In the Batman series, Christopher Nolan displays mastery in making the real, tangible world into sets for Gotham City. The variation in his choice of locations makes it a pleasurable task for his wanderlust followers to figure out these sites. His films feature a wide range of locations, spanning from England and India to the United States.
Nolan has recently shown a keen interest in localising his films in India, which can be seen in both The Dark Knight Rises and Tenet. In The Dark Knight Rises, Bruce Wayne is seen standing in front of the ramparts of Rajasthan’s Mehrangarh Fort after escaping from the Pit, an ancient and isolated area. The fort was constructed on a hilltop in 1459 by Rajput leader Rao Jodha and is a stunning representation of Indo-Mughal architecture showcasing Rajputana’s wealth and grandeur. The fort contains a variety of incredible structures, marble inlays, and medieval canons that any traveller should make sure to visit. Furthermore, the Mehrangarh Museum Trust (MMT) has dedicated significant thought and activity towards sustainable development of the place that adds much value to the local livelihood as well as the ecosphere. They ensure the minimisation of carbon footprint for visitors while promoting an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Batman (2022) features St. George’s Hall as the City Hall of Gotham. Director Nolan made an excellent choice as the grand neo-classical architecture of the building perfectly fits the futuristic and sublime administrative building of Gotham City. The building was once a part of Liverpool’s World Heritage Site and is renowned as an excellent example of European architecture. However, it was removed from the list in 2021. Its foundation was established in 1838 as a tribute to Queen Victoria’s coronation. When at the site, travellers can look forward to The History Whisperer exhibits executed by competent and knowledgeable individuals. You could stroll along William Brown Street and imbibe the grandiosity of other similar neoclassical architecture. Football enthusiasts could take a 4 km ride away from the Hall and witness the electric vibe of the Anfield Stadium.
Both Nolan’s Batman Begins as well as Tim Burton’s Batman feature the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel as part of Gotham City. A remarkable wonder of Gothic-revival architecture designed by George Gilbert Scott, the St. Pancras opened as a railway hotel called the Midland Grand Hotel in 1873. After serving as a government office for some time, the building underwent extensive restorations and renovations before reopening in 2011 as the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel. Highly imposing, the building is bound to impress the onlooker. The Gothic masterpiece has also been featured in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, The Crown, as well as Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows: Part 2, where it is used as the King’s Cross station.
The Wall Street of New York enters the Batman universe as the Gotham City Stock Exchange building in The Dark Knight Rises. The New York Stock Exchange building was designed by George B. Post and constructed in 1865. Travellers in the bustling city of New York could walk through Wall Street as they marvel over the Second Empire architectural style of the structures and the buzzing of the global financial forest. Film enthusiasts wouldn’t delay noting how this location also appears in The Wolf of the Wall Street.
While in New York, travellers can also commute to the iconic Queensboro Bridge that witnessed much action unfolding in The Dark Knight Rises. Designed by the renowned engineer Gustav Lindenthal, the bridge was built between 1901 and 1909. A cantilever bridge, the Queensboro is also reminiscent of the domestic Howrah Bridge that was built in Kolkata in 1935. This resemblance of both bridges is effectively exploited for the feeling of homesickness in Mira Nair’s film The Namesake. Travellers around the Queensboro Bridge are advised to go to the nearby Roosevelt Park, where the bridge can be seen in a symmetrically coherent angle for a memorable impression.