Films always hold a special place in all of our lives, and everyone has some special memories attached to them. The last movie that you saw with your college friends, the first movie you saw with your first girlfriend, or maybe that movie you saw a day before board exams and the list is endless. At Ramoji Film City, it is time to relive and cherish those memories. Ramoji Film City is the world’s largest film studio complex with 2,500 acres of cinematic brilliance. It is hardly surprising to know that Ramoji Film City has found a place in Guinness Book of World Records. The place is a complete package and offers something for people of all age groups.
As soon as you set foot inside the Ramoji Film City, you will be greeted by a grand welcome ceremony which is held at Eureka. Dancers in colourful attires perform on rocking music to set the tone for the day that lies ahead. You can take the day tours to explore the major attractions at the Ramoji Film City. The tour is well guided with sufficient times allowing you to check all the sites at your own pace. Before you move to the next spot, do not forget witnessing various live performances near Eureka.
One of the most visited attractions is the Wild West located near Eureka. It is a perfect setting for shooting a western movie from the 1970s with the dummy houses, stables, horses, taverns, etc. placed to recreate the west. There is an amphitheatre that hosts a small performance/play performed by the experts showcasing some phenomenal stunts. For anyone who loves the good old cowboy style and performance, this show was designed for you.
There are a few impressive buildings in Ramoji that cover the true essence of the place. First is the Ramoji Movie Magic that hosts the ‘Spirit of Ramoji’ which is a true reflection of India’s diverse culture. You can witness the rich Indian cultural heritage with some beautifully choreographed performances. Then, there is Filmy Duniya which will showcase several aspects of film-making. This will definitely make you aware of the hard work, creativity, ideas, and techniques that go into making a movie.
There are gardens in every nook and corner of the Ramoji Film City. The Leg Garden is a fan favourite due to several movies including the Oolala Oolala song from Vidya Balan’s Dirty Picture (2011) being shot at this location. There are many other gardens such as the Colour garden, Sanctuary Garden, Siara Garden, Rock Garden, Japanese Garden and Butterfly Garden. The human-made natural things in these gardens will leave you astonished.
There is also a Bird park within the premises of the Ramoji Film City. You can see over 500 types of birds from countries across the world. The bird park has natural conditions suitable for the birds to live. You will witness exotic birds such as Swainson’s lory, yellow-streaked lory, American wood duck, green-naped rainbow lorikeet, Ostrich, etc. Also, the Kripalu Caves depicting the history of Kalinga, Magadha, and Bodhisattva are worth visiting.
No place can be called a film city without the life-like sets used to make movies and TV shows. At Ramoji Film City, you can see dummy railway station, airport, jail, small town, North Indian town, temple, mosque, International Street, and many more sets being used for shooting. The set of iconic ‘Bhagavatam’ show is still intact and will take you back in time. There are also replicas of famous structures across the world such as Statue of Liberty, Effiel Tower, etc.
However, the latest addition is the magnanimous set of the movie ‘Bahubali.’ The set which was put up for the purpose of shooting the movie became a major tourist attraction after the success of the film. Visitors have the opportunity to experience the grandeur and splendour of the Bahubali movie. The Bahubali set visit is included in the day tour, so be prepared to be enthralled by the experience.
The adventure enthusiast can head to Sahas which is home to adventure activities inside the Ramoji Film City. A range of adventure activities such as ATV ride, Mountain Biking, Shooting, Archery, Zorbing, Bunjee Ejection, etc. are available to pump up your adrenaline level. Kids can also enjoy themselves with adventure rides in Thrillville, magic activities in Borasura, dancing in Ballerina Fount, and with many more fun-filled activities.
Rather than taking your private vehicle, you should hire cabs in Hyderabad as all vehicles have to be parked outside the main gate which lies on the Vijayawada highway. There are several companies offering car rentals in Hyderabad to visit the Ramoji Film City which is about 50 km from the main city. You can also take city bus services available at a decent frequency if you want to use public transport. Happy Exploring!