Ladakh, the most beautiful tourist destination situated in the Himalayas, has always been a must-visit place among the tourists. However, the scenic magnificence of the entire landscape cannot be compared to any other destination in India.
Apart from a common man falling in love with the mesmerizing beauty of Ladakh, Bollywood is also not left behind. The movie makers seem to be in love with this mystical sensation among the mountains and want to capture the ethereal charm of this stunning landscape as a backdrop in their movies. There are some very famous Bollywood movies shot here having immortalized scenes in Ladakh, which gives a cinematic visual treat to Bollywood fans.
Besides that, when people watch such beautiful and surreal backdrops, their urge to travel to this magical land of passes manifold multiple times making Ladakh a hot tourist destination for people seeking bliss in the mountains.
Let us see what are the most few famous Bollywood movies shot in Ladakh :
3 Idiots:
Ladakh caught everyone’s eye when we saw Kareena Kapoor riding a bike and coming to meet Rancho (Aamir Khan) in the climax scene of the most famous Bollywood movie 3 idiots. Ladakh suddenly became the most looked after travel spot.
This movie made Ladakh a dream destination for almost every travel lover. It was not the first movie shot in Ladakh, but this popular star cast of this super-hot movie was watched by everyone in cinema halls, and the film was applauded and won significant awards for that year.
The climax scene is shot at Pangong Lake when friends Raju (Sharman Joshi) and Farhan (Madhavan ), along with Pia (Kareena Kapoor), finally meet Rancho (Aamir Khan). The backdrop looks surreal when Kareena is riding a bike and arrives at the lake in the wedding avatar.
This scene was initially to be shot at Tsomoriri Lake, however, due to harsh weather, the shooting got canceled, and the entire team had to wait for next year to go back and shoot at Pangong Lake.
Pangong is a spectacular crystal clear lake in the Himalayan range located at the boundaries of two countries, India and China. This lake is very famous for its ever-changing colors of waters and its scenic backdrops, which are a treat to the eyes and photographer’s delight. This movie made Pangong an overnight popular destination. So much so that most of the small restaurants, hotels, local food eateries, camps, and lodges built on the banks are named after the movie’ 3 Idiots’.
There are also points where travelers can pose and get their pictures clicked. For e.g., the yellow scooty or the eco friendly chair which were both a part of the movie.
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Another movie in which you can witness the beauty of Ladakh is Bhaad Milkha Bhaag. The scene where Farhan Akhtar, the hero, prepares for the Olympics has been shot at Nubra Valley.
Located at the height of approximately 10,000 feet, Nubra Valley, one of the sub-districts of Leh is much known for Khardung La Pass – highest motorable road. Most of the tourists enjoy being here as the beauty of this land is something which more than words can say! You can also see some of the local buses passing by and the brave drivers driving them especially during snowfall! Nubra valley is also known as the Valley of Flowers. Some of the rarest flowers can be found here.
The shoot for this movie nearly took a month to finish as actor Farhan Akhtar had to undergo a month-long training program to acclimatize himself to the weather during that time. Nubra is a must-visit place in the itinerary of Leh Ladakh.
Jab Tak hai Jaan
There are many shots from this movie that are shot at various locations in Ladakh. This film had Sharukh Khan in a rugged look riding a Royal Enfield motorcycle on the dangerous roads of Ladakh. There are many scenes like when Anuskha Sharma meets Sharukh Khan while shooting for the Discovery channel cannot be forgotten. The backdrop of that scene was shot at one of the most stunning lakes of Ladakh, The Pangong Lake. Pangong Lake became one of the favorite hot places to visit in Ladakh after these recent movies.
The bike that Shahrukh rode was painted in a special green paint which is only used exclusively by the Indian Army. The bullet has been extensively used in the movie, and after watching the movie, every man dreamt of riding a bullet on the roads of Ladakh.
Dil Se
One of the most memorable movies shot in Ladakh in 1998 was Dil Se. This Indian romantic thriller is set in North India with Sharukh Khan and Manisha Koirala in the lead roles, while Preity Zinta made a special appearance in the film. The movie was shot in different locations, including New Delhi, Kerala, Bhutan, and Ladakh.
The longest and most memorable song of the movie “Satrangi Re” with the lead pair was shot around Thiksey Monastery, Pangong Lake in Ladakh, and the mystical ruins at Basgo Monastery. The crucial scenes, including the traveling of Manisha Koirala and Shah Rukh Khan, were shot near Alchi Monastery. These scenes were shot during the Sindhu Darshan Festival in Leh.
These places to visit in Ladakh gained more popularity after being featured in this thriller suspense.
Lakshya
One of the most unforgettable movies released in the past decade shot in Ladakh has been the movie Lakshya.
How can we forget the scene shot in Taglang La Pass where Hritik Roshan hosts the national flag on the peak of the mountains. Taglang La, the second-highest motorable road in the country, is located at 17000 feet height, and adventurous souls from across the globe frequently visit this place.
Lakshya, a 2004 war drama starring Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta in lead roles was a Bollywood war drama romantic movie. Playing the role of Lieutenant and later captain, Karan Shergill (played by Hrithik Roshan). He starts with a person with no aim in life, later turning into a military officer. The story unfolds the 1999 Kargil war against a backdrop of a war. The scenes shot for Kargil are shot in Leh Ladakh.
Road to Ladakh :
Road to Ladakh is another 50-minute short film set in the stunning wilds of Ladakh. It is a story of a mysterious drug smuggler played by Irfan Khan called Shafiq along with a reckless lady played by Koel Puri (Sharon). She throws herself into this road trip in Ladakh, which is not only an adventure but also an expression of desperation and loneliness.
It’s brilliant how Sharon effortlessly adapts this into a fictitious love story claiming to be a married couple once an officer of the Indian Army spots them both. The film shows the growing intimate relationship between the two characters. However, complementing the thrilling story, they have put more emphasis on the desert of Ladakh rather than the picturesque views.
There are a lot of places to see and explore while you are visiting Leh Ladakh. The beautiful lakes, mountains, and color-changing skies will mesmerize you beyond words. Ladakh is one of the most frequently visited places for travel lovers not only from India but across the world. The atmosphere, the surroundings, the landscapes, mountains, and valleys all of them in this region will take you to another world that looks nothing less than heaven.