National tourism day: Indian films made these tourist spots famous

From Goa to Switzerland, Arunachal Pradesh to Ladakh, here are places that were made popular by Indian cinema

Natasha Coutinho

Chapora fort, GoaDil Chahta Hai pointChapora Fort in Goa is where actors Aamir Khan, Akshaye Khanna, and Saif Ali Khan shot the iconic scene from Dil Chahta Hai, in which they discussed life. The 2001 release turned the location into a major tourist hub.

"First time back at Chapora Fort since we filmed Akash, Sid and Sameer talking about life. That was 23 years ago. A lot has changed but the warm, sea-salt infused Goan air remains the same. Some places are just magical"– Farhan Akhtar, director of Dil Chahta Hai, on an Instagram post in December

Athirappilly Waterfalls, KeralaBaahubali waterfallAthirappilly falls also known as the ‘Baahubali waterfall,’ has become a major tourist attraction following the filming of the Prabhas-starrer. It is the largest waterfall in Kerala, which stands tall at over 80 feet. Other movies shot at this location include Pushpa: The Rise and the climax of Jailer.

Pangong Lake, Ladakh3 idiots lake
The 3 Idiots climax, which featured Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sharman Joshi, R Madhavan, and Omi Vaidya was shot at Ladakh’s Pangong Lake or Pangong Tso. Remember Kareena on a scooter looking for Aamir Khan?

Madhuri lake, Tawang in Arunachal PradeshMadhuri Lake in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, was originally known as Shonga-tser Lake. The lake was renamed after some portions of the movie Koyla, starring Madhuri Dixit and Shah Rukh Khan, were shot at this beautiful location.

Parra Road, GoaDear Zindagi road in Goa
Parra Road in Goa is commonly known as Dear Zindagi road among tourists, after the Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan starrer. Remember Alia and Shah Rukh going cycling along a beautiful street? It’s not as serene anymore!

"I have often been accused of turning the street into a traffic-filled chaotic lane where people are lying on the street and taking pictures"
– Gauri Shinde, director of Dear Zindagi
International- Mount Titlis, Switzerland
DDLJ selfie point in Switzerland
A major portion of Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) and Simran’s (Kajol) romance in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) was filmed at Mount Titlis. Today, a large cutout of the movie poster stands tall at the location, attracting Indian tourists who flock to the area for selfies. Mount Titlis is known for having the world’s first revolving cable car.
Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”