Ramoji Film City: A Travel Guide to the World’s Largest Film Studio

On the outskirts of Hyderabad, in the southern Indian state of Telangana, lies a place unlike anywhere else in the country: Ramoji Film City. Opened in 1996 by the late Ramoji Rao, founder of the Ramoji Group and the Telugu newspaper Eenadu, it is officially certified by the Guinness World Records as the largest film studio complex in the world, spread across roughly 1,600 to 2,000 acres of gently rolling countryside. That is a scale hard to picture until you are actually standing inside it, an entire self-contained world of streets, palaces, gardens and airports that exist purely to be filmed.

Ramoji Film City is, at once, a fully working film production hub and one of India’s most visited tourist attractions. Hundreds of films in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and other languages have been shot here over the decades, from small television serials to some of Indian cinema’s biggest blockbusters, most famously the Baahubali films. For visitors, though, it functions as a vast theme park and day out, with rides, live shows, gardens and behind-the-scenes experiences built around the same sets that directors use for their films. It is genuinely one of a kind, and well worth the trip out from the city.

A city built entirely for the movies

The idea behind Ramoji Film City is a simple one, even if the execution is enormous: a film crew should be able to arrive with nothing but a script and leave with a finished film, without ever having to travel elsewhere for a location. To that end, the complex houses everything a production could need, from permanent standing sets to costume and prop departments, editing suites, and accommodation for cast and crew. It functions as a genuine studio lot in the way that Hollywood’s old backlots once did, except on a far larger scale.

Walking around, you begin to understand why it holds its Guinness World Records title. The grounds unfold in zone after zone, each built to a different theme or era, connected by internal roads that stretch for miles. A mock airport terminal sits not far from a full-scale railway station set, both used repeatedly in films that need transport hub scenes without the cost or disruption of filming at a real one. Elsewhere there are temple complexes, palace facades, a fort, recreated city streets, a rural village set, and even a Hollywood-style hillside sign, all built as permanent fixtures rather than temporary props. Because the individual sets are spread across such distances, and you cannot walk the whole site in a day, Ramoji Film City runs its own internal bus and tram tours, which are really the only practical way to see the breadth of what is here.

Sets, streets and the Baahubali connection

Film buffs tend to get the most out of a visit, because so much of what you see is instantly recognisable from the screen. The elaborate palace and fort sets built for the Baahubali films remain one of the biggest draws, with dedicated Baahubali-themed attractions and photo opportunities that trade on the scale and grandeur of that production. Beyond that single franchise, though, the studio’s landscaped gardens are attractions in their own right: a formal Japanese garden, a Mughal garden with its terraced lawns and water channels, and the ornamental Angel fountain are all popular stops, offering a gentler, greener contrast to the busier attraction zones.

Because it is a working studio as well as a visitor site, there is always a chance of spotting an actual shoot in progress on one of the sets, cameras, lighting rigs and all. Ramoji also runs its own behind-the-scenes demonstrations under the Filmi Duniya banner, walking visitors through how stunts are choreographed, how sets are dressed, and how dubbing and post-production work. For anyone curious about how a film is actually assembled from a script and a few hundred acres of painstakingly built facades, this is where it all clicks into place.

Rides, shows and family attractions

Alongside its role as a studio, Ramoji Film City operates as a full theme park, with an entry ticket typically bundling the internal tram tour together with most of the shows and a number of rides, though packages and inclusions vary and are worth checking on the official website before you travel. The ride offering ranges from gentler, family-friendly attractions to proper adventure and thrill rides, and there is a dedicated children’s zone, Fundustan, aimed squarely at younger visitors.

Live entertainment is a big part of the day. The stunt show, sometimes billed under a Wild West or action theme, sees performers stage fights, falls and pyrotechnics in a purpose-built arena, and is one of the most popular fixtures on the schedule. There is also a special-effects and movie-magic show demonstrating film trickery in real time, cultural and dance performances showcasing regional traditions, and the Eureka fun zone for smaller-scale amusements. Nature lovers can spend time at the bird park and butterfly park, while the Borasura haunted house offers a spookier detour for those who want one. The Spirit of Ramoji is often billed as a signature show tying several of these elements together. Between attractions, souvenir shops selling film and Ramoji-branded merchandise are dotted across the site, so there is plenty to browse as you move between zones.

Given the sheer size of the property, a single day here is a full day in the true sense: expect to be on your feet from opening time until closing, moving between the bus tour, shows and rides with barely a gap. Families with children, film enthusiasts, and groups of friends or colleagues all tend to have a good time, though it is worth being realistic that this is an entertainment day out rather than a heritage or nature site, and it does get busy, particularly on weekends and public holidays.

Getting there

Ramoji Film City sits around 25 to 30km from central Hyderabad, off the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway (NH65) near Abdullapurmet, and the drive typically takes somewhere between an hour and an hour and a half depending on traffic. Most visitors travel by car, taxi or app-based cab, and organised tour buses also run out from the city, with a limited number of public buses serving the route as well. The nearest airport is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad, roughly 40 to 50km away, while Hyderabad and Secunderabad are the nearest major rail hubs. If you are combining a visit with the rest of the city’s sights, it is worth treating Ramoji as its own dedicated day, given how far out it sits and how much ground there is to cover once you arrive.

Best time to visit

The cooler months, from October through to March, make for the most comfortable visit, since a large part of the experience takes place outdoors and involves a fair amount of walking between zones. The hot, dry stretch from April to June can be genuinely draining given how exposed many of the walkways and queueing areas are, so it is best avoided if you have a choice. Ramoji Film City is open throughout the year, and weekdays are noticeably quieter than weekends and public holidays, when queues for the more popular shows and rides can build up quickly. Whichever day you choose, arriving right at opening time is the best way to make the most of the hours available.

Where to stay

For visitors who want to see more than a single day allows, or who are attending a wedding or corporate event on the grounds, Ramoji Film City has its own on-site hotels, including Sitara, Tara and the Sahasra, allowing guests to spread the experience over two days at a more relaxed pace and often with earlier access to certain areas. The complex is a popular venue for weddings and MICE events precisely because of this integrated accommodation. Alternatively, plenty of visitors simply base themselves in Hyderabad and travel out for a single, full day, which works perfectly well if you are prepared for an early start and a long day on your feet.

Food and dining

There is no shortage of places to eat once inside, with multiple restaurants and food courts spread across the complex offering multi-cuisine menus alongside Telugu and Hyderabadi specialities, plus quicker fast-food options for those short on time between shows. Outside food is often restricted on entry, so it is worth planning to eat within the grounds rather than carrying in your own supplies, and checking current rules before you travel if you have particular dietary needs.

Practical tips for your visit

Given the scale of the place, a little planning goes a long way. Arrive as close to opening time as you can, since the grounds are genuinely vast and a full day is needed to see even the main highlights. Comfortable shoes are essential, and a hat and sunscreen are worth packing given how much time is spent outdoors, particularly in the warmer months. Carry water with you as you move between zones. It is worth checking the official Ramoji Film City website ahead of time for current ticket packages, show timings and any pre-booking requirements, since these change from season to season. Visitors who want to avoid queues or see more of the sets in comfort can look at the premium or VIP tour packages and the Star Experience, which are designed to streamline the day. Make the most of the internal bus and tram tour rather than trying to walk between the more distant sets, and plan your meals around the on-site food courts rather than relying on outside food. If you are travelling with children, it is worth checking in advance which rides and shows are included in your package and which are age-appropriate, so expectations are set correctly before you arrive.

A world of its own

Ramoji Film City is a world of its own on Hyderabad’s edge, the largest film studio on earth, where a mock airport, a Wild West street, Mughal gardens and Baahubali sets sit side by side, stunt performers leap through fire, and behind every facade a real film might be shooting. Part working studio and part theme park, it is one of South India’s great family days out, and an essential stop for anyone curious about how the movies are actually made.