From the majestic Western Ghats of Lonavala to the picturesque Kashmir, from the beautiful Shimla to the gorgeous Coorg, hill stations have always been the first love for our filmmakers. Here is our list of 10 hill stations in India that Bollywood loves the most.
Srinagar
How can we forget Shammi Kapoor romancing the beautiful Sharmila Tagore on a shikara in the Dal Lake? Films like Kashmir ki Kali and Aandhi explored Srinagar like never before.
Though Srinagar has been a Yash Chopra favourite, contemporary filmmakers like Vishal Bhardwaj and Imtiaz Ali captured the pristine beauty of Kashmir in their respective films Saat Khoon Maaf and Rockstar. And the show is still going on…..
Shimla
Relive the magical moments of the movie Black when you visit the hill station of Shimla or take a joy ride on the Kalka Shimla Toy Train, much on the lines of Shahid and Kareena from Jab We Met.
Coorg
This otherwise quiet and hidden treasure, Coorg is now a favourite shooting location and recently films like Kyun Ho Gaya Na and 7 Khoon Maaf have captured the 1,593 square miles of undulating topography carpeted in green to the hilt.
Ooty
Always wanted to visit that palatial house of Salman Khan in the 90s blockbuster Hum Aapke Hain Kaun but never knew where it was? Well, that was Ooty, the queen of Blue Hills.
Not only that, the hill station of Ooty has many movies to its credit, ranging from the 80s Sadma to 90s Hum and Raaz of the next millennium. In fact, the climax of Sadma was shot at the Nilgiris Mountain Railway and is ranked one of the Bollywood’s top 50 most memorable scenes by CNN-IBN.
Darjeeling
Remember Rajesh Khanna crooning “mere sapno ki rani kab aayegi tu” against the magical backdrop of Kanchenjunga in the early 70s? Well, that movie was Aradhana, which changed the destiny for Rajesh Khanna and brought Darjeeling to the world map.
Circa 2012: Our own lovable Barfi a.k.a Ranbir Kapoor made us fall in love again with the snow-capped mountains and sprawling tea estates of Darjeeling as he roams around the town, singing “ala, ala, matwala barfi!
Nainital
Interested in meeting Jaadu from Koi Mil Gaya? Well, we take you to the lush greenery of Nainital to meet him and his gang of friends. The blockbuster captured the essence of this beautiful hill station to the hilt, leaving the viewers mesmerized.
Other famous movies shot here included Rajesh Khanna starrer Kati Patang, and Nassurudin Shah’s Masoom, a part of which was shot in the famous St. Joseph School.
Munnar
Kerala’s most sought-after hill resort has always captured the fancies of filmmakers and no wonder, Munnar played perfect host for movies like Chennai Express and Nishabd. Go on a drive just like Shahrukh did to soak up all the scenic beauty. Plan a trip to Munnar during rains as it is one of the best monsoon destinations in India.
Leh/Ladakh
Truly a traveller’s delight, Leh-Ladakh is the seat of Tibetan and Buddhist culture in India. Although untouched by the commercial tourism, in recent years a few movies have been shot here which highlight the surreal beauty of this place, including 3 Idiots, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Dil Se and LOC Kargil. Especially, the alluring Pangong Tso in Leh can be seen in scenes of movies mentioned.
Manali
Want to go on a drive in the snow-covered Rohtang Pass just like Kareena from Jab We Met or wish to visit the famous Hadimba Temple with your gang of friends like Ranbir Kapoor did in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani? Plan a trip to Manali to get your favourite moments from these famous movies which were shot in the breathtaking landscapes of this hill station.
Lonavala/Khandala
‘Lonavala in Monsoons!’ Doesn’t that remind you of the song “jo haal dil ka idhar ho raha hai” from Aamir Khan starrer Sarfarosh. Raw and surreal, this little town will amaze you with lush hills, winding roads and brilliant hues.
A favourite with the filmmakers, the scenic beauty of Lonavala is best captured in movies like Rangeela and Yaadein.
Why go abroad when our own land is full of exquisite wonders and amazing sights! Captured beautifully on the celluloid, these were just a handful of hill stations that Bollywood loves!
Photo credits: Wikipedia pages of Jab We Met, Saat Khoon Maaf, Kashmir ki Kali; official Facebook page of Yashraj Films and flikr user Saagar Yadav.
