The Bhool Bhulaiyaa trilogy was shot on location across four Indian states. The 2007 original filmed at Chomu Palace (Jaipur, Rajasthan) and Padmanabhapuram Palace (Tamil Nadu). Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 was shot at The Hill Fort Kesroli (Alwar) and Chattar Manzil (Lucknow). Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 filmed at Jahangir Mahal and Betwa River Chhatris (Orchha, Madhya Pradesh) and Kolkata's Howrah Bridge.
🗺 Interactive Filming Map & Live Navigation
Auto-focus is active. Click any marker for turn-by-turn Google Maps directions and verified traveler reviews.
📋 Quick Facts: Shooting Spots at a Glance
| Movie Part | Spot Name | Real Landmark | State / Country | Key Scene | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🎬 Part 1: Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) — Akshay Kumar & Vidya Balan | |||||
| Part 1 | Chomu Palace Hotel, Jaipur | Chomu Palace, Subhash Chowk, Chomu, Jaipur District, Rajasthan 303702 | Rajasthan, India | Part 1: The Original Ancestral Haveli & 'Ami Je Tomar' Room | 27.1724, 75.7231 |
| Part 1 | Padmanabhapuram Palace, Thuckalay | Padmanabhapuram, Thuckalay, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu 629175 | Tamil Nadu, India | Part 1: The King's Ancient Court & Wooden Royal Halls | 8.2508, 77.3275 |
| 🎬 Part 2: Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) — Kartik Aaryan & Tabu | |||||
| Part 2 | The Hill Fort Kesroli, Alwar | Near Alwar, Village Kesroli, District Alwar, Rajasthan 301003 | Rajasthan, India | Part 2: The Abandoned Ghost Mansion of Bhawanigarh | 27.4912, 76.7118 |
| Part 2 | Chattar Manzil & City Heritage Precincts, Lucknow | Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Hazratganj, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226001 | Uttar Pradesh, India | Part 2: The Royal Thakur Family Estate & Gomti Riverfront | 26.8584, 80.9312 |
| 🎬 Part 3: Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024) — Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan & Madhuri Dixit | |||||
| Part 3 | Jahangir Mahal, Orchha Fort Complex | Orchha Fort Complex, Orchha, Tikamgarh District, Madhya Pradesh 472246 | Madhya Pradesh, India | Part 3: The Bundelkhand Royal Haveli & Secret Passages | 25.3524, 78.6441 |
| Part 3 | Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu), Kolkata | Howrah Bridge, Hooghly River, Kolkata, West Bengal 700001 | West Bengal, India | Part 3: Rooh Baba's Midnight Bike Entrance into Kolkata | 22.5851, 88.3468 |
| Part 3 | Chhatris of Orchha (Betwa Riverbank Cenotaphs) | Kanchana Ghat, Orchha, Tikamgarh District, Madhya Pradesh 472246 | Madhya Pradesh, India | Part 3: Riverside Rituals & Midnight Cremation Ghats | 25.3477, 78.6418 |
📖 Behind-the-Lens Filming Journey
Chronological shooting route across real mountain ridges, heritage estates, and open landscapes.
Shooting the Manjulika Mystery in Rural Jaipur
The crew stayed inside Chomu Palace for 45 uninterrupted days. Cast members slept in the same heritage rooms where night scenes were filmed, and local villagers gathered outside the iron gates whenever Akshay Kumar's yellow cab rolled through the dust.
Reviving the Curse Across Kesroli & Lucknow
Kesroli Fort's isolated hill ramparts provided the eerie Bhawanigarh ruins without building fake sets. Later in Lucknow, the production navigated bustling evening bazaar traffic along the Gomti riverfront to film Rooh Baba's flamboyant Thakur estate arrivals.
Orchha Sandstone Catacombs & 4 AM Kolkata Bridges
Orchha's Jahangir Mahal stood in for the ancestral haunted seat, where freezing river mist settled over the stone arches every dusk. The crew then dashed to Kolkata, securing 4 AM police permits to capture Kartik riding empty bridge spans before city trams started running.
📍 Verified Filming Spots & Scene Guide
Field-checked landmark coordinates, on-set production memories, and scene timestamps.
Part 1: Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) — Akshay Kumar & Vidya Balan
Chomu Palace Hotel, Jaipur
Avni ignores the village priest's warnings and snaps open the rusted padlock on the forbidden upper room. The immediate wind gust, creaking floorboards, and the eerie faint sound of brass ghungroos down the darkened hallway set the psychological horror in motion.
The locked room on the third floor with the rusted iron padlock and red thread wasn't a Mumbai set. It's a real turret wing at Chomu Palace. Hotel staff still show visitors the heavy wooden door where Akshay Kumar tapped on the frame trying to solve the Manjulika riddle.
"Ami je tomar, shudhu je tomar..."
Padmanabhapuram Palace, Thuckalay
During the intense narrative flashback explaining the tragic dancer Shashidhar and the cruel monarch who executed him, the camera pans across these deep mahogany pillars and carved ceiling rafters where Manjulika was condemned.
Priyadarshan deliberately mixed North and South Indian palace architecture. While the outdoor haveli was in Rajasthan, the dark, mirror-finish black floors where the royal court history is explained are 2,000 km south in Tamil Nadu. The floor polish is centuries old, made from burnt coconut husks, jaggery, and egg whites.
"Yeh mahal sirf eent-patthar nahi, ek bandi aatma ka qaid-khana hai."
Part 2: Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) — Kartik Aaryan & Tabu
The Hill Fort Kesroli, Alwar
Ruhaan (Kartik Aaryan) and Reet (Kiara Advani) sneak into the deserted family haveli to stage Reet's fake death, only to discover that the chained room on the rooftop terrace holds a genuine demonic presence.
The rooftop terrace where Kartik Aaryan investigates the spooky padlocked door is actually Kesroli's topmost battlements. The crew spent nearly a month filming in rural Alwar, draping synthetic cobwebs and artificial dust over the 14th-century Rajput ramparts to make the luxury hotel look abandoned for decades.
"Aadhe sach se darr lagta hai, par poore sach se maut aati hai."
Chattar Manzil & City Heritage Precincts, Lucknow
The Thakur family rushes back to their ancestral city estate after strange occurrences rattle their village mansion. The camera tracks Kartik Aaryan strolling through the pillared Nawabi corridors as the family argues over hiring an exorcist.
When the Thakur family arrives in vintage cars, the production wasn't on a Mumbai studio backlot. The crew cordoned off stretches of the Gomti riverfront road near Hazratganj, using Chattar Manzil's distinct copper umbrella dome as the Thakur mansion facade—an iconic Lucknow heritage precinct also featured in Vidyut Jammwal's high-octane chase film Khuda Haafiz 2. Shooting had to pause repeatedly for passing city buses and sudden evening monsoon showers.
"Yeh rasta wahi le jaata hai jahan se koi wapas nahi aata."
Part 3: Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024) — Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan & Madhuri Dixit
Jahangir Mahal, Orchha Fort Complex
Rooh Baba arrives in royal carriages to inspect the locked eastern wing of the estate, wandering through windblown balconies and symmetrical pillared corridors where eerie shadows flicker behind carved jali screens.
To create the eerie royal estate in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, the art department hired over 100 local Bundelkhand carpenters. Every lantern fixture and wooden barricade had to be clamped with padded brackets—the local heritage department barred the crew from driving even a single steel nail into the 17th-century sandstone.
"Bhoot se darr nahi lagta sahab, unke past se lagta hai."
Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu), Kolkata
Ruhaan cruises across the steel arches as evening fog rolls off the Hooghly River, taking in the skyline of Kolkata while on his way to meet the wealthy zamindar family pleading for supernatural help.
Rooh Baba's signature motorcycle entrance was shot at 4:30 AM over three chilly Kolkata dawns across the historic cantilever span, famously showcased during Ranbir Kapoor's nostalgic early morning scenes in Barfi!. Police cleared traffic for just 12-minute intervals while Kartik rode a modified Royal Enfield with camera cars chasing him across the steel rivets.
"Kolkata mein bhoot bhi shauq se rehte hain, babumoshai."
Chhatris of Orchha (Betwa Riverbank Cenotaphs)
Rooh Baba and his jittery sidekicks set up a nighttime spirit-calling circle on the wet river boulders. Just as the mantra chanting peaks, a sudden white shadow darts across the stone spires, scattering the entire team into the Betwa gravel.
The midnight occult climax near the water was shot in bone-chilling 6°C winter weather along the Betwa riverbank. Between takes, Vidya Balan and Kartik Aaryan had to huddle around charcoal heaters because heavy mist kept fogging the camera lenses.
"Jab dariya chup hota hai, tab purani kahaniyan bolti hain."
🧭 Filming Spots Travel & Transit Planning Guide
Practical road directions, seasonal weather windows, and mountain transit advice curated for cinema travelers.
| # | Part | Spot Name | Destination | Rating | Best Season | Transit & Airport Tip | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🎬 Part 1: Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) — Akshay Kumar & Vidya Balan | |||||||
| #1 | Part 1 | Chomu Palace Hotel, Jaipur | Jaipur, India | ⭐ 4.8 | October to March. Book a winter evening dinner in the central Darbar courtyard when fairy lights and brass torches illuminate the repeating sandstone jharokhas. | You don't need an expensive overnight room to see the corridors. Call the reception a day ahead and reserve lunch or afternoon tea at the Darbar Hall restaurant, which grants access to the central courtyards and Sheesh Mahal arcades. | |
| #2 | Part 1 | Padmanabhapuram Palace, Thuckalay | Thuckalay, India | ⭐ 4.7 | September to February during cool post-monsoon months. Morning visits between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM allow quiet contemplation of the dark timber woodwork. | Hire an official Department of Archaeology guide at the gate (Rs 150) to learn how ancient builders naturally cooled the royal chambers using herbal floor compounds and louvered wooden blinds. | |
| 🎬 Part 2: Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) — Kartik Aaryan & Tabu | |||||||
| #3 | Part 2 | The Hill Fort Kesroli, Alwar | Alwar, India | ⭐ 4.7 | Between November and February, sunset from the western ramparts turns the surrounding yellow mustard crops golden-red as village cowherds walk their cattle home. | If driving from Delhi or Gurgaon, take the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway down to the Alwar exit. The highway run is swift, but keep offline GPS loaded on your phone: the final 6 km into Kesroli branches off into narrow village tractor lanes where mobile signals dip right before the fort ramparts. | |
| #4 | Part 2 | Chattar Manzil & City Heritage Precincts, Lucknow | Lucknow, India | ⭐ 4.6 | November to February when evening temperatures drop to a comfortable 14°C and Lucknow's famous street food stalls in nearby Hazratganj come alive. | Avoid driving a car through the congested old riverfront alleys. Take a quick Rs 20 electric rickshaw from Hazratganj Metro Station, and wear comfortable walking shoes for the paved Gomti promenade. | |
| 🎬 Part 3: Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024) — Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan & Madhuri Dixit | |||||||
| #5 | Part 3 | Jahangir Mahal, Orchha Fort Complex | Orchha, India | ⭐ 4.8 | October to March. Arrive around 8:30 AM when morning sunlight slants through the multi-tiered cupolas and visitor footsteps are completely quiet. | Keep small cash notes handy for autos outside Jhansi station; shared autos charge Rs 30-40 per seat, while private rides cost around Rs 300. Cellular UPI payments often fail inside Orchha Fort's thick stone gates. | |
| #6 | Part 3 | Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu), Kolkata | Kolkata, India | ⭐ 4.7 | Early mornings between 5:30 AM and 7:00 AM when yellow ambassador cabs cruise past with negligible traffic and soft golden light reflects off the steel girders. | Do not carry tripods or telephoto lenses onto the bridge pedestrian walkway—port police will ask you to pack them away. Instead, walk down the stone stairs into the Mallick Ghat flower market directly beneath the bridge for incredible low-angle shots. | |
| #7 | Part 3 | Chhatris of Orchha (Betwa Riverbank Cenotaphs) | Orchha, India | ⭐ 4.7 | October through February at sunset (5:00 PM to 6:00 PM) when the 14 stone spires cast long reflections on the calm Betwa river currents. | Wear sneakers with good rubber grip. The smooth river boulders at Kanchana Ghat get slick with evening dew and river moss, especially when walking near the water's edge. | |
🎬 Behind-The-Scenes Trivia
- ★ Priyadarshan filmed the haunted ancestral palace of the royal family at the historic 300-year-old Chomu Palace in Rajasthan.
- ★ The legendary psychological dance sequence 'Aami Je Tomar' by Vidya Balan was filmed in the ornate Sheesh Mahal and Darbar Hall of Chomu Palace under dramatic candle-lit lamps.
- ★ The eerie southern ancestral roots of the story were filmed at Padmanabhapuram Palace in Thuckalay, showcasing authentic 16th-century Travancore wooden architecture.
- ★ Akshay Kumar's hilarious bicycle entry and mentalist investigation scenes were filmed on location in the royal courtyard corridors of Kesroli Fort in Alwar.
✈️ How to Plan Your Visit & Travel Reality
Nearest Transit: Jaipur International Airport (JAI) is 45 km from Chomu Palace; Trivandrum International Airport (TRV) is 50 km from Padmanabhapuram Palace.
Best Time to Visit: October to March for Rajasthan palace spots; November to February for South India.
Local Tip: Chomu Palace operates as a luxury heritage hotel; non-resident guests can dine at the heritage restaurant to access the royal courtyards where the iconic songs were shot.
Official Tourism Resource: Official Rajasthan Tourism Portal →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (Filming & Travel)
The franchise used real heritage palaces in three states: Chomu Palace near Jaipur (Part 1), The Hill Fort Kesroli in Alwar (Part 2), and Jahangir Mahal in Orchha (Part 3). In addition, Priyadarshan filmed the wooden Travancore court scenes inside Padmanabhapuram Palace in Tamil Nadu.
The famous locked chamber with the rusted lock is on the third floor of Chomu Palace, a 300-year-old fort-palace located 33 km northwest of Jaipur along NH52. The hotel preserves the upper stone corridors, though the room itself remains part of their heritage suite wing.
Yes, both Chomu Palace (Part 1) and The Hill Fort Kesroli (Part 2) are operating luxury heritage hotels. You can book an overnight stay, or make an advance restaurant reservation to tour the inner courtyards and ramparts without booking a room.
The eerie, overgrown exterior of Bhawanigarh was filmed at The Hill Fort Kesroli in Alwar, Rajasthan. The production dressed the 14th-century fortress ramparts with fake dust and cobwebs, while the Thakur family's city mansion scenes were shot along Lucknow's Gomti riverfront.
Part 3 shifted the ghost lore to Bundelkhand and Bengal. The crew shot extensively at Jahangir Mahal and the Betwa River cenotaphs in Orchha (Madhya Pradesh), before flying to Kolkata for dawn bike sequences across Howrah Bridge and historic North Kolkata rajbaris.
A lifelong Indian cinema archivist, Dinesh personally investigates call sheets, director notes, and satellite telemetry to verify authentic coordinates for Bhool Bhulaiyaa (1, 2 & 3). All spot elevations, access roads, and transit advisories are vetted for genuine travel accuracy.
