Ornamented vocal art form that gradually replaced the dhrupad. It flourished during the second half of the 18th century and was adapted to the instrumental repertory (sarangi, sitar and sarod) – with the exception of the bin.

The main genre of Hindustani vocal music

Khyal (or Khayal: ख़्याल, خیال) is the modern genre of classical singing in North India; its name comes from an Arabic word meaning "imagination". It appeared more recently than dhrupad. Like all Indian classical music, khyal is modal, with a single melodic line and no harmonic parts.