Essentially a north Indian version of the mridangam and the most common north Indian representative of the class of barrel-shaped drums known as mridang. It was once common throughout north India, but in the last few generations tabla has usurped its position of importance.

It has a right head which is identical to tabla except somewhat larger. The left head is similar to the tabla bayan except that there is a temporary application of flour and water instead of the black permanent spot. It is laced with rawhide and has tuning blocks placed between the straps and shell.