Remember how you wanted to pack your bags and head to Goa with your friends after watching Dil Chahta Hai? That’s the kind of impact films have on us. They can really inspire you.
After all, who would have thought that the Chapora fort, built in the 1700s by Portuguese colonists, would be known as the ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ point? That’s the power of cinema.
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A film about food can make you hungry and crave some yummy snacks. A movie about spirituality can be the reason you start meditating. And a film about traveling can inspire you to travel and explore.
So if travel is on your mind, but you need some enticement, start a movie marathon with these 8 Bollywood films.
Here are 8 Bollywood movies that will make you want to hit the road!
1) Qarib Qarib Singlle
How about exploring mesmerizing Indian cities like Rishikesh, Gangtok, and Jaipur through the silver screen? Imagine watching Irrfan Khan sitting at the Ganges and reciting old songs. Or traveling with him through the lanes of Gangtok and watching him express his love to his online date at a Jaipur fort.
Sounds exciting, right?
This slice-of-life film takes you on a beautiful journey across India and will temp the traveler in you. Once you finish watching Qarib Qarib Singlle, you will start booking your air tickets!
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2) Piku
A film where Amitabh Bachchan, Irrfan Khan, and Deepika Padukone take a road trip all the way from New Delhi to Kolkata! Need I say more? Piku is not a regular film about travel. It showcases different emotions in every frame and dialogue.
It’s not just about a journey of three people but of life. You would want to sit next to Deepika on the Ghats of Varanasi and talk about your dreams. The shots of old Kolkata will make you want to travel in those ancient lanes.
Moreover, the best part about this film is how it showcases Bengali culture and the most stunning sites of Bengal.
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3) Karwaan
A film starring Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, and Mithila Palkar that has covered South India like no other Bollywood movie. It’s the story of two grief-stricken strangers and a crazy guy (Irrfan Khan) undertaking a wild journey together.
They travel across breathtaking destinations like Ooty, Kottayam, and Kumarakom, among others, and experience life-changing events. The expedition helps them come to terms with reality and let go of their grief.
While doing so, they make you laugh, cry, and introspect. But above all, Karwaan makes you want to travel to those surreal destinations hidden in the South.
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4) Barfi
If you haven’t been to Darjeeling yet, trust filmmaker Anurag Basu to convince you to head to the popular tourist destination through excellent cinematography. He shot the film at the best locations in Kolkata and Darjeeling and captured the state’s surreal beauty through his lens.
You can literally feel the vibes of Darjeeling through Barfi and think that you are sitting in that Toy Train with Ranbir Kapoor. The songs, the frames, and the authenticity will make you want to pack your bags and take a trip to Darjeeling with the love of your life.
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5) Finding Fanny
Another underrated Bollywood gem, Finding Fanny is a film about an old man taking a trip across Goa in a vintage car to find the lost love of his life.
The unconventional story, powerful cinematography, exotic locations, and authenticity make it a must-watch for all movie lovers and travelers. If you think that Go Goa Gone made you plan a wild Goa trip, this film will make you want to visit the real side of Goa.
It will make you take an impromptu trip to Goa with your family or friends and visit those ancient Goan villages.
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6) Highway
A film by Imtiaz Ali, who started the trend of ‘traveling and finding yourself in India, Highway is a gem that makes you want to hit the road again. It revolves around a girl who discovers freedom after getting kidnapped and travels all the way to Manali from Delhi with her kidnappers in a truck.
Don’t worry, it’s not as crazy as it sounds. It tempted a lot of people to explore Himachal Pradesh in a truck, and many actually did it. The iconic scenes from the films and picturesque locations will make you want to take an adventurous trip to Manali. And who knows, maybe you will discover what freedom is, just like Veera?
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7) Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin
Nothing is better than a 90s film about travel and love. Starring Aamir Khan and Pooja Bhatt, this classic film showcased the beauty of India through its striking cinematography.
The film was shot in locations like Ooty, Munnar, Fern Hill Palace, and Nawanagar Palace, among other Indian destinations. Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin explores the journey of a runaway bride and a charming boy next door traveling across Indian cities in a bus and eventually falling in love.
The film increased the tourist footfall in Ooty shortly after its release and should be on every travel enthusiast and die-hand romantic’s list.
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8) Jab We Met
Admit it, whenever you watch this film, all you want to do is go on a train journey. In my case, I hope to miss one so that I can meet the Aditya of my life. After Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, it’s Imtiaz Ali’s Jab We Met that made us fall in love with the idea of traveling in trains and dancing in the snow.
You would want to sit on a tractor in a field in Punjab and talk about life. Those stunning shots of Manali and Shimla will make you crave the mountains. Jab We met encourages you to live in the moment and do what you genuinely love.
But in my opinion, it teaches you that if you don’t know where you’re headed, just keep going, and you will find your destination.
Final Takeaway
From Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara to Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, numerous Bollywood films can make anyone fall in love with the idea of traveling. These feel-good films teach you that life is too short to worry about the future.
So instead, just live in the moment and travel as much as possible. What I learned from films like Tamasha was that one really finds themselves through traveling. It’s a road to self-discovery that everyone must take every now and then.
So tell us, which film brings out the traveler in you?