My epic real life frame by frame DDLJ trip!

Could there be a greater love story than falling in love with someone on a holiday and not just any holiday mind you, a setting which has to offer larger than life images of gleaming pastures, picture perfect hikes and glacial lakes! A child of 90s or not, you will agree that the younger Chopra has set the bar for Bollywood romances so high, that even after 20 years, no movie could surpass, heck, no movie could even come close to surpassing the epic that is DILWALE DULHANIYA LE JAYENGE! In fact, I am so taken by the movie that it also got a mention in my debut book The Shaadi Brouhaha. Such is my love :)

In the 80s and 90s, unlike today, going to cinema for every movie was not considered a mainstream. As a general rule of thumb, the local cable-wala guy made the television premier of the movie the next Friday after its release. But this was not just any movie. Buzz was created at the school and excitement levels were building up no sooner the trailer had released. Imagine what SRK’s dimpled smile, childish eyes, bad-boy-good-at-heart attitude, driving an open roof Mercedes would do to a girl’s heart?! By no means was I going to watch this movie on a smaller screen. 

So persuading our parents and getting ourselves the ‘balcony’ tickets, we nestled into the seats with tubful of warm popcorns, savoring the few moments of anxiety before the movie finally began. The opening scene was shot at Trafalgar Square, with Baoji feeding rice to the pigeons, walking out and about in central London, and then thirty minutes into the movie I saw something which was going to haunt me (in a good way) for the rest of my life. So much so that over the years, mere thought of DDLJ invoked picturesque images of pristine meadows, tiny wooden chalets and exotic Alps. Whether it was drunk Simran running across the streets of Gstaad, or Raj hoping Simran to ‘palat’ on Saanen bridge, this place floated on the brim of my bucket list way before I knew what a bucket list was and unknowingly, the seeds of real mapping were sown. At that time I didn’t knew when, where and how. I just knew I had to see this place. 

Fast forward to 20 years. When I and my husband decided to go Europe this year, even before we jotted down our itinerary, we knew what my priority was :) Since then, I have been on a hunt for exact DDLJ locations. I would be lying if I said that there was a lot of hard work involved. A couple hours of research on blogs related to Bollywood destinations and I was sorted. I stay in London and hence the locations shot over here were easy to identify. And in Switzerland, I chanced upon to visit most of the remaining destinations, lived a dream vacation and came back as a much calmer and happier person, believe you me :)

Without further ado, sharing with you frame by frame, the reel life versus real life images of the Bollywood’s most romantic movie Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge.

Below is the opening scene where Baoji feeds the pigeons in the Trafalgar Square. As you can see, London, even on a rainy day is better than any city elsewhere in the world. Just opposite to Trafalgar, stands the St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, the one whose chimes brings Baoji back to London from the reminisces of Punjab fields.

Trafalgar Square, London

St Martin-in-the-Fields Church

Baldev Singh takes his morning stroll at various tourist attractions such as Buckingham Palace, St James park, Big Ben and the Tower Bridge (often confused with London Bridge). The ambience of London radiates positive energy, which explains why it is the most sought after location for many home-grown movies.  Now these places are not very close to each other. You will need to take an underground tube ticket to commute between them.

Buckingham palace, London

St James park, London

Big Ben, London

Tower Bridge, London

Raj's entry song 'Mere khwabo mein jo aaye..' where he races against an aircraft is located at an airstrip in Saanen, Switzerland.

Airstrip in Saanen, Switzerland

One of the London's most vibrant place is the Leicester Square. At any given time, you will find throng of tourists (or locals) lounging here. The surrounding streets are filled with cinemas, ice cream parlors and eateries. Out of which Aberdeen steak house, Burger king and Odeon are also featured in the scene where Raj convinces Karan Johar and Sheena convinces Simran to join the trip.

Aberdeen Steak house, Leicester square

Burger King, Leicester Square

Odeon, Leicester Square

The setting for the epic scene where Raj holds out his hand for a harried Simran just when she was about to miss her Eurostar train is at St Pancras International Rail station departures. The station has been beautifully restyled since then whilst retaining it's old world English charm.

Eurostar at St Pancras International Rail station

Remember when Raj pretends to apologize and pulls a flower-spray prank on Simran?! If you keep walking on the main promenade in Interlaken, you will see Hotel Victoria Jungfrau. It's grandiose, larger than life structure makes it hard to miss. Opposite to the hotel you will find a flower fountain in the garden. Yes, that's the location we have been looking for! 

Flower Fountain at Interlaken opposite Jungfrauch Victoria

Promenade at Interlaken with Victoria Jungfrauch on the right.

The picturesque town of Zweisimmen is the starting point for all the Golden Pass Panoramic trains (one of the most scenic rides in the world). It passes right through the heart of Bernese Oberland offering breath-taking views of pristine grass, mythical valleys and beautiful chalets on it's way to Montreux. Platform 8 at Zweisimmen station is the same place where Simran misses her train. You will also see a Tabachhi (kiosk) at the station where she buys her souvenir from. I also clicked a picture of the interior of the information office where she inquires about the next train to Zurich.

Tabachhi at Zweisimmen where she purchases cow bell.

Platform 8 at Zweissimmen station where she misses her train

Inquiry office at Zeissimmen which is now more upscale

Next is the most romantic location of all, Gstaad. This fairy-tale-ish village is situated right in the heart of Bernese Oberland. It is also the home to many upscale brands, winter sports and celeb-spotting. As soon as you step out of the station, you will recognize Early Beck, same place where a drunk Simran runs about. This place is absolutely magical and having dinner at the Pizzeria next to Early Beck was also on our list :)

'Zara sa jhoom loon main..' point at Mt Titlis is one of the only two Swiss mountains which are covered with snow year-round. You have to take three cable cars to reach to the top, out of which one is Rotair 360- giving a full round view of the Alps as the name suggests. Huge cut-out of DDLJ poster will greet you as soon as you step on the viewing deck. At the base you will also find pure vegetarian Indian street food serving masala chai and piping hot gajar ka halwa. Talk about serendipity! 

Early Beck, Gstaad

As soon as you step out of Gstaad station, you spot Early Beck.

Managed to capture a sneaky picture inside Early Beck

Gstaad station, more upscale now.

Mt Titlis

Somewhere here Kajol rolls in the snow.

A cut-out of DDLJ movie! Swiss nationals sure know how to woo Indian tourists!

Postcard-perfect town nestled in between pastoral meadows, Saanen is only a 4 minute train ride  from Gstaad. Three important scenes are filmed at this location- St Mauritius Church where Raj and Simran pray,  platform at Saanen station where Simran reveals that she is engaged to Kuljit and the very famous 'Palat, palat' bridge. This tiny bridge may seem insignificant to the locals but for us this place screams romance.

Oh what a beautiful church, St Mauritius church Saanen.

Postcard perfect village, Saanen

Same bridge also featured in Tujhe dekha to yeh jaana sanam..

Palat palat bridge, right outside Saanen station

Cafe Schuh, opposite to Metropole (next to Victoria Jungfrau) in Interlaken is the place where all the friends exchange photographs and Raj, stealthily keeps a picture of Simran for himself.

Cafe Schuh, Interlaken

Raj and Simran touch down at London St Pancras International rail station arrivals and bid an emotional farewell to each other between platform 6 and 7. Raj plays a saxophone at the underground tube station Angel, which is nothing but Simran basically pipe dreaming.

St Pancras International Rail Station Arrivals at platform 6-7

Angel underground tube station, London

Parts of 'Tujhe dekha to yeh jaana sanam..' are shot in the jaw-dropping spectacular valleys of Obersimmental (a.k.a heart of lion). Lover of nature or not, this place will definitely stir your soul. Also featured in the song is Lake Lungern (not very far from Lake Brienz), where Raj and Simran catch a shoe instead of a trout. Dinner is served- said our DDLJ couple to no one ever.. eeeks!

Obersimmental ala heart of a lion, beautiful valleys in Switzerland

Lake Lungern, Switzerland

This is it! Doing a full round DDLJ trip had been on the brim of my wishlist for the longest time. I had only seen Switzerland on television and fell impossibly in love with it. As we stepped into the most beautiful location of the world, we couldn't stop exchanging glee and Oh-My-God-s. And now that I am back from my bubble I am not sad that it's over. I am just happy that it happened.