We know how it feels when you can’t go on that dream trip for some reason (pandemic, work, bank balance…there are so many reasons!) and end up settling for some activity close to home. But don’t worry. Here’s a great idea. Why don’t you plan a movie night this weekend and start binging on some awesome Indian movies that celebrate travel? Feed your wanderlust virtually and keep the popcorn handy to feed your hunger pangs. Here are 15 Indian movies that we have picked for the traveller in you. Maybe they will help you plan an actual trip once the time is right.
Bollywood Movies That Inspired Travel
1. Karwaan
Karwaan | #1 of 15 Indian Movies That will Inspire the Traveller in You
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Watch it on: Amazon Prime Video
Karwaan is a recent movie, in which you will mostly see a road trip around picturesque locations and landscapes of South India, namely, Kochi, Ooty, and lastly, Bangalore. This movie will help you appreciate the unpredictable nature of life and the new things that can come along anytime. It will make you want to go on a long drive to places that are gorgeously green, soaked in ethnic charm and full of warm people.
2. Highway
Highway | #2 of 15 Indian Movies That will Inspire the Traveller in You
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Watch it on: Disney+ Hotstar
This movie takes you on a ride across India. You get to see all these interesting places through the eyes of a girl who has been abducted. She, like many others, rediscovers her dream of living in the mountains and breathing clean air. And that is exactly what she does, towards the end of the movie. This movie will set you free, fill you with hopes and desires while giving you the strength to travel the world and follow your heart.
3. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Zindagi Na Milegi Doobara | #3 of 15 Indian Movies That will Inspire the Traveller in You
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Watch it on: Netflix
This is that movie that inspired many Indians to pack their bags and go on a trip to Spain. Even after a decade, it remains one of the most favourite movies for us. The story explores the life of three friends, who fly to Spain due to their pact and participate in exciting activities like Bull Run, skydiving and underwater diving. They go on road trips, feel the wind in their hair, and even participate in the famous La Tomatina Festival where people go absolutely wild with lush tomatoes. Towards the end, we get to see how travelling and having new experiences together changed all of them. Watch this movie with your friends on a lazy weekend and don’t be surprised if you end up going on an impromptu trip.
4. Queen
Queen | #4 of 15 Indian Movies That will Inspire the Traveller in You
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Watch it on: Netflix, Voot
Who said you need a partner to go on a honeymoon trip? Watch a 24-year-old girl take a solo trip to the romantic city of Paris and then super cool Amsterdam, while making friends along the way. Despite being from a small town, she finds herself having fun at the bar, sharing a hostel room with strangers, and dancing on the streets. Although you’ll learn a lot of life lessons from this one, but the most important lesson is that everything happens for the best. A heartbroken yet hopeful girl discovers herself and the new world before her in this exciting travel movie that will make you want to hop on to the next flight and go somewhere that you’ve never been to.
5. Tamasha
Tamasha | #5 of 15 Indian Movies That will Inspire the Traveller in You
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Watch it on: Netflix, Zee 5
This beautiful movie helped many Indians discover a new European destination, Corsica. A Mediterranean island that combines craggy mountains, verdant forests and sun-kissed beaches, Corsica stole the show instantly when the movie was released. The amazing cinematography and well-selected locations made this movie popular among the youth. It also shows parts of Kolkata and Shimla. You must watch this for an entirely new perspective on travelling and life that might change you for the better.
6. Piku
Piku | #6 of 15 Indian Movies That will Inspire the Traveller in You
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Watch it on: Sony Liv
Funny, clever and uniquely told, Piku is a film that showcases a remarkable road trip from Delhi to Kolkata. It is peppered with some relatable moments for all of us. Apart from including some great shots of the City of Joy, it makes you yearn for sumptuous Bengali dishes, the laidback charm of Kolkata and how heart-warming it is to meet loved ones after years. It’s a great family movie that might make you want to spend every moment of your life to the fullest and make great memories with near and dear ones.
7. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Dilwale Dhulania Le Jayenge | #7 of 15 Indian Movies That will Inspire the Traveller in You
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Watch it on: Amazon Prime Video
A famous movie that still appeals to multiple generations, DDLJ takes you on a beautiful journey around Europe. It starts with a train journey in Switzerland and ends with a train journey in India. Essentially, journeys are the heart of this romantic movie. In the beginning of the movie, you will get to admire stunning views of London and Switzerland, while in the latter part, you will come across familiar farms in Punjab. Watch this movie to rekindle your wanderlust.
8. Chalo Dilli
Chalo Dilli | #8 of 15 Indian Movies That will Inspire the Traveller in You
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Watch it on: Amazon Prime Video, Zee 5
This movie helps you see India in ways you have never seen before probably. It presents the perfect blend of what travelling in India is like. You will get to enjoy a road trip (virtually) along with train rides from Mumbai to Delhi that will make you feel like you’re travelling with the movie characters. From small towns and villages to majestic buildings and swanky urban setting, you will find everything in this film.
9. Finding Fanny
Finding Fanny | #9 of 15Indian Movies That will Inspire the Traveller in You
IMDb Rating: 5.7/10
Watch it on: Disney+ Hotstar
Eager to go on a memorable road trip around the most beautiful parts of Goa and Karnataka? Then you are sure to fall in love with this movie. As the characters embark on a journey to find the lost love of a postman, they end up showing us how good a road trip can be, especially when it doesn’t go as planned.
10. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani | #10 of 15 Indian Movies That will Inspire the Traveller in You
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Watch it on: Netflix
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani has helped revive and reinvent the way people travel in India. It takes us on a whirlwind tour of Manali, Paris and Udaipur. Kabir (Bunny) moves the audience in many ways, with his perspective on life, world and friendships, while making us all want to explore unknown places and live life to the fullest. This is a must watch for anyone who loves to travel.
11. Dil Chahta Hai
Dil Chahta Hai | #11 of 15 Indian Movies That will Inspire the Traveller in You
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Watch it on: Netflix
If you are a movie and travel aficionado, this is probably the first film that made you want to head out and enjoy life. This all-time favourite film also makes you reflect on life and how it doesn’t always go as planned. Three friends who decide to meet on a trip to Goa every year, soon take different routes in life, but somehow end up being together again. It is Dil Chahta Hai that has made Chapora Fort in North Goa a tourist hotspot. Apart from Goa, you will also catch a glimpse of Dudhsagar Falls and get to admire some stunning visuals of Sydney.
12. Jab Harry Met Sejal
Jab Harry Met Sejal | #12 of 15 Indian Movies That will Inspire the Traveller in You
IMDb Rating: 5.3/10
Watch it on: Netflix
This is a movie that takes you through Europe in a quest to find a lost engagement ring. You will especially love the quaint Budapest visuals, with its old-world architectures and riverfront beauty. The charm of this film is in the quirky nature of its characters and the way they travel together, which will make you want to go on unplanned trips and have new experiences that you will remember throughout your life.
13. Swades
Swades | #13 of 15 Indian Movies That will Inspire the Traveller in You
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Watch it on: Netflix
This movie beautifully invokes the feeling of love for our country, its culture and way of living, especially in villages. Away from the hustle bustle of busy towns and a foreign country, the protagonist travels around villages, trying to help the people living at a grassroot level. It is a unique film that will make you want to explore remote and rustic regions of India and maybe even stay there for a while.
14. Jab We Met
Jab We Met | #14 of 15 Indian Movies That will Inspire the Traveller in You
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Watch it on: Netflix, Zee 5, Amazon Prime Video
A journey that starts on a train, showing us the life of two completely different strangers who happened to sit across each other, will leave you with a smile in the end. You will get to explore the earthy warmth of Punjab and quaint beauty of Shimla, thanks to the unexpected twists and turns the story takes. It is a must watch for anyone who loves Bollywood and travelling.
15. Chennai Express
Chennai Express | #15 of 15 Indian Movies That will Inspire the Traveller in You
IMDb Rating: 6.1/10
Watch it on: Netflix
Just like any other Goa trip, this movie starts with excited friends wanting to have fun in the beach haven of India, but when the protagonist travels by Chennai Express, nothing stays the same. He ends up in beautiful South Indian villages, which is why you get to admire some exquisite scenes in Munnar, Meesapulimala, Kannimala, etc. Do watch this movie if you’re planning to visit South India soon. Verdant greenery, gentle backwaters and rustic charm await you.
So, are you all set for an exciting movie night that satisfies your traveller soul too? No matter which place steals your heart, you can plan a solo trip, a trip with your partner, friends or family. To make the trip an easy and affordable one, chalk out a detailed itinerary and book all your tickets in advance.
