There are many reasons why people travel. For some, it’s adventure, for others, it’s fancy hotels; for some, it’s food, for some, it’s just a state of being. For a lot of people, it’s also music. If you are one of those who travel for music, read further to catch a glimpse of five cities in India that every music lover should go to.

Shillong

The people of Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, like most folks from north east India, have music in their blood. Home to arguably one of the best bands in the country, Soulmate, and popular musician Lou Majaw, this city is where you head to if you want a taste of homegrown rock and blues. With some great live music scene and festivals such as Dylan Festival, Shillong Blues And Jazz Festival, Shillong Autumn Festival, to name a few, the city is a treasure trove for every music lover.

Kolkata

A quaint and charming city on the banks of the Hooghly river, Kolkata, capital of West Bengal, has always been creative central. With a thriving music scene to boot, Kolkata is of those places where rock and metal music share space with spiritual and Western classical music, in a nutshell. You are never far away from a guitar player or a live music scene. Bands such as Fossils, Cactus, Bhoomi and more recently, The Ganesh Talkies, have their roots in the city. Someplace Else is a popular pub that hosts live music acts every day of the week. Majority of the bands play music in the local language, and some of them play in English as well.

Chennai

Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu, is as traditional as it is modern, with its music and culture. It’s almost a cliché to regard the city as a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. But very few cities in the world can boast of such varied musical influences – classical, rock, metal, jazz and the like. It’s the undisputed seat of Carnatic music as is evident from its annual December music festival. And it also has amazing talent as far as alternative music is concerned – be it rock, pop, punk, metal, jazz or experimental stuff. Lack of venues was an issue in the city but things are getting better now with many music lovers and indie record labels dishing up great world music fare and organizing concerts all through the week across pubs, hotels, parks and auditoriums. The city is also big on Tamil film music and folk music.

Benares

This holy city in Uttar Pradesh on the banks of the Ganges is not just famous for its sadhus (saints) and Yoga. It has a rich tradition of Indian classical music, particularly Hindustani music. Some of the biggest names in the Indian classical music space such as Pandit Ravi Shankar (sitar player), Ustad Bismillah Khan (shehnai player), Girija Devi (singer), to name a few. Even Tansen, the legendary court musician during the Mughal period in India, is believed to have been born here. Classical music festivals such as Drupad Festival, Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh and many others are held here annually and they host some of the best musicians in the field.

Mumbai

Synonymous with Bollywood, this mega city in Maharashtra on the west coast has some great jazz and blues music up its sleeve. A number of festivals such as Mahindra Blues Festival, Kala Ghoda, Mood Indigo and so on are held here annually and music is an integral part of each of these events. The city also has a vibrant music scene with Blue Frog, a famous pub, leading the pack. Thanks to its culturally and linguistically diverse community, the city has a rich and unique crop of musicians who are taking the country by storm with their quirkiness and refreshing sound.

If the sound of music inspires wanderlust, then get your friends and family around your Satara coffee table and plan your themed holiday as you sip on some great coffee.