15 Famous Hotels Where Bollywood Movies Were Shot

At times the setting is just as memorable as the characters. In Aditi, the lavish wedding of the titular character, in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, the eerie corridors of the palace or the beautiful seaside home in Gehraiyaan, all have something to do with real places. There are still a few hotels where Bollywood movies were shot and it is possible to spend a night at one of them, that once had appeared on the big screen.

Some have graced with one great production while others have been a frequent destination of film crews. These hotels featured in Bollywood movies and range from royal palaces in Rajasthan to an estate nestled in the woods at Shimla and a small coastal haven at Goa. 

Why Hotels Make Such Memorable Bollywood Filming Locations

A real hotel can bring details to a film that are difficult to manufacture. Old staircases show their age, gardens have grown naturally over decades, and a heritage courtyard does not need much dressing to feel convincing.

What makes these hotels where Bollywood movies were shot even more interesting is that many still welcome guests today. The locations seen for a few minutes on screen can actually become part of a real holiday. 

It is one of the reasons that the state of Rajasthan is frequently found in Bollywood movie shooting locations, but the list goes on and on. Memorable settings have also been provided by the states of Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Goa and Puducherry as well as Himachal Pradesh. 

Rajasthan stands out especially strongly, with historic forts and former royal residences appearing repeatedly on screen. Travellers interested in exploring more of these properties can also read this guide to the 25 best heritage hotels in Rajasthan for a royal stay.

15 Hotels Where Bollywood Movies Were Shot in India

1. The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur

Seen in: Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’s second half was filmed at The Oberoi Udaivilas. The courtyards, gardens and palace-like architecture made it the backdrop for Aditi’s wedding. 

The Lake Pichola location already had the scale the sequence needed. Today, it remains one of the easiest Bollywood shooting locations in India for fans of the film to recognise.

2. Chomu Palace, Rajasthan

Seen in: Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Bol Bachchan and more

The palace in Bhool Bhulaiyaa was not simply an elaborate studio set. Chomu Palace near Jaipur was extensively used for the film, and its long corridors, courtyards and old rooms helped create the slightly unsettling atmosphere surrounding Manjulika’s story.

The heritage hotel has hosted other productions as well, including Bol Bachchan. Few famous hotels in Bollywood movies are as closely tied to the mood of a film as Chomu Palace is to Bhool Bhulaiyaa.

3. Neemrana Fort-Palace, Rajasthan

Seen in: Dil Se.., Major Saab, Qila, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri 

Neemrana Fort-Palace has been in front of the camera for decades. The hotel’s official filming archive lists Dil Se.., Major Saab, Qila and Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri among productions shot at the property.

Built across multiple levels of a hillside, the fort offers terraces, old passages and courtyards within the same complex. That variety has allowed filmmakers to make different parts of the hotel look like entirely separate places.

4. The Lallgarh Palace, Bikaner

Seen in: Band Baaja Baaraat

The Sidwani wedding towards the end of Band Baaja Baaraat was supposed to be the biggest event Bittoo and Shruti had ever handled. The Lallgarh Palace in Bikaner provided a suitably grand setting for it.

The wedding celebrations and parts of the “Dum Dum” sequence used the palace’s red sandstone architecture and sprawling grounds. It is a good example of why Rajasthan remains packed with movie shooting locations in India.

5. Ahilya Fort, Maheshwar

Seen in: Asoka

Sitting above the Narmada River, Ahilya Fort brings a very different atmosphere to the list. The fort and historic Maheshwar were used during the making of Asoka, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor.

The property has a more tranquil ambiance than the large palace hotels of Rajasthan thanks to the stone architecture, views of the river and the ghats below. Today it’s a heritage stay, and its film environment can be enjoyed without missing the sense of history that attracted the filmmakers in the first place. 

6. Narain Niwas Palace, Jaipur

Seen in: Zubeidaa

Shyam Benegal’s Zubeidaa was filmed in Narain Niwas Palace in Rajasthan. The setting of this heritage was perfect for the royal world of the characters played by Karisma Kapoor, Rekha and Manoj Bajpaye. 

Its broad verandahs, period interiors and gardens feel lived-in rather than theatrical. That is precisely what makes heritage hotels featured in Bollywood movies so effective on screen.

7. RAAS Devigarh, Delwara

Seen in: Eklavya: The Royal Guard

Devigarh was more than a passing location in Eklavya: The Royal Guard. The 18th-century palace near Udaipur was extensively used for the Amitabh Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan film, becoming central to its dark royal setting.

Now operating as RAAS Devigarh, the restored property feels noticeably different from its screen persona. The combination of an old palace exterior, Aravalli views and contemporary interiors makes it one of the more striking Bollywood filming locations on the list.

8. Woodville Palace, Shimla

Seen in: Black, 3 Idiots, Student of the Year, Raju Chacha and more

Woodville Palace has serious Bollywood history. The hotel itself says more than 25 films have been shot on the estate, including Black, 3 Idiots, Student of the Year, Raju Chacha and Raaz 2.

The property even identifies its Royal Suite as a filming location from 3 Idiots. Surrounded by cedar and pine forest, Woodville looks nothing like the desert palaces elsewhere on this list, which makes its long relationship with filmmakers even more interesting.

9. The Baradari Palace, Patiala

Seen in: Bodyguard, Mausam, Yamla Pagla Deewana, Phillauri, Raazi, Sam Bahadur

One hotel can have an impressive filmography and Baradari Palace is evidence of that. It has been officially recorded that it has starred in Mausam, Bodyguard, Yamla Pagla Deewana, Phillauri, Raazi and Sam Bahadur.

Large gardens, colonnaded architecture and spacious interiors allow the same property to take on a different identity in each production. That versatility has made Baradari one of the busiest hotels used in Bollywood movies on this list.

10. Laxmi Niwas Palace, Bikaner

Seen in: Khoobsurat, Ek Paheli Leela

Laxmi Niwas Palace, Bikaner was one of the locations for the royal setting of Khoobsurat, which stars Sonam Kapoor and Fawad Khan. It was also used at Ek Paheli Leela. 

Its ornate Indo-Saracenic architecture already looks like something designed for a period film.

11. Suryagarh, Jaisalmer

Seen in: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani and other productions

Although it is a modern interpretation of the traditional architecture of Jaisalmer, Suryagarh looks hundreds of years old. It has been a natural attraction for filmmakers due to its sandstone walls, courtyards and fortress-like silhouette. 

The hotel provided the backdrop for the much-discussed finale of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Vogue specifically identifies Suryagarh as the location used for the film’s finale.

Unlike many hotels where Bollywood movies were shot, Suryagarh proves that a property does not need several centuries of history to look convincing on screen.

12. Ahilya by the Sea, Goa

Seen in: Gehraiyaan

That gorgeous “Alibaug” home in Gehraiyaan was actually in Goa. Ahilya by the Sea, a small boutique property in Nerul, was used as Tia’s coastal home in the film.

Its gardens, pool and sea-facing spaces appear naturally residential, which helped the property pass convincingly as a private holiday home rather than a hotel. It is one of the most distinctive recent Bollywood movie shooting.

13. The Kumbha Bagh Palace, Kumbhalgarh

Seen in: Prem Ratan Dhan Payo

A movie as royal as Prem Ratan Dhan Payo needed locations that could keep up with its scale. The Kumbha Bagh Palace contributed its halls, courtyards, domes and traditional architectural details to the film’s palace setting.

Kumbhalgarh’s Aravalli landscape adds another layer to the location. The famous Kumbhalgarh Fort nearby also means the movie connection does not have to be the only reason for visiting.

14. Dune de L’Orient, Puducherry

Seen in: Jism

Formerly known as Hotel de L’Orient, this restored property in Puducherry’s French Quarter was used during the filming of Jism.

Its colonial architecture and enclosed courtyards make it noticeably different from the Rajput palaces dominating many lists of hotels featured in Bollywood movies. Puducherry’s old streets and French-influenced buildings give the setting a character of its own.

15. Rambagh Palace, Jaipur

Seen in: Lamhe, Bajirao Mastani

Rambagh Palace brings two very different eras of Hindi cinema together. The Jaipur palace hotel was used in Lamhe, where parts of the property helped create the grand Rajasthan setting around Anil Kapoor and Sridevi’s story. Bajirao Mastani later returned to Rambagh for some of its palace scenes.

The former royal residence is now a luxury hotel, but its courtyards and elaborate architecture still carry the visual scale filmmakers look for. It is a fitting final addition to the hotels where Bollywood movies were shot, particularly because its screen history stretches from a 1991 classic to a modern period blockbuster.

An Additional Pan-India Movie Stay: Taj Falaknuma Palace

Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad — KGF: Chapter 2

Taj Falaknuma Palace is too good to miss but not in the Bollywood count. KGF: Chapter 2 isn’t a Hindi film, it’s a Kannada language film. The multi-lingual release of the film (also dubbed in Hindi) and its phenomenal success throughout the country, ensured that it was indeed a pan-Indian blockbuster. 

KGF: Chapter 2 used the Hyderabad palace (Taj Falaknuma Palace) as one of India’s grandest hotel settings to be added to Rocky’s larger-than-life world. 

Planning a Trip Around Bollywood Shooting Locations in India

Rajasthan is definitely the best place to travel to a lot of places in a single tour. Other Bollywood shooting locations in India are forts, lakes, bazaars and deserts, and are located in the cities of Jaipur, Udaipur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Neemrana and Kumbhalgarh.

But at Woodville Palace it is the mountains at Shimla; at Ahilya Fort it is above the Narmada in Madhya Pradesh; and at Ahilya by the Sea it is the Goan coastline with tropical gardens forfeiting the palace.

In addition to seeing a favourite scene, hotels where Bollywood movies were shot offer visitors a glimpse into the architecture, landscape and ambience that made the locations so effective in the movies. 

For those seeking heritage and character in their travel accommodation around these destinations, explore curated nature stays through Solis Nature. Access to individual rooms may be restricted in certain areas of the hotel at times due to weddings, restoration, private events etc. 

Why These Famous Hotels in Bollywood Movies Are Worth Visiting

Film history is only one part of their appeal. Many of these buildings existed long before a director arrived with a camera.

Corridors that are being recalled from Bhool Bhulaiyaa are from a real heritage palace. The wedding place in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani truly overlooks the Lake Pichola. This supposed Alibaug home from Gehraiyaan is really a small Goan stay, which travellers can visit.

That is what makes famous hotels in Bollywood movies more interesting than purpose-built sets. The camera shows one carefully chosen angle; a stay reveals everything outside the frame.

Final Thoughts

The top hotels where Bollywood movies were shot aren’t just ordinary sets. Chomu Palace brought Bhool Bhulaiyaa its aura, Woodville Palace was the subject of decades of Hindi films and Suryagarh lent Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani its grandeur for the end.

Whether it’s Dil Se.., Lamhe, 3 Idiots, Gehraiyaan or Bajirao Mastani, these films demonstrate the power of a real place to define a film’s image. Taj Falaknuma Palace brings a pan-Indian chapter into the tale of KGF: Chapter 2 without mixing up the lines between Kannada film and Bollywood. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which are the most famous hotels where Bollywood movies were shot?

Some of the best-known hotels where Bollywood movies were shot include The Oberoi Udaivilas in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Chomu Palace in Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Woodville Palace in 3 Idiots and Black, and Ahilya by the Sea in Gehraiyaan. Several of these properties continue to operate as hotels, allowing travellers to stay at locations they have seen on screen.

2. Which hotel was shown in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani?

The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur was used extensively for Aditi’s wedding in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Its gardens, courtyards and palace-style architecture can be seen throughout the destination-wedding sequences.

3. Where was the palace in Bhool Bhulaiyaa filmed?

The palace seen in Bhool Bhulaiyaa is Chomu Palace, a heritage hotel near Jaipur, Rajasthan. Its corridors, courtyards and rooms were extensively used during filming and became an important part of the movie’s distinctive atmosphere.

4. Which hotel was shown as the Alibaug house in Gehraiyaan?

The Alibaug home shown in Gehraiyaan was actually Ahilya by the Sea in Nerul, Goa. The boutique property was used as Tia’s coastal home, with its gardens, swimming pool and sea-facing spaces appearing in the film.

5. Was KGF: Chapter 2 filmed at Taj Falaknuma Palace?

Yes. Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad was used as a filming location for KGF: Chapter 2. The movie is a Kannada-language production rather than a Bollywood film, but its multilingual release and nationwide popularity made it one of India’s major pan-India blockbusters.