Scenic locales & picturesque views at every step, Uttarakhand has been Bollywood’s go-to location …….. The diversity & the beauty of the state makes it suitable for all kinds of shoots. The peaceful surroundings get the Actors attached to these locations and they can’t help themselves from delving deep into the culture through the food and interactions with the people & reasons to keep coming back. Thanks to these shoots & mention of the names with places, Uttarakhand has seen a large spike in the numbers visiting and you shouldn’t be missing out too!! The holy sites, the peaceful hills and the adrenaline pumping adventures, there is something for everyone to explore. Here is a glimpse into two blockbuster movies that covered some diverse locations to rise your curiosity to visit Uttarakhand.
1. Student of the Year
The Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, and Siddharth Malhotra starrer is a visual treat, whether it’s the actors or the locations, we can’t take our eyes off the screen for a moment. In the movie, the large expanse of St. Theresa school which became famous after this movie released, is shot in the Forest Research Institute (FRI) located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The front of this building had the St. Theresa name spread across it and there are number shots taken here. The songs and entries of Abhimanyu Singh (Siddharth Malhotra) and Rohan (Varun Dhawan) have also been shot here and they show all the picturesque angles of FRI. The main attraction being the main building which is a National Heritage site and the beauty of it never fails to amaze you. Forest Research Institute Dehradun is among the oldest institutions of its kind and acclaimed the world over. The institute's history is virtually synonymous with the evolution and development of scientific forestry, not only in India but over the entire subcontinent. With the outer Himalaya forming its backdrop, who wouldn’t want to visit such a cool school building!
FRI is spread over 2000 acres of lush greenery. There are 6 different museums on their grounds which are forestry, pathology, silviculture, timber, non-wood forest products and entomology. It is famous for the peaceful parks and long pathways shadowed by large trees like. The spring season sees a variety of blooming flowers, deep green leaves and many small animals like squirrels and butterflies which are rarely found in cities these days, In the Autumn, the pathways are covered in blankets of leaves which are the shades of red, orange and yellow. The architectural marvel of the colonial British era is a frequently visited area for locals as well as visitors as it has a minimal entry fee. Photographers and movie directors love shooting here and it is a must visit if you are in Dehradun. Amongst other historic places to visit in Dehradun are the Indian Military Academy (IMA), the Doon School and the Robber caves. Dehradun can become a hub for you to visit surrounding cities of Rishikesh, Haridwar and Mussoorie depending on your time & travel interests.
2. Qarib Qarib Single
This blockbuster movie starring the iconic (late) Irrfan Khan and talented Parvathy Thiruvothu took total advantage of the diverse landscapes of Uttarakhand covering the ghats of Rishikesh and Haridwar and the hilly terrain of Dehradun and Mussoorie. Through the train journey and the long drives, the director, Tanuja Chandra, gave us a whole bunch of reasons to want to go and explore these places ourselves. The street food, the large expanse of ghats, the friendly people in Haridwar and the sheer beauty of it all make us want to jump right into the screen and experience it all. The Ganga Aarti, the Parmarth Niketan Ashram, the Laxman Jhula and river rafting through the rapids in Rishikesh, the film makers left no spot unexplored.
The Ashram and hotel near Ram Jhula is a truly spiritual site, famous for its olden charm and deep rooted Indian culture which remain untouched by the modern day thought. The Ganga Aarti at Haridwar is an experience everyone should have once in their lifetime and all Hindu’s believe it to be an extremely holy site. River rafting in Rishikesh has been mentioned in one of our previous articles as well for a weekend getaway with your friends and family if you are in or around Delhi. The same gets highlighted in the movie when the actors go there with a large joint family for some fun and adventure. Overall, the places covered are great to visit and will give you memorable moments throughout your journey. Setting amazing travel goals seems to have been like the hidden motive for this movie and Jaya (Parvathy) and Yogi (Late Irrfan) haven’t failed to do so for a minute throughout the movie.
