Despite thousands of years of history and a rich heritage in the arts, which has inspired writers, musicians, and performers worldwide, one of the main catalysts for visitors to make their first holiday to India comes from movies.
This spike in India's tourism even occurs with animated films. Tour operators and resorts have already begun to offer special packages in anticipation of increased interest in visiting the country that the new animated Jungle Book film will create when it is released in April. The Satpura National Park is allowing overnight camping for the first time ever, and packages that include visits to other national parks and tiger reserves are being offered.
India's diverse geography has provided a number of Hollywood film locations, which can give a slightly better idea of what to expect from a visit than an animated film. With that in mind here is a short guide to planning a holiday in some of India's most filmed locations.
This spike in India's tourism even occurs with animated films. Tour operators and resorts have already begun to offer special packages in anticipation of increased interest in visiting the country that the new animated Jungle Book film will create when it is released in April. The Satpura National Park is allowing overnight camping for the first time ever, and packages that include visits to other national parks and tiger reserves are being offered.
India's diverse geography has provided a number of Hollywood film locations, which can give a slightly better idea of what to expect from a visit than an animated film. With that in mind here is a short guide to planning a holiday in some of India's most filmed locations.
Accommodation:
Season travelers will tell you that the best way to get the most from a holiday is to experience the area from the residents' point of view. This works especially well if you have done a bit of research ahead of time and can get feedback from locals when you arrive. Booking your accommodation through a site like Owners Direct makes this very easy. Owners Direct offers private rooms, apartments and homes in various areas at very reasonable prices. Homestays are another option of some of the accommodation that is available and homeowners will be glad to help with the planning of daily itineraries. Local knowledgeable guides are available at sites like Viator to help you navigate the cities and plan excursions. Taking advantage of services like these will usually result in a more memorable holiday.
Locations:
Choosing a destination for a first visit to India can be an adventure in itself as the history, culture, architecture, food and environment is incredibly varied.
Season travelers will tell you that the best way to get the most from a holiday is to experience the area from the residents' point of view. This works especially well if you have done a bit of research ahead of time and can get feedback from locals when you arrive. Booking your accommodation through a site like Owners Direct makes this very easy. Owners Direct offers private rooms, apartments and homes in various areas at very reasonable prices. Homestays are another option of some of the accommodation that is available and homeowners will be glad to help with the planning of daily itineraries. Local knowledgeable guides are available at sites like Viator to help you navigate the cities and plan excursions. Taking advantage of services like these will usually result in a more memorable holiday.
Locations:
Choosing a destination for a first visit to India can be an adventure in itself as the history, culture, architecture, food and environment is incredibly varied.
Rajasthan
This northwestern desert state is one of the best known to movie-goers as it is a favourite of firangi filmmakers, with Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodhpur being the most filmed. The area is rich in palaces and forts and is home to beautiful and iconic architecture. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and the sequel are set in Jaipur which is known for Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds.
The Thar Desert city of Jodhpur, or Sun City, was the location for the Darjeeling Limited and is home of the Mehrangarh Fort which served as the prison in The Dark Night Rises. Much of the thirteenth James Bond film Octopussy was filmed in Udaipur.
This northwestern desert state is one of the best known to movie-goers as it is a favourite of firangi filmmakers, with Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodhpur being the most filmed. The area is rich in palaces and forts and is home to beautiful and iconic architecture. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and the sequel are set in Jaipur which is known for Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds.
The Thar Desert city of Jodhpur, or Sun City, was the location for the Darjeeling Limited and is home of the Mehrangarh Fort which served as the prison in The Dark Night Rises. Much of the thirteenth James Bond film Octopussy was filmed in Udaipur.
Mumbai
When many people considering a visit to India form a mental image of the country it is often of Mumbai, the city that has been the setting for many of the more successful films shot in India, including Slumdog Millionaire, Outsourced, and portions of Mission Impossible 4. It is also the centre of the Indian Film Industry as well, especially for Hindi films. The diversity of the city is one big contributor. The Juhu Slums provide a stark contrast to the skyscrapers that are the trademark of a key financial and business hub. Mumbai is large, crowded, expensive and diverse, drawing inspiration from the country's rich cultural past, with a mixture of New York and LA thrown into the mix.
When many people considering a visit to India form a mental image of the country it is often of Mumbai, the city that has been the setting for many of the more successful films shot in India, including Slumdog Millionaire, Outsourced, and portions of Mission Impossible 4. It is also the centre of the Indian Film Industry as well, especially for Hindi films. The diversity of the city is one big contributor. The Juhu Slums provide a stark contrast to the skyscrapers that are the trademark of a key financial and business hub. Mumbai is large, crowded, expensive and diverse, drawing inspiration from the country's rich cultural past, with a mixture of New York and LA thrown into the mix.
Goa
Goa is one of the more unusual cities in India. Goa was once a Portuguese colony and much of the food, culture and architecture show that influence; in fact many residents still speak Portuguese. The beach city is very modern and more westernized than much of India and is considered to be India's "party" city. It is a favourite holiday spot for many Indians and Europeans alike and served as Jason Bourne's hideaway in The Bourne Supremacy.
The immense diversity and mix of cultures and history are just a few of the reasons that India should be on any traveler's "must visit" list. The best way to experience any of the areas is to take cues from the locals. Sites like Owners Direct offer private rooms, apartments and homes, in various areas and at very reasonable prices. Homestays are one option of some of the accommodation that is available and homeowners are glad to help with the planning of daily itineraries. Local knowledgeable guides are available at sites like Viator to help you navigate the cities and also plan excursions.
The immense diversity and mix of cultures and history are just a few of the reasons that India should be on traveler's "must visit" list. Often the very reasons that India is so alluring are also the reasons that many travelers do not go. The myths, cultural and spiritual, coupled with the truly unique aspects of one of the world's oldest cultures can be somewhat intimidating. The best advice is to put aside many of the preconceived ideas and prepare to experience one of the world's most interesting destinations.
Goa is one of the more unusual cities in India. Goa was once a Portuguese colony and much of the food, culture and architecture show that influence; in fact many residents still speak Portuguese. The beach city is very modern and more westernized than much of India and is considered to be India's "party" city. It is a favourite holiday spot for many Indians and Europeans alike and served as Jason Bourne's hideaway in The Bourne Supremacy.
The immense diversity and mix of cultures and history are just a few of the reasons that India should be on any traveler's "must visit" list. The best way to experience any of the areas is to take cues from the locals. Sites like Owners Direct offer private rooms, apartments and homes, in various areas and at very reasonable prices. Homestays are one option of some of the accommodation that is available and homeowners are glad to help with the planning of daily itineraries. Local knowledgeable guides are available at sites like Viator to help you navigate the cities and also plan excursions.
The immense diversity and mix of cultures and history are just a few of the reasons that India should be on traveler's "must visit" list. Often the very reasons that India is so alluring are also the reasons that many travelers do not go. The myths, cultural and spiritual, coupled with the truly unique aspects of one of the world's oldest cultures can be somewhat intimidating. The best advice is to put aside many of the preconceived ideas and prepare to experience one of the world's most interesting destinations.
