India through the eyes of film-makers

Be it the beautiful Ladakh in "3 Idiots" or the serene Kasauli in "Krrish", "Filmi Escapes - Travel With The Movies" will show India as seen through the eyes of filmmakers who have presented beautiful locations to the viewers through their craft

Travel expert Lonely Planet's new travel guide, "Filmi Escapes" revisits the cities, towns, hills, beaches, lakes, waterfalls, historic forts, palaces, temples and more, made memorable via cinematic moments over the years. Specialised information on hotels, transport, food and sightseeing accompanied by interesting trivia, anecdotes and images have also been incorporated in it.

"Over the years, travellers in India have evolved seeking more informed and fascinating travel experiences. With this launch, we are hoping to tap into the most talked about and cherished topic in the country - Indian cinema," Daniel Houghton, chief operating officer, Lonely Planet, said in a statement.

"Filmi Escapes" lists the must-see sights and experiences of over 20 domestic destinations like Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, Varanasi, Shimla, Kasauli, Nainital, Amritsar, Kashmir, Ladakh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Mumbai, the Western Ghats, Goa, Gujarat, Kolkata, Darjeeling and Ooty.

It also includes interviews of well known film personalities such as Karan Johar, Mahesh Bhatt, Dibakar Banerjee, Nargis Fakhri, Muzaffar Ali, Raima Sen and more, sharing their favourite destinations and films.

"With us celebrating the 100 years of Indian cinema, it's the ideal time to present to India the first ever travel guide on their favourite film locations," Sesh Seshadri, director, Lonely Planet India, said.

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, who has explored different locales through his movies, launched the guide in Mumbai.

“I have always loved to travel - both in personal time and in movies. I love exploring different locales and cultures. Be it Goa in 'Socha Na Tha', Shimla and Manali in 'Jab We Met', London and San Francisco in 'Love Aaj Kal' or Delhi, Prague and Verona in 'Rockstar', I have always tried to bring beautiful locales, colourful cities and unique cultures to my films," he said.

The 344-page guide is priced at Rs.595.