which are always a hoot. They use a rotating list of locations, sometimes south, sometimes in the suburbs. It's mostly male (like so many other things in India), but women are definitely welcome.

http://www.gaybombay.org/

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phobal

Taking in GayBombay would have been fun, too bad I missed it.