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 In
a land that churns out the maximum number of movies, movie studios
are a dime a dozen. Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad - the major cinema
centres - all boast of their own fair share of studios. Though most
of them are in dilapidated stage or have been turned into schools or
colleges, Tinseltown has come up with its trump card - Film Cities!
These Film Cities cover vast acres of
land and contain everything from shooting locales to recording
studios. They also double up as tourist spots and if we are lucky,
we can spot the tree around which our favourite hero sang his love
songs!
 Our
very own MGR Film City is an example. Hyderabad boasts of its
own - Ramoji Film City. Located 25 kms from Hyderabad, the
well-laid out Ramoji Film City offers film-makers a professional and
trouble-free environment. So, certain areas have been designated as
"shooting zones" and are strictly no tourist spots.
Touted as the world's largest film
city, the place is open from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm daily. Those who
wish to see the film city have to pay an entrance fee of Rs. 150
(for adults, per head) on weekdays and Rs.200 on public holidays.
For the tourists' comfort, special
tour packages have been organised and one can avail of the services
by getting in touch with the local centres located in all major
Indian cities. The tour begins even before you enter Ramoji Film
City, when you encounter the Hospitality Counter folks at the
Hyderabad Airport itself!
Overnight travellers can make use of
the washrooms and lockers in the film city to refresh themselves and
get a headstart on the day's activities. The day tour starts at 9.00
am and the guides are well trained and make the tour an enjoyable
experience indeed!
Beautiful landscapes, enthralling
sets await you and you are taken around the place in Jumbo-sized
buses. The tourists are received at the main gate itself and are
attended to, at every step of the way.
Some of the sets include a mud
village, a railway station, a central jail, a temple, an airport, a
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court, a palace named "Hawa Mahal" as well as gardens and
couple of fountains and even a tea garden!
Amidst the
breathtaking landscape of make-believe land stands Eureka, the Fun
Place. This is a massive mall for food and shopping. Done like a Mauryan
fort, Eureka can be accessed via a drawbridge. The enclosure also has a
tiny piece of the Wild, Wild West, to interest all the Clint Eastwood
fans out there!
A variety of theme shows have been
organised for the tourist's pleasure. For starters, there's a
"Morning" Ceremony, with a King, a Queen, drums &
trumpets, dances - the whole works!
Available throughout the film city are
the merchandise stores, located in all the theme parks of Maurya,
Maghadha, Black Cat Warehouse, Frontierland and Meena Bazaar. One can
buy things like t-shirts, caps, post cards and other knick knacks to
remember their trip by.
As one isn't allowed to take food and
beverages inside,
not less than four restaurants are located at Eureka and offer one a
wide variety indeed. There's Alampana for those who like Mughalai
cuisine, brought all the way from the Royal House of Awadh. There's the
ultimate in vegetarian cuisine, served in Indian 'thali' style by
Chanakya. For a taste of the Wild West, you can try the fast food at
Gunsmoke. For a taste of the delectable South Indian cuisine, there's
Ganga Jamuna. A veritable feast for the foodies out there!!
So, if you are on the look out for a
perfect weekend out, then this might be the one for you! Just back your
bags and zip away and forget all worries about packed lunches and
sleeping bags coz it is all been taken care of!
For further information, contact the
Response Department at Ramoji Film City Phone: 46501. From Hyderabad,
dial 925 and dial 08415 if you are calling from other
cities.
Click here to
see a detailed map of the Film City.
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