Tappa is a form of Indian semi-classical vocal music. Its specialty is its rolling pace based on fast, subtle and knotty construction. Its tunes are melodious, sweet and depict the emotional outbursts of a lover. Tappe (plural) were sung mostly by songstresses, known as Baigees, in royal courts.
Tappa originated from the folk songs of the camel riders of Punjab, the Tappa style of music was refined and introduced to the imperial court of the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah. And later on by Mian Ghulam Nabi Shori or Shori Mian, a court singer of Asaf-Ud-Dowlah, Nawab of Awadh.
In Bengal, Ramnidhi Gupta composed Bengali tappe and they are called as Nidhu Babu's Tappa. Tappa gayaki took new shape and over decades became puratani, a semi-classical form of Bengali songs.
Tappa, as a significant genre in Bengali musical styles, reached levels of excellence in lyrics and rendition (gayaki), arguably unmatched in other parts of India. Hugely popular in the latter half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, Tappa was the genre of choice of the wealthy elite as well as the classes with more modest means. An evolved format of the tappa was the "baithaki" style, which evolved under the direct patronage of the landed elites of the zamindari classes of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, in their baithak-khanas (literally, baithak - assembly, khana - halls or salons) and jalsaghar (literally, halls for entertainment, mujra or nautch halls)
Tapa is a small town or city and a municipal council and administrative area in Barnala district in the Indian state of Punjab. Tapa is mainly known as Tapa-Mandi because it is a small town so Mandi word used to describes it well. Tapa is well known for its historic Deras and Guruduwaras. A famous holy place named as Baba_Math is the main attraction of this town. Tapa is situated at Barnala-Bathinda Main Road (N.H-64) between Rampura and Barnala and Bathinda. It is 24km towards Bathinda from Barnala and 42 km towards Barnala from Bathinda. Moga Road also passes through it towards Pakho-Kenchian.
As of 2001 India census, Tapa had a population of 18,887. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Tapa has an average literacy rate of 57%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 62%, and female literacy is 51%. In Tapa, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. Tapa is small town situated in Barnala district.It is well connected by road and railway line. Tapa was founded in 15th centurary.