By Pallavi Mehra

Copyright vogue

Who doesn’t love travelling vicariously through the best Bollywood movies they’ve watched? One day, you could be relaxing on the beautiful beaches of Phuket like Hrithik Roshan and Ameesha Patel in Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000). The next day, you could be attending a destination wedding in Udaipur like Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Aditya Roy Kapur in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013). The on-screen getaways that appear in movies often feature some of the world’s most magnificent and luxurious properties, bringing our travel daydreams to life. Here are 15 swanky hotels featured in the best Bollywood movies you know—bookmark this guide to experience them in person or simply to covet from the comfort of your couch.
Ahilya Fort Heritage Hotel, Maheshwar
This fort hotel has been featured in numerous films, including Asoka (2001), Bajirao Mastani (2015), Neerja (2016), Gautamiputra Satakarni (2017), Pad Man (2018), Dabangg 3 (2019) and A Suitable Boy (2020). Located at a two-hour drive from Indore, Ahilya Fort Heritage Hotel is a historic property nestled alongside the tranquil Narmada River. Built in the 18th century by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar, the hotel boasts arresting ​​Maratha architectural elements such as ramparts, exquisitely carved pillars, arched gateways and walls with vibrant frescoes and murals. The hotel houses 19 elegant guest rooms, each with a distinctive personality, in six buildings. The buildings are linked by charming courtyards comprising lush gardens and majestic fountains.
Address: Ahilya Wada, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh 451228. Tel: +91 82919 35722
The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur
Situated on the banks of Lake Pichola, The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, is a sprawling property featuring well-landscaped gardens and an intricate layout of interconnecting domes, arches, pavilions and corridors. The hotel was the venue for a destination wedding in the Bollywood blockbuster Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) starring Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Kalki Koechlin and Aditya Roy Kapur. The film’s wedding sequences were shot across the resort’s palatial lawns, domed courtyards and well-appointed suites with semi-private infinity pools, showcasing its architectural grandeur.
Address: HMGC+VVV, Badi-Gorela-Mulla Talai Rd, Haridas Ji Ki Magri, Pichola, Udaipur. Tel: 02942433300
The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
Unveiled in 1903, The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, is situated in the heart of the city and overlooks the Gateway of India. The property was the central setting for the film Hotel Mumbai (2018) starring Dev Patel, based on the real 2008 terror attacks that befell the hotel. It was also seen in the French-Belgian thriller Taj Mahal (2015), which showed the events of the same night from the perspective of a young guest, in addition to briefly featuring in Phantom (2015), when Katrina Kaif has chai in front of the hotel after averting a crisis. The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, has hosted several kings, dignitaries and eminent personalities from all over the world. Each of the property’s 543 guest rooms and suites pays homage to a bygone era and is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities.
Address: Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001. Tel: 02266653366
Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
Featured in the Shah Rukh Khan–starrer Happy New Year (2014), Atlantis The Palm is nestled on the shores of the Arabian Gulf. Key scenes were filmed across the Grand Lobby, Nasimi Beach, The Royal Beach and Dolphin Bay, with the hotel’s firework-lit façade and aquarium forming a backdrop for numerous musical sequences. Outside of Bollywood, the property has also featured in international productions like Keeping Up with the Kardashians and The Amazing Race. In addition to its luxurious amenities, Atlantis The Palm boasts 36 restaurants, including options from celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsay and Nobu Matsuhisa.
Address: Palm Jumeirah, Crescent Rd, The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Tel: +97144260000
Suryagarh Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
The gorgeous Suryagarh Jaisalmer in Rajasthan was the backdrop for the much-talked-about finale of the Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt-starrer, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023). Constructed in 2010 by architect Ravi Kumar Gupta & Associates, the sandstone fortress hotel is evocative of 200-year-old Jaisalmer architecture. It boasts eight categories of guest rooms, including spectacular suites and havelis, and is also home to several indoor and al fresco wedding venues, which also served as the setting for Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra’s three-day destination wedding in 2023.
Address: Kahala Phata, Jaisalmer – Sam – Dhanana Rd, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan 345001. Tel: +91 7827151151
Amanpuri, Thailand
The Amanpuri resort’s elegant outpost in Phuket was the backdrop for the 2018 film Veere Di Wedding starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhasker and Shikha Talsania. The beach property’s layout, inspired by ancient Buddhist architecture, features graceful, multi-tiered pavilions and villas with polished wooden interiors that seem to blend into the verdant tropical landscape. The resort’s private white-sand beach and pools, including a gorgeous black-tiled main pool, are all carefully designed to offer a sense of seclusion and quietude, living up to its name, which translates to ‘place of peace’ in Sanskrit.
Address: 118, 1 Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand. Tel: +6676324333
Chomu Palace Hotel, Jaipur
This 300-year-old fortified palace in Jaipur played the role of the haunted mansion in Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007). Its grand, albeit eerie, halls offered the ideal setting for the psychological horror comedy’s storyline. Conceptualised according to the principles of Vastu Shastra, this architectural marvel marries Rajput, Mughal and European design elements such as delicate jaali work, colourful frescoes and marble inlay. The regal property’s guest rooms are categorised into different types, such as Palace Suites, Royal Suites and Maharani Suites, all crafted to exhibit age-old Rajput hospitality and contemporary amenities.
Address: Sikar Rd, Naya BaJar, Chomu, Rajasthan 303702. Tel: 09001094090
The Lallgarh Palace – A Heritage Hotel, Bikaner
The awe-inspiring red sandstone architecture of Lallgarh Palace served as the venue for the wedding scene in the Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh-starrer Band Baaja Baaraat (2010). A stellar example of Indo-Saracenic design, the property’s guest rooms and suites boast age-old furnishings, high ceilings, sumptuous bedding and modern conveniences. Guests can unwind at the hotel’s indoor swimming pool or full-service spa while being immersed in the palace’s regal grounds.
Address: 28RJ+6F3, Lallgarh Palace Complex Opposite Roadways Bus Stand, Samta Nagar, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334001. Tel: 08800003100.
Ahilya by the Sea, Goa
Ahilya By The Sea earned immense fame after it was featured in the 2022 movie Gehraiyaan starring Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday and Dhairya Karwa. Boasting Portuguese colonial design, this quaint retreat features three villas and an infinity pool surrounded by the beautiful landscape of Goa. The nine-key property was designed and built by Leela Ellis, in collaboration with celebrated designer Isla Maria ‘Loulou’ van Damme. The hotel, which was constructed with hand-cut local red laterite stone, is home to eclectic furnishings and decor elements sourced from around the world.
Address: Coco Maia 787 Nerul – Reis Magos, Rd, Nerul, Goa. Tel: 01141551575
Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
One of the world’s most luxurious hotels, Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi is fitted with gilded domes, endless corridors and a private stretch of beach along the Arabian Gulf. The song ‘Maria Maria’ from Partner (2007) captures the hotel’s sheer scale—its sweeping marble staircases, palm-lined courtyards and opulent ballrooms—infusing the choreography with a distinctly Middle Eastern glamour. You might have missed it while looking at Salman Khan and Lara Dutta’s romance developing, but it provides the perfect backdrop for a love that is in bloom.
Address: West Corniche Road – Al Ras Al Akhdar – Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates. Phone: +97126909000
Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur
Built in 1746 as a pleasure palace by Maharana Jagat Singh II, the Taj Lake Palace floats like an illusion on Lake Pichola. So it only makes sense for Bollywood to capitalise on its natural cinematic allure, with films like Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013) using it as a backdrop for romance. Its 65 rooms and 18 grand suites—accessible only by boat—are adorned with frescoes, antique furniture and shimmering mirror-work. Long before Instagram weddings, Taj Lake Palace was on every bride’s mood board, and even appeared in the James Bond classic Octopussy (1983).
Address: Lake Pichola, Pichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313004. Phone: 02942428800
The Venetian Macao, Macau
The Venetian Macao, Asia’s largest casino resort, opened in 2007 with 3,000 suites, canals modelled after Venice and an arena that seats 15,000 guests. Bollywood turned it into a playground for action with Don 2 (2011), with Shah Rukh Khan plotting a daring heist across its opulent casino floors. Beyond film, it has also hosted the IIFA Awards, further cementing its ties with Bollywood. Its replicas of Venetian landmarks, like St. Mark’s Square and Rialto Bridge, add a layer of cinematic grandeur, making it a favourite for filmmakers.
Address: s/n Estrada da Baia de Nossa Senhora da Esperanca, Macao. Phone: +85328828888
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Since its opening in 2010, Marina Bay Sands has been Singapore’s skyline-defining landmark. Its three towers, crowned by the SkyPark, and the world’s longest rooftop infinity pool have made cameos in Krrish (2006, pre-opening shots) and Chalte Chalte (2003), as well as other Bollywood sequences filmed in Singapore. The property boasts over 2,500 rooms, celebrity-chef restaurants and a shopping mall complete with a canal.
Address: 10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018956. Phone: +6566888868
Bellagio Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
Opened in 1998 on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, the Bellagio is best known for its spectacular dancing fountains, which have become a global symbol of the city. In Anjaana Anjaani (2010), starring Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor, the Bellagio’s fountains serve as the backdrop for one of the film’s most romantic sequences. Alongside 3,933 guest rooms and suites designed in an Italianate style, the property also houses a conservatory and botanical gardens, a fine art gallery that has showcased works by Monet and Picasso, and a casino floor that stretches across 116,000 square feet.
Address: 3600 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA. Phone: +18889876667
The Mardan Palace, Turkey
The palatial property, famed for its gold-leaf interiors, Swarovski chandeliers and marble imported from all over the world, played host to Ek Tha Tiger’s (2012) most tender moments, with Katrina Kaif’s character, Zoya, withdrawing into a suite at the hotel after a heart-wrenching embrace with Salman Khan against the haunting melody of ‘Saiyaara’. The Mardan Palace’s lavish ballrooms also double as the site of the UN conference sequence, with love blossoming quietly between the two star-crossed lovers.
Address: Kundu Mah. Yaşar Sobutay Bul. No: 450, D:1, 07112 Aksu/Antalya, Türkiye. Phone: +902423104100
The Kumbha Bagh Palace, Rajasthan
Perched against the Aravalli hills with sweeping views of the Kumbhalgarh Fort, the luxurious Kumbha Bagh Palace lent its domes, courtyards and marble corridors to Sooraj Barjatya’s opulent family drama, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015). Salman Khan’s royal residence in the film was staged here, with its grand halls and jharokhas framing both the dance sequences and the quieter familial moments. Much like the film itself, The Kumbha Bagh Palace embodies a vision of regal splendour where tradition and modern-day luxury entwine effortlessly.
Address: Sadri – Rajpura – Parshuramji Cave Rd, Village Udawar, Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan 313325. Phone: 08306300609

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