NEW DELHI: Legendary Indian singer Bhimsen Joshi, who was best known for promoting classical Indian music to audiences around the world, died on Monday at the age of 89.

Joshi died at a hospital in the western city of Pune after battling a prolonged illness. He built a reputation over a number of decades for singing “Khayal”, a modern form of traditional Hindustani music.

He was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 2008.

“In his death the country has lost a great personality who was an exponent of vocal music,” Indian President Pratibha Patil said in tribute.

Joshi had undergone surgery to remove a brain tumour in 1999 and had an operation on his spine in 2005.

His last public performance was in 2007.