Hubli-Dharwad: the twin cities of Indian classical music

Twin cities of Karnataka, Hubli and Dharwad gave birth to numerous masters of Hindustani classical music, a tradition still alive in the region.

The twin cities, cradle of Indian classical music, are visited comfortably by motorized rickshaw.

The Dharwad neighborhood, cradle of numerous masters of Hindustani classical music, still maintains traditional schools where khyal singing is taught today.

Just minutes away, the Hubli Market, the primary commercial center of the twin cities, animates textile and food trade of the region.

Moving inland the celebrated Dharwad peda, a specialty made from curdled milk, is produced, a regional delicacy.

In the evening, concerts of classical music in local temples keep alive a musical tradition that has made the region famous throughout India.

Dharwad gave birth to numerous important musicians of Hindustani classical music in the twentieth century, a phenomenon that music historians attribute to a particular local pedagogical tradition.

Dharwad peda, a sweet made from curdled milk sweetened with sugar, is protected by an official Indian geographical indication that certifies its exclusive origin in the region, a rare recognition for a traditional local sweet.