To this day, the cheapest and best form of international travel for millions of middle-class Indians is a Bollywood movie. For the price of a ticket, one can escape to various magical worlds—from the murmuring brooks of Kashmir, to the fairy-tale meadows and peaks of Switzerland, and the glittering-white beaches of Mauritius, to the eerily beautiful deserts of the Middle-East. Such has been the impact of Hindi movies that even today, a large number of Indian travellers plan their foreign holidays based on their favourite scenes or songs from Bollywood films. So let's take a look at some of the most popular Indian and international travel locations that have been immortalised by Bollywood.
1. Dubai: Race
Dubai is perhaps the most luxurious Emirate in the UAE. Little wonder, then, that it was chosen for the Hindi movie Race. From the adrenaline-pumping car chase scenes to the high-profile lives of its characters, Race and Dubai proved to be a match made in movie-watcher's heaven!
2. Singapore: Krrish
Singapore is probably the only country in Asia that is known for its spectacular skyline and that's why our very own superhero, Krrish found it easier to fight crime from the Lion City! Many action-packed scenes in the movie, like the one where Hrithik is chasing Naseeruddin Shah, were shot on the streets of Singapore. Apart from this, many scenes of the movie were shot in popular locations such as the Fountain of Wealth, Suntec City, Merlion, Southern Islands, Raffles Place, Sentosa Island Fountain, Elgin Bridge, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, and Tiger Balm Gardens. Head down here to recreate your perfect Bollywood selfie.
3. Mauritius: Go Goa Gone
Despite popular belief, almost one-third of the movie, Go Goa Gone was shot in Mauritius and not Goa as the name suggests. The movie beautifully captured the white sandy beaches of Mauritius, its lush green forests and of course, the spectacular Rochester Falls. Even though it's hard to compete with our favourite party destination, Mauritius, as portrayed in the movie, comes very close to being just as perfect as Goa! Take a flight to this beautiful country and soak up the sun at the same spot where Saif Ali Khan did.
4. Srinagar: Fitoor
Since the plot of the movie was set in Kashmir, it was only right to keep the shooting location true to the movie plot. The scenic beauty of Srinagar was the perfect backdrop for the love that blossomed between Noor and Firdaus. The red leaves of the Chinar tree perfectly complimented Katrina's famous and super expensive red hair that she sported for the movie and the snow-capped mountains proved to be a symbol of the eternal love the main characters shared.
5. Ladakh: 3 Idiots
Who can forget that last scene from this blockbuster movie, shot at the famous Pangong Lake in Ladakh, where Kareena Kapoor's character, Pia, finally meets Rancho (Aamir Khan)? Tourism in Ladakh got a shot in the arm after 3 Idiots released. Even today, people travel to this beautiful lake just to see where their favourite Bollywood scene was filmed.
6. Manali: Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Watching Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani made all of us want to plan a trip to Manali with our friends. The snow-capped mountains, clear blue sky, and the old-school charm of this hill station that were captured on the silver screen popularised this location among innumerable young travellers.
7. Thailand: Ready
From songs to key scenes, Ready was mostly shot in various parts of Thailand. Whether it was the beaches or Bangkok's glittering skyline, viewers got a heavy dose of Thailand when they watched Ready! The movie was shot in different parts of Thailand, such as Bangkok and Pattaya. If you love the song Dhinka Chika then head to the Rama VIII Bridge in Bangkok to do the famous step that took India by storm!
8. Shimla: Jab We Met & Yeh Dillagi
Who can ever forget Saif Ali Khan and Kajol dancing to "Ole Ole" in the middle of the Mall Road in the movie Yeh Dillagi? Before filmmakers discovered foreign locations, Shimla and other parts of Himachal were every Bollywood directors' favourite location. This is the reason why blockbusters like Yeh Dillagi, and recently Jab We Met, were shot amidst the lush green hills of Himachal Pradesh.
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Have more such Bollywood destinations in your mind? Then share your dream Bollywood destination and plan an unforgettable holiday with Thomas Cook.