With Lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, like everyone we too were stuck at homes. We missed travel. However, lockdown gave us the opportunity to venture out. Thanks to OTT platforms for content that catered to the itchy travellers. Here are 5 places we travelled to during lockdown, virtually.
1. Sikkim in ‘The Last Hour’
This Amazon Prime web series got us excited. We had been to Sikkim in 2018 and the on screen locations transported us there, yet again. Every now and then, we would pause, recognizing the locations we had been to. The last hour’s plot consists of Sanjay Kapoor, a cop investigating a high profile murder through the dense supernatural and folklore elements. The misty background, silk routes and beautiful forests of Sikkim added mystery and so much credibility to the web series. The simple lifestyle of Sikkimese and humble yet warm homes were spectacularly captured on screen while busting some cultural myths. We travelled to Sikkim virtually and fell in love with the place again.
The Last Hour is available on Amazon Prime.
2. Pithoragarh in ‘Sandeep aur Pinky Farar’
This was the first time a film was shot in this small town of Uttarakhand. Popular for its snow capped mountains and unspoiled nature, the sleepy little Pithoragarh is uncrowded unlike its counterparts Almora or Nainital. The dark comedy drama, besides the beauty of the place, efficiently showcases Kumaoni culture and the warm hospitality of the hills. The chilly weather, turquoise waters of the river, the hilly landscape, everything made me feel home. Once an Uttarakhandi, always an Uttarakhandi. Haha
Sandeep aur Pinky Farar comes from Amazon Prime.
3. Paris in ‘Emily in Paris’
Yeah you guessed it right. More than enjoying the series, I was interested in the locations and carefully made a note of them. Emily in Paris features an American Emile Cooper who is sent to Paris for work. The iconic locations such as Pont Alexandre III, Canal Saint-Martin, Rue de Valois, Jardin du Palais Royale, La Château de Sonnay were few among the highlighted locations. As we still stare at nothingness, wanting the pandemic to be over, my bucket list is falls short of pages to accommodate the beauty of the lovely city and its amazing culture. Afterall who doesn’t want to dive into the goodness of wine, cheese, dark chocolate and intoxicating perfume?
Emily in Paris can be watched on Netflix.
4. Lucknow in ‘Gulabo Sitabo’ and ‘Paglait’
Who can deny the old times charm of Lucknow, the city of Nawabs and the heart of Uttar Pradesh. Lucknow is still a foodie’s paradise that combines the flavours of Mughal era and contemporary times both. Amitabh Bachhan and Ayushman Khurana starrer Gulabo Sitabo captures that essence with a dilapidated house in the background. Paglait on the other hand showcases a young widow who seems unaffected by her husband’s death. The famous Imambada, narrow by-lanes lanes, large heritage houses overlooking chaat shops and street vendors crowding the market place, Paglait in a way captures the real Lucknow.
Gulabo Sitabo is an Amazon Prime production while Paglait is from the house of Netflix.
5. Ooty and Coonoor in ‘Out of love’
Let me confess. Ooty and Coonoor have been in my travel bucket since quite a long time. In January 2020 we had closed on October to explore the serene Tamil Nadu, and the rest is history. ‘Out of Love‘ took us to the tranquil dreamy lanes of Coonoor and Ooty, making us crave even more! The Rasika Duggal and Purab Kohli starrer revenge drama left us speechless with the brilliant performance and equally brilliant cinematography that brought the beauty of the places to life. From French style homes to lush green tea estates, Out Of Love gave us a full tour of Ooty and Coonoor.
The series is available on Disney Hotstar. Season 2 just arrived in April 2021.
There are more such movies or web series that released during this period. Which places have you travelled to virtually during lockdown and which ones are your favourite? Do let us know in comments.
