Bollywood has a knack for discovering picturesque villages, in the deep hinterlands of India and using them as the central premise for some of the most popular movies of all time. These villages depict an idyllic rustic life and inspire us to visit just to get immersed in their surreal landscape. If you are one of those who likes to travel to unconventional places and experience a different kind of life, read our list of 10 Indian villages that deserve a ‘must-visit’ tag.
1. Wai
Wai was depicted as ‘Charanpur’ in the SRK-starrer Swades. This village is a part of Wai district in Maharashtra.
2. Bhuj
Bhuj was made popular in the movie Lagaan as ‘Champaner’ where Aamir Khan & Co play a game of cricket to save their village from the taxes imposed during British rule. It is in Kutch region of Gujarat state.
3. Ramanagara
Ramanagara or popular known as the village of ‘Ramgarh’ in the iconic movie Sholay, the rocky terrain may still remind you of Gabbar Singh’s terror or Saamba’s vigil on top of a cliff. It is situated in Ramnagaram district of Karnataka.
4. Chamba
Remember Aishwarya Rai swaying to ‘Dil Ye Bechain Ve…Taal Se Taal Mila..’ in the eponymously titled Taal? Yes, this scene was shot in the tranquil Chambal Valley district in Himachal Pradesh.
5. Panchmarhi
Panchmarhi was set up for shooting key scenes of the SRK and Kareena Kapoor- starrer Ashoka. It is a scenic hill station in Madhya Pradesh
6. Kutralam
This village was selected for the film Roja and depicted as ‘Sundarapandianpuram’. Kutralam is in Trivandrum district in Kerala and is famous for its lush green fields and huge waterfalls.
7. Badami
An archaeological site with a host of Jain and Buddhist temples, Badami was chosen as a venue for filming certain scenes of the film Guru. It is in Bagalkot district of Karnataka.
8. Umaid Nagar
This village on the outskirts of Jodhpur, Rajasthan was picturized in the movie Dor, an acclaimed movie from ace director Nagesh Kukunoor and starred Ayesha Takia in the lead role.
9. Abhaneri
Paheli – starring Rani Mukherjee and SRK, was filmed in this small village of Abhaneri. It is in Jausa district of Rajasthan. The Chand Baori (stepwell) is one of the oldest structures of its kind and popular with tourists.
10. Purulia
Purulia (West Bengal) was the location for second half of the movie Lootera – starring Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha. It is known for its scenic lakes and mesmerizing hills. In fact, tourists can also experience shikara rides a-la Kashmir at the 50-acre man-made Saheb Bandh lake!
Indian hinterland is a treasure trove of beautiful and pristine villages that we can just imagine as city dwellers. All it will take is some planning from your end to get transported to these exotic Indian villages made famous by Bollywood movies. We bet you won’t like to come back.