Before Instagram reels or travel influencers started creating bucket list destination places, Bollywood movies were doing the same for lesser-known places across India. Just by using a single sequence in their song or a few shots of road trips in movies made those relatively unknown places tourism magnets for the people of the country instantly. Over the years, there have been several such places that witnessed a tremendous increase in popularity because they appeared in some major Bollywood movie, with people trying to make a part of it by reliving the same.
Chapora Fort – Dil Chahta Hai
It would be safe to say that no other Bollywood film influenced travel culture among youths than Dil Chahta Hai in India. Chapora Fort had been mostly recognized by history lovers and backpackers who would visit North Goa. However, since the movie was released, Chapora Fort turned out to be one of the most recognizable and known locations for a trip among friends across the country. That very scene in which the three guys were sitting against the fort wall and looking towards the Arabian Sea created a trend that inspired many others.
Parra Road – Dear Zindagi
Parra Road, popularly called the Coconut Road of Goa, became an internet sensation after appearing in Dear Zindagi. The quiet stretch lined with towering coconut trees captured the attention of travellers almost instantly, especially after scenes featuring Alia Bhatt went viral. Today, the road has become one of Goa’s most photographed spots. Travellers frequently stop here for photoshoots, reels, and leisurely drives. What was once an ordinary village road transformed into a cinematic landmark thanks to Bollywood and social media.
Pangong Tso – 3 Idiots
The latter parts of 3 Idiots had an immediate impact on tourism to Pangong Tso. This beautiful lake, famous for its unique colors of blue, became a massive hit in terms of tourism in India. After the release of the movie, there was an influx in the number of tourists visiting the region. Coffee shops, photo points, and souvenir shops inspired by the movie soon popped up in and around the lake. Several visitors still come searching for the iconic yellow scooter used in the movie.
Leh – 3 Idiots
Even though most attention went to Pangong Lake, Leh-Ladakh as a whole saw a tourism boom after 3 Idiots. The movie played a big part in making Himalayan tours a dream destination for Indians. After the release of the movie, many people chose to take motorbike tours, drive themselves around, camp, and do adventure tourism in the region. Leh has become one of the most famous road-trip destinations in India today.
Rohtang Pass – Jab We Met
The sequences of the mountain with snow in Jab We Met have played an important role in glamourising road journeys through Himachal Pradesh. The Rohtang Pass with its stunning landscapes and snow-capped slopes became popular with couples and youngsters after this movie. Jab We Met became a huge success and was responsible for bringing great numbers of tourists to enjoy scenic drives in the Himalayas. Many tourists now equate visits to Rohtang Pass with experiencing carefree adventures shown in this movie.
Udaipur – Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Also referred to as the City of Lakes, Udaipur became a more sought-after tourist destination with Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. This movie featured the luxurious palaces, beautiful lake settings, and architecture associated with royalty in its grand wedding scenes. Following this movie, there were many destination weddings held in Udaipur and there was a significant increase in luxury tourism in this city.
Athirappilly Falls – Baahubali and Raavan
The Athirappilly waterfalls became popular throughout India as it appeared in the movies of breathtaking visuals like Baahubali. The famous waterfall and Shivling scene caught everyone's attention. After that, the waterfalls became one of the favorite nature spots in Kerala. Adventurers, photographers, and movie fanatics flocked in huge numbers to see the scene from the movies at first hand.
Manali – Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
While Manali used to be a popular tourist spot before the release of the movie, the film played an important role in defining it for future travellers. The movie was instrumental in bringing popularity for backpacker vacations, group vacation tours, mountain trekking, and mountain coffee shops. Additionally, the movie helped increase the popularity of the friendship travel trend in India among young travellers.
