What if Dumbledore lived in Delhi and Harry in Haridwar? Indian locations that fit Harry Potter’s magical world

Imagine Harry Potter running on the ghats of Haridwar with his wand out in the air and Dumbledore sipping masala chai instead of Butterbeer at India Gate in Delhi! If J.K. Rowling had imagined a Harry Potter story in India, the scenes might have looked a lot more desi.

For Potterheads in India, they must have imagined this idea already. Harry grows up in a small town in Haridwar, and the Hogwarts Express buzzes away from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Station in Mumbai instead of Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross, among other magical sequences. Sounds crazy? Well maybe too Bollywood. But it sounds kinda perfect, right!

On this note, let’s have a look at places in India that could easily fit into the wizarding world if Harry and his friends (only if they were desi).

Just a few hours drive from Delhi lies the grand Neemrana Fort. The fort would make a perfect-o-Hogwarts! The high walls, hidden passages, and courtyards which guarantee the much-needed spookiness! This is exactly what you’d expect from a wizarding school. Imagine Professor Snape lurking in the dark hidden alleys in the fort.

Can’t think of any other place than Jim Corbett National Park to play India’s own Forbidden Forest. Thick jungles, silence, and the possibility of spotting a tiger instead of a centaur make it scarier than finding Aragog’s in a cave! If Hagrid was here, elephants, jackals and peacocks would probably be his beloved “beasts”.

Eden Gardens, the renowned wide-open international cricket stadium in Kolkata, could easily transform into a Quidditch pitch. Imagine hearing the commentators shouting, “And Potter’s caught the Snitch” instead of announcing Saurav Ganguly’s century. The idea of watching the Quidditch World Cup in India is enough to give goosebumps to any Potterhead!

Bhool Bhulaiya inside Bara Imambara in Lucknow can perfectly replace the Room of Requirement. This mystical labyrinth is home to over a thousand interconnected corridors! Some lead to dead ends and others open to hidden balconies and chambers. Each of these hide secrets—exactly the kind of place where the Room of Requirement would appear. Whether you are looking for a room to hide your tiara or need a training room for Dumbledore’s Army, Bhool Bhulaiya would surprise you at every turn.

Manali in Himachal Pradesh has a perfect setting to replace Hogsmeade Village. Instead of snow-covered mountains of Scotland, the wizarding-world students would sneak off to Manali’s riverside cafes for their holiday weekends. Masala Chai would replace butterbeer, and the students would be shopping for pahadi trinkets.

The Platform 9¾ in London remains one of the most magical views in the movies. But imagine Mumbai’s iconic CSMT station transforming into Platform 9¾! The Gothic architecture of the station offers the much-needed Potter vibes. The busy platforms, and travellers rush add to the magical ambience. Close your eyes and picture Harry, Ron and Hermione running through the crowd of vada pav vendors and vanishing into thin air.