6 Must-Visit Venues in North-East India

When in the north-east – be it a back-packing trip, a family adventure, a mission to finally pen down that book idea tickling your conscience, or wanting to explore a part of your country that has missed your eye for a while now, there is no excuse for missing a few gigging venues. These spots pack the bustle and zing of a popular metro venue and are peppered through with an overwhelming dose of music, delightful food surprises and fuzzy-warm settings that will leave a dent in the nostalgia-driving part of your cerebral cortex.

Café Hendrix

Café Hendrix: The legend that is Hendrix will be pleased if he saunters in one rainy evening to the cramped interiors of the café on the second floor that dons his name so proudly. Its walls resound sonorously of the soul-funk blues even at times when a live gig is missing. Usually promoting young talent by offering a set stage to stir musical magic, Café Hendrix is one of the first few hangouts where the beer-n-blues combination drew in flocks by the score in Guwahati.

Opposite Pantaloons, Rukminigaon, Six Mile Area, Guwahati, Assam. Ph:-+91 98 64 021111.

Dream Cafe

Dream Café: Youthful, vivacious and abustle with teeming food enthusiasts, Kohima’s Dream Café is a platter of bi-monthly live gigs served with a view overlooking a splendid range of hills. If you’ve trekked a tad too much and wish to be comforted, then the café is worth a lounge. Once you’ve regained vitality with the chicken/pork special chows followed by a round of tea, you can mull over the traditional Naga paintings that adorn its walls.

Beneath UCO Bank, Midland Colony, Kohima, Nagaland.

Jumping Bean Café

Jumping Bean Café: Yet another one to add to the list of live music cafes, the Jumping Bean remains irreverent in its approach to being a café, thereby staying true to the concept of a café with its informal setting and self-service. You need to visit the Friday Night Live series of gigs that has hosted numerous finalists of the Hornbill Festival. You know what that means – like the rest of the north-east, with an inkling of musical tastes, the venue will not disappoint. Insurgency has caused a shift in timings when the café remains open. But those showers don’t rain over the parade of songs.

Ana-Ki, 1st floor, Near DDSC Stadium, Tata Parking, Circular Road, NH 36, Circular Rd, Khermahal, Dimapur, Nagaland. Ph: 03862-284619.

Ozone- The Nocturnal Hive

Ozone – The Nocturnal Hive: Pink Floyd tributes, The Beatles nights, metallic head-banging sessions and alternative indie musicians keep the lamps glowing at the lounge Ozone – The Nocturnal Hive.  With kitschy Hendrix and Beatles posters painted on the walls and blue-esque lighting scattered sporadically, the venue screams from rooftops of its involvement with classic rock. Sipping on drinks and waiting till the poison hits you is what is expected from you if a rewind to the 70s is desired.

Silver Square (behind Westside), Christian Basti, G.S Road, Guwahati. Ph: 0361 234 3355

Aizawl Masala

Aizawl Masala: By now, your mind would’ve drunk more than your body could cash. So we say you cool it off with light yet confounding food preparations at the Aizawl Masala. If it’s your first time traversing the mighty ranges that reside in Mizoram, then gravity will assist you in getting to this restaurant as it is one level below the ground. What’s best is if you decide to bunk in your room, you can call-in four square meals.

Zarkawt Main Street, Aizawl, Mizoram. Ph: (0389)2306109

The street that houses the Delhi Misthan Bhandar

Delhi Misthan Bhandar: If the Dilliwasis amongst you are missing some creamy butter chicken and butter-doused naans, then to remind you of your nani in more ways than one Delhi Misthan Bhandar presents itself. Music may not be part of the service but lassis, gulab jamuns and snacks will make you homesick.

Near Hotel Center Point, Police Bazaar,Shillong.