Welcome to Rajasthan Tourism
RAJASTHAN ON THE SILVER SCREEN
FILMS & LOCATIONS
Rajasthan is not only one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world but also the most widely captured on cinema. Ranging from blockbusters with massive budgets to documentaries made on a shoestring budget, Rajasthan offers a vast range of locations and facilities for every kind of filmmaker and genre of cinema. In fact, it has been a favoured location with both Indian and International filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan, Wes Anderson, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Karan Johar and more!
Badrinath ki Dulhaniya is a romantic comedy released in 2017.The movie plays around a lot with the prevalent patriarchy and societal constructs, against which, Vaidehi, a girl from Kota (played by Alia Bhatt), is seen with dreams that go against convention. The movie captures the struggles of young girls with the status quo, and ends spectacularly with what can be seen as a new beginning for a better school of thought. The film has been extensively shot in Jaipur and Kota, the coaching capital of the country. You can see a number of shots of beautiful locations in and around Kota, including the Kishore Sagar Lake, Jag Mandir, the Seven Wonders Park (which houses replicas of the 7 Wonders of the World), Government Janaki Devi Bajaj Girls’ College road, Ghatothkach Circle, etc. The shots truly capture the charm of Kota in a modern setting.
A Tamil thriller with an interesting story, I has parts of the film shot on the stunning Mehrangarh fort, 125 metres above the skyline of Jodhpur. Depicting a stunning blue backdrop of the city of Jodhpur, I offers you a peek into the beauty of the one of the finest offerings of the Royal State— the Mehrangarh fort. Laden with historical tales and legends, this fort still bears the imprints of cannonball attacks from long, long ago! Known for its intricate interiors, the magic of Mehrangarh cannot be explained until you’ve experienced it for yourself!
A Hindi drama film starring Salman Khan, Bajrangi Bhaijaan was a film that warmed the hearts of its audience in a flash. With parts shot in the quaint, beautiful little town of Mandawa in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district, it transports you to the old-world charm of this location in a heartbeat. Exuding the charming local flavour of Rajasthan’s picturesque towns, Mandawa makes for a pretty picture with green fields rustling in the breeze, vibrant houses, twisting old roads and the laid back yet warm people.
A charming film starring the legendary Dev Anand and the beautiful Waheeda Rehman, Guide never fails to impress you with the stellar performances by its cast. A romantic song, a classic that still makes hearts flutter— Aaj Jeene Ki Tamanna Hain has been shot in the picturesque Chittorgarh fort in Rajasthan. Epitomising the Rajput passion, valour and spirit, Fort Chittorgarh spreads across 700 acres and has a past full of tumultuous tales. This beautiful song from Guide rightly depicts the spirit of Chittorgarh— one that never backs down.
Who can forget the entire second half of this Hindi film that made us all wish for a fabulous destination wedding in Rajasthan? Shot in the Bagore ki Haveli in Udaipur, this film wonderfully depicts the colours, vibrant atmosphere and the beauty of Rajasthan. Capturing the quaint, old-world charm of Bagore ki Haveli, it tastefully showcases the massive palace with its intricately-decorated interiors, focus on modern art, as well as the presence of glass and mirrors in the interiors that are structured in classic haveli style.
This period drama depicting a legendary love story is famous for its beautiful locations. Parts of Bajirao Mastani have been shot in the stunning Amber Palace in Jaipur. Deepika’s famous song, Rang Do Mohe Laal beautifully shows the stunning architecture and interiors of the Amber Palace. Made from red sandstone and white marble, the exquisite Amber Palace is an interesting mixture of both Rajput and Mughal architecture and design. Plan a trip to Jaipur to experience the beauty and magic of the Amber Palace first hand!
This 2016 Kannada sequel to a successful movie of the same name showcases a picturesque road trip across Rajasthan, which will surely inspire you to plan your own road trip in the Royal State! Beautifully shot across Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur, it exudes the colours, spirit and vibrant culture of Rajasthan through the elements shown in the movie.
Recreating the twisting old lanes of Delhi, the old-world charm of Sambhar, a small town in Jaipur district gave Delhi 6 its quaint look and feel. Showcasing local elements like charming architecture, colourful lanes and winding roads, it wonderfully depicts the culture and beauty of Rajasthan’s small towns.
One of Indian cinema’s finest contributions to the modern age, Rang De Basanti shows you a glimpse of Rajasthan through a beautiful song that’ll make you wish you were there, too. Shot on the majestic Nahargarh fort overlooking the charming city of Jaipur, it wonderfully depicts the magnificence of the fort that proudly creates an impressive northern backdrop to the Pink City. Fort Nahargarh houses the summer destination for the royal family, and is traditionally known as the Abode of Tigers, for defending Amber against attacking enemies!
This movie, starring some of cinema’s most talented will make you want to pack your bags and fly to Rajasthan. Picturesquely shot in Jaipur and Udaipur, it beautifully captures the local flavour of these two cities – from local markets, rickshaws, motorbikes, camels, flower markets with its jasmine and saffron, Janta Bazaar, Panna Meena Kund step well, Jalebi Chowk, Lake Pichola and more! While the heritage property, Narain Niwas Palace is shown as the regal Viceroy Club, the Ravla Khempur, a rural hotel in Mewar stars as the eponymous hotel.
Rarely has the grand expanse of Rajasthan been captured so aesthetically as it is has under the expert guidance of Wes Anderson. The Darjeeling limited tells the story of three estranged brothers traveling together across India. The elaborate beauty and architecture of Udaipur, the ‘City of Lakes’ and the golden sands of the deserts of Jodhpur will leave you as awestruck as the director was when he laid eyes on Rajasthan.
The spectacularly desolate Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur served as an important location in the finale of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. Two important scenes in the movie were filmed both, in the fort and by its majestic backdrop, and successfully showcased the stunning and awe-inspiring scale of this architectural marvel.
This 1983 James Bond movie starring Roger Moore as the suave spy put Rajasthan on Hollywood’s list of favourite locations to shoot at. The beautiful Lake Palace Hotel and Lake Pichola in Udaipur played an integral part in the movie’s plot. The scene where Bond, disguised as a crocodile swims up to the ‘floating palace’, the lair of the Octopussy stunningly showcases the grandiose beauty of Lake Pichola and the Lake Palace Hotel. The Jagmandir, Monsoon Palace, Lal Ghat and other streets of Udaipur were also used in the movie.
Tarsem Singh’s labour of love is visually stunning, to say the least. And a huge part of that is because of where it was shot. The Royal State features prominently in this Lee Pace starrer. From the majestic City Palace, Umaid Bhavan and Chandra Mahal to Jaisalmer’s famous Golden Fort, Lake Palace and Mehrangarh Fort in Udaipur to Chand Baori in Abhaneri, this film successfully manages to capture the sheer beauty of Rajasthan in its myriad frames.
The gorgeous Kate Winslet stars in this highly acclaimed movie which put Pushkar on the world map as a must-visit destination. It captured the beauty, colours, people and piety of Pushkar in a truly enticing manner, making everyone across the world want to discover it. Known across the world as the city that hosts the largest cattle fair in the world, Pushkar was the backdrop that saw a Winslet’s character fall in love with an Indian guru.
Filmed extensively across the vast expanse of Rajasthan, the land of kings was the perfect location for One Night with the King. The historical epic starring the legendary Peter O’Toole brought alive the exotic splendour, lush colours and dynamic and diverse landscape of Rajasthan. Be it the desert, palaces, forts, bazaars; Rajasthan was stunningly captured on cinema with this movie.
The sequel to popular comedy-drama, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was also based in Rajasthan. Set primarily in Jaipur, some parts of the movie were shot in the magnificent, luxurious and beautiful Pearl Palace Heritage. Other striking locations that captured the beauty, spirit and dynamism of Rajasthan included Castle Kanota which stars as the Viceroy Club in the movies, the Janta Bazaar flower market, and of course, the the Ravla Khempur in Mewar, the eponymous star of the movie.
Nestled in the lap of golden sand dunes, the Khimsar village is like chancing upon a mirage in the endless desert. It’s rustic and charming appearance, cultural significance and beauty was beautifully captured in the Centre Fresh ad which combined zing, freshness and a fun storyline with a great location.
The Cholormint ice ad, where a fire thrower innovatively cools down with Chlormint ice, gives a glimpse into Bikaner. Nicknamed ‘camel country’, Bikaner’s golden expanse, dotted with red sandstone forts and palaces springs charmingly to life here.
The golden city of Jaisalmer, with its imposing Sonar Quila, majestic architecture, colour and grandeur sprang to life in this ad as it formed a backdrop for Maruti to showcase the capabilities and accessibility of their service station.
Rajasthan has always been on the top of the list when it comes to destination weddings, and for a good reason. It’s a stunning blend of beautiful locales and the royal, exotic touch. The eponymous City of Lakes refers to Udaipur’s fond moniker, and this short wedding film captures the glorious city in all her glory. A first-ever live event scripted film created on a large scale, this one is sure to have everyone planning a wedding in Udaipur.
The iconic image reel of Boris Becker playing cricket inside the grand Samode Palace whilst Diya Mirza coyly watches from the haveli’s latticed balcony is an indelible one. Shot extensively across Chomu and the Palace, the Siyaram ad firmly imposed the coming home to message and made many want to come visit Rajasthan.
This master stroke of an ad which irreverently drove him Fevicol’s philosophy of being the ultimate adhesive force was shot in Jaisalmer. A bus trudges down the dusty, golden desert roads of Jaisalmer, and people, dressed in colourful, traditional Rajasthani garb are steadfastly stuck firmly to it. It’s still counted as one of India’s most iconic ad films, and beautifully utilised the stunning locality and populace of Rajasthan.
Often referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’, the lake city of Udaipur is known as the centre for performing arts and crafts. The famous Lake Palace, located bang in the middle of Lake Pichola is easily one of the most beautiful sights of Udaipur. Udaipur is also home to Jaisamand Lake, the largest artificial lake in Asia. The beautiful City Palace and Sajjan Garh (Monsoon Palace) add to the architectural beauty and grandeur of the city.
ExplorePushkar is one of the oldest cities in India. Located to the northwest of Ajmer, the tranquil city of Pushkar is a favoured destination for thousands of tourists and devotees flocking to Rajasthan. Situated at a height of 510 metres, Pushkar is surrounded by hillocks on three sides. The ‘Nag Pahar’, literally meaning Snake Mountain forms a natural border between Ajmer and Pushkar. Known as ‘the rose garden of Rajasthan’, the essence of the famous Pushkar rose is exported all over the world. Along with an interesting mythological history, a legacy of timeless architectural heritage makes Pushkar a fascinating city.
ExploreCuddled up in the eastern zone of Rajasthan, Sawai Madhopur is one of the prominent conurbations of Rajasthan. Popularly known as the 'Gateway to Ranthambore', the town has seen many historic episodes and reigns. Sawai Madhopur has partly plain and partly undulating hilly terrain.
ExploreNagaur is located in the north western Marwar region of Rajasthan. It is an area with a forest belt of thorn scrubs that circles the Thar Desert. In the south eastern stretch of this district lies the magnificent Aravalli Range while India’s largest salt lake, ‘Sambhar Lake’ lies at the southwestern corner of the district.
ExploreSituated on the banks of the Chambal River, the city of Kota is famous for its distinctive style of paintings, palaces, museums, and places of worship. The city of Kota is well known all over the world for its architectural splendour comprising beautiful palaces, temples and museums which exhibit the grandeur of the foregone era.
ExploreChittorgarh is named after its most imposing structure, the Chittorgarh Fort which stands atop a 180 metre high hill and is spread across 700 acres.
ExploreJodhpur, the second largest city in Rajasthan is popularly known as the Blue City. The name is clearly befitting as most of the architecture – forts, palaces, temples, havelis and even houses are built in vivid shades of blue. The mammoth, imposing fortress of Mehrangarh has a landscape dominating a rocky ridge with the eight gates leading out of the fortress.
ExploreJhalawar, once called Brijnagar is known for its rich natural wealth of vibrant flora and fauna. However, unlike other cities of Rajasthan, Jhalawar has a rocky but water-laden verdant landscape. Red poppy fields and orange laden orchards are strewn across Jhalawar, lending it a colourful look. This place has a varied cultural heritage that includes many forts and palaces from the Rajput and Mughal periods. It is solely famous for the large numbers of temples and religious sites.
ExploreThe city of Jaisalmer also acts as the guard to western Rajasthan (and India’s) frontier. This 'Golden City’ is located close to the Pakistan border and in close proximity to the Thar Desert. The city’s most prominent landmark is the Jaisalmer Fort, also called Sonar Qila (Golden Fort). Unlike most other forts in India, Jaisalmer Fort is not just a tourist attraction. It houses shops, hotels and ancient havelis (homes) where generations continue to live.
EXPLOREThe capital city of Rajasthan combines the allure of its ancient history with all the advantages of a metropolis. The bustling modern city is one of the three corners of the golden triangle that includes Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The pink that colours the city makes for a marvellous spectacle to behold. Jaipur rises up majestically against the backdrop of the forts Nahargarh, Jaigarh and Moti Doongri.
Explore"Harsh and wild in the northeast and teeming with life in the fertile plains of the southwest, it is irrigated by two rivers, Mahi And Som. Dungarpur’s rise to tourist fame is thanks to the exceptional architecture of its palaces and royal residences. These stone structures are adorned with 'jharokhas' (windows)and built in a style that was born during the times of Maharawal Shiv Singh (1730-1785 AD). "
ExploreBundi – the work of goblins rather than of men. Bundi is a magnificent town located around 36 kilometres from Kota. Dotted with palaces and forts, the place has a fairy tale quality about it. Bundi’s charm lies in its location –surrounded by orchards of orange, guava, pomegranate and mango trees, flanked by the Aravalli range and rivers and lined by fields of cotton, barley and wheat. Situated far from the crowds, it is the simple rural folk that lend Bundi its allure.
Explore"A unique aspect about Bikaner are the sand dunes that are scattered throughout the district, especially from the north-east down to the southern area. Bikaner is situated in the northern region of Rajasthan. One of the earlier established cities, Bikaner still displays its ancient opulence through palaces and forts, built of red sandstone, that have withstood the passage of time. The city boasts of some of the world’s best riding camels and is aptly nicknamed ‘camel country’. It is also home to one of the world’s largest camel research and breeding farms; as well as being known for having its own unique temple dedicated to Karni Mata at Deshnok, called the Rats Temple.
ExploreBharatpur is also home to one of the world's best-known bird watching destinations, Keoladeo Ghana National Park (KNP). 250 years ago, the then ruler built embankments that allowed flooding of this land, turning it into a marsh. Named after the dense jungle that surrounded an old Shiva Temple, this 29 square kilometre man-made wetland is renowned for migratory birds – ducks, geese, waders, raptors, flycatchers and more. In winter, avid birders and ornithologists flock to the park to observe and study the feathered beauties. With more than 370 recorded species, KNP used to also host the Siberian crane. It is a World Heritage Site.
ExploreOccupying an area of 28,387 sq. km, Barmer is among the larger districts in Rajasthan. Being in the western part of the state, it includes a part of the Thar Desert. Jaisalmer is to the north of this district while Jalore is in its south. Pali and Jodhpur form its eastern border and it shares a border with Pakistan in the west. Once a camel trade route, this area is rich in craft that include wood carving, pottery, embroidery work and ajrak prints.
ExploreThe district is a mix of different geographies with fertile plains of maize, wheat, rice, cotton soya bean and gram covering the entire central and western regions, while the Aravallis range make up the eastern side. The rich teak forests and mango, khajur (date) and mahua trees are home to diverse wildlife. Archaeological significance of Arthuna has made it one of the prime attractions of Banswara.
ExploreNestled in the lap of the green hills of the Aravalli range, it is home to beautiful palaces and forts from an era long gone. The deep valleys and thick forest cover of the hills are a haven for many species of birds such as grey partridge and white-throated kingfisher and animals, most notably, the Bengal tiger and golden jackal. It is this splendour and exquisite architecture, along with the calm lakes, royal hunting chalets, dense jungles and a socio-cultural environment unlike any other
EXPLOREzThe city of Ajmer gets its name from ‘Ajay Meru’. Roughly translated, it means ‘invincible hills’. Ajmer is home to the famous Dargah Sharif, which houses the Tomb of Garib Nawaz, also known as Moinuddin Chisti, the founder of the Chisti order of Sufism. Ajmer is also known for Mayo College, one of the country’s first schools that was a stepping stone for British style of education. It is also a sacred city for Hindus and Muslims alike and is renowned for being a centre of history and culture and beauty.
ExploreBeautiful, picturesque patches of green in the middle of the otherwise bustling towns and cities of Rajasthan, a vast array of gardens offer a moment of respite to dwellers and travellers alike. Dotted with colourful, vibrant flowers and perfectly manicured lawns, Rajasthan’s gardens are a sight to behold. Some of its most popular and most scenic gardens include Deeg and Sahiliyon ki Bari, which beautifully capture the local essence of their surroundings.
The majestic Aravalli mountain range spreads across a large part of Western India, including the Royal State, making it look exquisitely picturesque. Complete with lush greenery, dazzling lakes and stunning views of deep valleys and forests, the rugged mountain range offers a scenic backdrop and alluring opportunities for those interested in photography.
For nature lovers, Rajasthan has a lot to offer in terms of flora and fauna. Home to the majestic tiger, a host of rare birds and other animals along with spectacular flora, Rajasthan’s natural beauty can be best experienced through a visit to its variety of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries such as Ranthambhore, Bharatpur and Sariska. Each park has something unique to offer and makes for a unique, memorable experience that is enriched by the surrounding beauty.
A variety of enchanting water bodies dot Rajasthan, adding to its scenic beauty. Picturesque dams, artificial lakes and springs of bubbling water not only make Rajasthan look picture perfect, but also cater to its water needs. Lake Gadisar in Jaisalmer, Lake Pichola in Udaipur, Jaisamand Lake (Asia’s second largest artificial lake) in Udaipur and Pushkar Lake in Pushkar, to name a few are included in Rajasthan’s most alluring tourist attractions.
Rajasthan’s history, valour, bravery and passion are all reflected in majestic structures across the State—forts, beautiful temples, stunning step-wells and exquisite palaces. Inspired by Mughal and Rajput architecture styles, these historic structures give Rajasthan a quaint, vintage and very authentic look and feel. Some of the very popular historic structures in Rajasthan include the Junagarh fort in Bikaner, the Chittorgarh fort in Chittorgarh, and the Mehrangarh fort in Jodhpur. Full of mysteries and embedded with legends and tales of history, Rajasthan’s historical structures are examples of architectural marvels from centuries ago.
Golden sand set against bright blue sky, the sand dunes of the Thar Desert do full justice to Rajasthan’s moniker of the Desert State. Frequently changing their appearance with every gust of wind, they are a testament to the magic of nature. A photographer’s delight, these sand dunes give the otherwise barren land a shimmering, glittering look during the day. Equally mesmerising during the night time, the sand dunes are a treat to the eyes with their rippling movements and scenic beauty.
Rajasthan is well-equipped with production houses that will meet every requirement you have for your film shoot. Be it a Hollywood project, an ad film, a Bollywood film, regional cinema or documentary, they will ensure you access to the best facilities you require for your shoot across all filming locations.
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