Top 10 Travel Movies

Summer and vacation are like a couple in love … they always go hand in hand.

If you still haven’t planned your holiday, you need to do it now. Some of you may think that it’s a tedious process, so I thought I’d make it a little fun. How about you pick your holiday destination as per your favorite movie! It’s actually quite easy and to simplify your task further, you can refer to my list of top 10 travel movies that inspired and touched my travel ‘bone’!

Who can forget Raj and Simran and the beginning of their romance in Switzerland?

MY TOP 5 HINDI MOVIES

1. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge: Yes, it’s clichéd to have this as my number one, but it IS Shahrukh Khan and Kajol in Europe! After watching their romance in Switzerland, we all wanted to miss our trains and discover this wonderful country with Raj. We felt the need to buy that Swiss cowbell, Simran had and dance in and around Gstaad and probably even try that famous palat scene at the Saanen train station.

 

2. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara: La Tomatina festival (Holi with tomatoes!) probably came more in to the limelight after this movie. A movie that redefined friendship and adventure. Skydiving, scuba diving and San Fermin Pamplona (running of the bulls); they did it all! If you miss out on a chance to go to Spain on a road trip with your best buds, tum definitely the mantally challenged ho my bwoy.

Picture Kareena Kapoor riding the scooter in her bridal avatar as you take a walk along the scenic Pangong Tso Lake

3. 3 Idiots: We’ve all wanted to stand by the lake where Kareena Kapoor comes in her bridal avatar on a scooter and even visit that unique school run by Phunsukh Wangdu. This movie captured the true essence of Ladakh in a small yet impactful way. The clear waters of the Pangong Tso Lake, the striking mountains in the backdrop; it all just seemed ready for a visit.

4. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani: The most recent movie on friendship, love and self-discovery. Kongdori in Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Srinagar; shot in picturesque Kashmir, you see the snowcapped peaks in all their glory. Then it shifts to Paris’ Rue Mouffetard and Eiffel Tower and before you know it, you’re in the royal city of Udaipur- the busy markets, the glistening Oberoi Udaivilas, dancing to celebrate some badtameezi...

Discover romance in Venice like Deepika and Ranbir did in Bachna Ae Haseeno

5. Bachna Ae Haseeno: It starts on that typical filmy note in Switzerland. As the story progresses, it changes to Italy. With the jaw dropping Capri just waiting to be visited followed by the romantic Venice canals and Puglia waiting to be explored in the song Khuda Jaane. Now move to Sydney – the Opera House, Hyde Park,  it’s all there. Definitely a traveller’s paradise!

MY TOP 5 ENGLISH MOVIES

P.S. I Love You, partly filmed in Ireland, captures the true essense of this beautiful destination

1. P.S. I Love You: Get a box of tissues, because this movie will make you cry... but in Ireland! A story of love, loss and life changing letters takes you to the country roads in County Wicklow, southeast of Dublin. Scenes in the small yet vibrant Irish pubs make you want to jump up and sing! Lush and green Wicklow known as the Garden of Ireland shows you just why it got its name.

2. Motorcycle Diaries: A biopic on a person who embarks on an adventurous journey around South America on a motorcycle. Explore Buenos Aires in Argentina and the Atacama Desert and Calama in Chile through his eyes. Venezuela, Peru, Columbia; you’ll be surprised by all that you see!

3. Midnight in Paris: A movie set in Paris, one about love with hints of humour. It’s Paris! There’s always a deep desire to go there, and after watching the movie you would want to go even more! Arc de Triomphe, Château de Versailles, Musée de Louvre, and Cathedral de Notre Dame are a few places that have been shown in the film. The movie truly makes you sigh and say Ah Paris, Je t’aime !’

Live it up like the gang of men from Hangover in the world’s Party Capital, Las Vegas

4. Hangover Series: The road trip formula never fails. While the first part takes you to the Party Capital Las Vegas, the second one takes you to Bangkok and other parts of Thailand. From the iconic Caesars Palace, Bellagio and the White Chapel in Vegas to Thailand and Bangkok. Visit Chinatown, Soi Cowboy and Sukhumvit Soi to travel like the “wolf pack”.

5. Sex and the City Series:

• Trace the path of the ladies with Gucci, Jimmy Choo and Versace. They know how to dress and they definitely know how to travel. The first movie shows how these ladies live it up in LA and New York. From Santa Monica Pier to Hollywood, Times Square to the East Side - spoil yourself and live it up!

Did these stylish ladies from Sex and the City just raise the temperatures of this exotic destination further?

• In the sequel, the women looking for the “2 Ls”, (love and labels, of course) hit Abu Dhabi… uhh not exactly. Though filmed as Abu Dhabi, it’s really Morocco. Sand and the Arab population are what probably make them similar but Morocco has its own charm. You get to see the famous Djemaa El Fna Square and the pink walls of the Medina, with Marrakech as the backdrop. Head to Erfoud, Merzouga and some of the most spectacular dunes of the Sahara Desert.Merzougasituated on the edge of Erg Chebbi are 50 kilometre long sand dunes, reaching a height of almost 350 metres!

Now get yourself some popcorn and watch away! But before you do that, don’t forget to log on to MakeMyTrip.com to book your tickets for a very filmy vacation!