love from India....sincerely apologies for the cons..agreed on most of them. Don't want to hide our faults under the blanket of culture , diversity or something else . yes problems are their but as a society we are in the phase of transition, its a NEW India people are changing over here gradually but Don't let anything hold u back from visiting here again . want so see more of U....
Why are you sorry? It is what it is no matter where you are in the world. Thats why we like or dislike certain places and there's nothing wrong with that.
I LOVED INDIA and lived there 4 months and never found it difficult! I would live there fulltime and maybe will one day! actually am thinking of it. .at least staying there most of the year and coming back to US for a vacation :) sound s good eh?
I love India, been so many amazing parts of the country. However, India does wear you down. For me, it's the traffic and the endless high pitched honking, for the love of god bring ear plugs if you visit! Crossing the streets is exhilarating at first but scary and exhausting after a few days. India is the kind of place you visit when you're young, the older you get, the harder it is to go with the flow and cope. Maybe I can fit one more trip in before I reach my mid-40s and just can't deal with it all anymore. That said, my god India is an incredible experience!
As a Local Indian, I live at the Outskirts of the City for the same reasons. It is very calm and peaceful here, Away from the Traffic and Pollution. I have no idea why Tourists simply head to Cities, The real India is in the Countryside and away from Cities. I see most Tourists book a Hotel alongside Busy streets which are at the centre of Town or City. Instead, Try getting a Hotel or Lodge at the Outskirts of the City. It will be a far more pleasant experience.
I am really sorry for "cons" that you have faced. But I think I should point to few of the things. India is a diverse country in every aspect. 1.3 Billion people. Huge class differences are there in terms of money, education, culture. People that are bothering and cheating you are from the bottom of the list, most of the Indians avoid them too. And yes plan your journey properly, you will get app for home delivery of everything, from communication, food, vegetables, medicine etc. Buy train tickets reserved or unreserved from app. Please do not mind, but I have to say this that if you are not on a very tight budget then please book at least AC second class. If you go below that you will continue to get whatever you are already getting. As you are a foreigner your currency is very strong here, though I don't think you have not done any hard work to make your currency stronger, cheaters will try to get advantage of your strong currency. I always see foreigners are saying "India is So cheap." -- it is not, your currency is strong. One more thing, when people are asking you personal question, they have already started judging you, be aware. I am not saying that these problems are not present, they are there. Agreed. Most of us don't like them too. So we stay and go to places where things are better and easy for us.
Don't u think he knows everything what r you saying bcz he has been in India for long time but the foreigners like him don't go for better option they just go for the cheapest option.
@@ecoconatus8089 what kind of apps ? swiggy and zomato are for food delivery. ola and uber for cab services. makemytrip cleartrip goibibo for flight train tickets and hotels. i am from mumbai . i have been to tamil nadu 20 times. ask me for anything.
Strange questions Indians ask: - Where is your mother from? - Where does your father work? - Is your brother married? - Have you ever watched Titanic? - Did you file your taxes last year? - What does it feel like to be white?
I appreciate your sincere enthusiasm for India and travel in general. I also appreciate that you’re not exclusively showing India through rose colored glass. This makes me want to go, but I still am intimidated by India! Sounds very intense!
I am and have been interested in visiting India. Your pros and cons are very helpful for me to get myself ready for the great adventure. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the great info - India has been on my "bucket list" for a while. After watching your Cambodia trips we did a backpacking trip thru Cambodia last year...this fall it will probably be India. Thanks again, keep up the great work :-)
I spent 3 weeks in india touring around just before the virus started , we had photos taken everywhere we went , it is something you just have to accept , it was a bit like being famous , it certainly was an experience
nah man i completely agree. I'm an indian living in australia and having both perspectives really opens me up to the flaws (and lovely aspects) of India. There are so many things that no one seems to be doing anything about...
I rely on you to "suffer" through all the cons you described in the first 12 minutes of this video as I sit in my recliner and tour India vicariously through you on TH-cam, Brock. I can understand now why you can get a 10 year visa.
- lol. Yeah...to me, it is the whole package that I want to experience...both the good and the bad. It is only then that I can say that I truly traveled a country!
I will try to give my pov on each cons: Garbage issue: this is going to take a fundamental change in the mentally of the ppl, but I also think authorities haven't done enough to curb this problem, there is no proper waste management system esp in smaller towns and cities, also they need to lay down strict rules and hv heavy fines on culprits, things will change. Same ppl when go to foreign countries follow these rules and don't throw litter outside. Scams and cons: because of the sheer no. Of ppl here, the no. Of such will always be higher, but I think in % they are low, most of us will always try and help you out. Stray animals: well this is a cultural thing, can't judge anything keeping Western lenses, like many Indians will find keeping animals in fences and chains is regressive and that they shd be free to roam. Personal space and selfies: I just don't understand the obsession re selfies with foreigners, nut in general if personal space is your thing then this country is not for you. We are very social ppl and it's very common to ask questions like what does my parents do, what do I do for living, I'm married or not. But asking for a pic of your sister is very very weird, even for us. So stay away from such ppl without worrying whether you looking like rude, if you feel awkward, just ignore, don't pay attention. SIM cards and train tickets: again the govt and authorities needs to do more for tourism and make these things easy. Though I have watched some vlogs in which ppl hv said it's very easy to get SIM cards at airport and that irctc website accepts international cards, do check vlogs by Ivana Perkovic or Christine Kaaloa. In general, India is very diverse country, in one city itself you will find many different kind of ppl. For e.g. in Pune where I live, You will find the cleanest of areas where ppl won't bother you with selfies, ppl displaying pda, girls wearing anything they want and then in other areas you will also find the things you mentioned. It's just up to ppl what they are seeking here and truth of this country is a mix of all these things.
I saw the "Don't litter" program start in the USA. 1) Public ad campaigns. Companies using public air waves had to provide free air time for public service ads. (US is now run by corporations now though) 2) Fines with warning signs. This generates revenue to pay for ads and enforcement.
I live in India. The trash problem is very frustrating. People have(in general) very less awareness of what they are doing. Public cleanliness is not a part of life for many people. It won't be wrong to say that people are lazy in that regard as many people won't bother to go to throw garbage in the bin even if it is 10 steps away. They just throw it right there on the ground and sometimes in water too. At many places,there's no garbage collection system and hence people are forced to do it. So, government needs to work on that. But what I've noticed traveling around India is that there will be places where you'd not see a piece of trash and you'll find parts of the country very filthy. North is more polluted than the South. West isn't really great when it comes to cleanliness. Northeast is better in that regard. The government has been pushing Swachha Bharat (clean India) mission rigorously through awareness, advertising and all. It has yielded good results but there is a very long way to go. I feel cleanliness is a habit. If it becomes a habit, it won't go away. The other cons you mentioned are also largely true. I relate to them as someone who lives here.
India has always been somewhere where I would like to go but the cons you display can stop a lot of people sadly. In reality, every country or place will have cons, but knowing how to navigate them is key. I am from Chicago and know it is extremely high in crime but you just learn where to go or not too or if you’re in a bad area, you just use caution. Can’t wait to visit India, any advice anyone?!
- Agreed. I guess that is one of the major reasons that i made this video. it allows you to prepare, physically and mentally, before you even get there.
@Ryan Donnelly , you are absolutely right mate, if you do proper research and planning, use proper digital apps for booking everything , it would be a very nice and unique experience, you can go to Himanchal pradesh and northeast india for himalaya's , goa and andaman nicobar for beaches , rajasthan for palaces, forts and desert safari , kerala for rainforests, backwaters etc
Hi Great overview. Planing to go to India (God willing) over the summer. Have done a ton of research. I’ve been to Kathmandu and many other remote places such as a village far off in China. Used to such adventures. I find India to be that one country that I have to visit before I get any older (38 now). I was about 5-6 years old when my parents and I with siblings traveled to India and I still remember it like it was yesterday. Back then it was called Bombay and we did come across plenty of hardship. But a memorable trip nonetheless. Times have changed and I’m sure it’s easier now to do this as a solo traveler vs with small kids and family 28-29 years ago. Backpacking my way (God willing) for 3 weeks.
Everything you have said is true but I have to mention most of them don't really apply to regular tourists. And for traveling and hotels online booking and payments are much appreciated. Avoid tuk tuk Use Uber and Ola. You need to learn to say no to people who ask for selfies and ask unnecessary questions.
India is a Unique Country it is very different from Europe or America or non Asian or African Countries. U can also visit nearby Countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Tibbet, Bangladesh to get a idea of India. India has Himalayas which provides Fresh & Purest Air to India & are very Dangerous but also Beautiful U can see Garbage but still they are really Worth to Check. If U need a Balanced Exposure of Indian Himalayas go to Manali & nearby Areas. Manali in Himachal Pradesh is one of the most visited Hill Stations on Earth. It's Like a City but great Views. Old Manali is surely a Area to check out. U fill face no problem of Transport or Hotels or other stuff as Everything is available there according to Money U spend from 1 Rs Matchbox to Expensive Food & Stays. U have to come to New Delhi to go Himalayas. If U want less people & less crowded Areas go beyond Manali like Spiti Valley, Kinnaur Valley & other Areas. Laddakh is also a very Popular Tourist Destination
Loved your honest take on the pros and cons of travelling in India, Brock! It's refreshing to hear both sides of the experience. Has any particular city or village in the north stood out to you the most?
When you pay for the poverty tourism , you get crappy service, it's like someone going to LA n harping about skid row . Reality - SIM cards are available at the international airports , buy them and get an IRCTC account to book trains, use OLA , Uber and metro trains instead of Auto rickshaw , Avoid sketchy neighbourhoods , like one would avoid faihill in philli .. importantly stay in hotels n hostels with at least 25 good reviews.. it's common sense travelling . And importantly eat at decent looking restaurants or the ones with good reviews n drink bottled water.. I had my laptop stolen in Valencia , purse in Barcelona , with people coming up to me trying get money while pretending to be helpful, there are crappy places everywhere but if you wanna go by paying bare minimum the experience won't be pleasant neither a real reflection of the place.and that's true for everywhere ..
I can't say you're totally wrong...😅 EDIT: Infact India is the one of the best (if not THE best) places for Luxury Tourism. Your money takes you much farther (in terms of Luxury) than probably anywhere else in the World. You can stay in 5 Star Luxury Hotel which is a 13th Century Palace for (sometimes) less than $ 100 a night...imagine doing that in European Castles & Châteaus for example. You truly get pampered at your 5 Star Stays...something you'll always miss when travelling abroad even whilst spending 3X more... & then these people (even ladies) come & stay in Rs. 350/- per night Hostels & then complain about comfort, hygiene & safety, where even we won't let our sisters stay...
@AnkitYadav-td6mg it's true. You have white westerners who can afford to live relatively well in a country for a short period, but they bang on about an "authentic experience," which usually means poverty tourism.
My sister lived there with her husband for a year or so, I regret never having visited at the time but on the other hand they told me so many "horror" stories - even though they loved the beautiful landscapes- that it made me not want to go. I'll visit plenty of other Asia countries and am looking forward to it. I decided I don't have to go everywhere, I will choose places that really attract me.
- there are many things about India that I just like, and there are many things that I do like! Despite the things that I don't like, I still want to go back and experience the things that I do like. 🥲
As a tourist , I have been to many cities in India and when I have purchased many packaged food products , bottled drinks or other items , I have always been charged the correct amount and been given the correct change When I used the multi hire rickshaw to go about 1 or 2 kilometres on many occasions , the fare was only 7 rupees , which is about 20 cents and when I gave the drivers 20 rupees and I didn't need the change , they would follow me and make me take the change Agree about the rubbish , it needs a plan to clean it up , such as a price on it so the poor can collect it and make some money . the dogs are a big problem for me , they would bark and follow me and try to attack me and I don't want rabies also have been to many hotels to stay and I have had many problems with no hot water or only hot water around 2 hours a day or often , the water supply was off for most of the day and 24 hour water is a essential service as it makes it very difficult without water for the toilet or to use the taps for cleaning .
Actually regarding the "dirt" part in my opinion the answer is far more nuanced and complex than what many people think. During Indias Independece movement Inda was a very very poor country with only 12% literacy rate. The freedom movement was led by a small group of elite class including nehru and all. Hence political unity was something which we never had as people. It was more like a collection of regions forming india. Now you wonder how is that related to garbage. Well, if people don't have a sense of patriotism or political identity as indian then it's quite natural they will not care about their surroundings. The south seems better because it has lesser population. But the sad reality is we as a nation especially the lower class(sometimes even the upper first) have not associated ourselves as indian first. We always see ourselves as tamil first or Malayali first. I know the word "nationalism" has a very negative connotation in the west especially Europe due to the two world wars but in a developing country like india which is so vast and so divided on language and religion a little bit of nationalism is needed for political unity. I'm not trying to justify anything but this is my opinion on why we have this garbage problem and why it's so profound.
- correct, this in no way justifies the garbage. It is definitely a culture and a mindset. what's interesting to me, though, is that you say there's not a lot of nationalism or patriotism. But when I go walking and meeting everyone, everyone tells me India is number one! They love india! Lol I even have watched countless amounts of police throw garbage on the ground. I could talk to you for an hour about garbage in India.. it would just be a giant waste of time. The reality is that it does exist. And it is unfortunate. 🤷🏼♂️
Thank you! I am getting ready to backpack through India, and this is exactly the type of information I was looking for. To me, not being from a traditional WASP american background, a lot of these cons are exactly the kind of culture im looking for
if you are traveling west, south then Nov-Jan is good time, temperatures range from 22 to 30'C. If you are travelling North, summer is good time which is March-May timeframe
Thanks for all the info. I am planning a trip to India this fall. I want to get off the beaten path, do you have any recommendations of sights to see that are not so crowded with tourists? I am still early in the planning process, but from what I’ve seen I think I want to explore northern india and Rajasthan. Again, great video!
Hi Lauren! I'm also planning a solo trip to India in September, however I am looking at going to Pune city for volunteer work. As a fellow female traveler, I think it would be great for us to connect! Let me know :)
@@Edgesofearth There is no point to disagree. Whatever cons you have mentioned is 100 % fact. There are some serious issues we need to work upon and these issues have been there for a long time. I absolutely loved your honesty, you speak on point and they are very interesting to hear. The thing people should admire is that you should never shy away from the facts. People should also see the way you have admired our country and I know you love India. Grt channel happy to be subscribed. If you ever visit Kolkata, i stay here bro :) all the best
@@Edgesofearth Yes truth hurts, before we went to India we thought it will be all glam, like they show in the Bollywood movies, we were very disappointed with the reality, we were young started getting sick so we returned on the 3rd day & never visited again, & that was in the 90's, I thought things would improve by now.
Agree with most of your points except the for the 'getting hassled on the streets' one. This is a more of a pro than a con in my opinion... you can walk down one road and by the time you reach the end of it, you've met 20 new people, had 4 cups of masala chai, chatted about life/politics/food culture and all while getting a chance to practice some Hindi. For this reason alone, it's impossible to be bored in India. And I've never seen one of these foreigner train stations you spoke about???
- Haha, this was/is mostly a pro.to me also...but there are times when I need to go somewhere to meet someone at a certain time...and then everyone wants to stop me. When i kindly decline, they have sometimes said swear words at me because they think i am rude...wtf lol Its not a foreigner train station lol, but a station that will sell a ticket to a foreigner...when others wont. (reserved seat). general class is never a problem.
Tickets online. Car and train. Avoid people. Learn saying no to them... (unnecessary) U are right about unhygienic. Food and stuff but u will never forget the test....... We will make our country clean.. Inshaallah..... And keep travel..... One more thing south India is diffrent u shuld try.
- it is the people, and it is also not the people. It's basically government policies. So many things could change in an incredibly small amount of time if the government would change policies.. and also enforce them. Policies are nothing unless they are enforced. Even despite all of the negativity, I absolutely love india! I want to go back. 2 and 1/2 years in your country is not enough 🙃
Thanks for this video. It was very educational. It allows us to have better expectations and preparation. What are your thoughts on family traveling with children?
- cool. Glad it helped. in terms of safety, I think that everything will be absolutely ok. people are generally rather warm and welcoming. just tell your children to be aware of every step that they take, because there are holes in the ground and in the sidewalk and feces and places that you would never expect. as long as everybody travels with an open mind, then you your trip should be ok. if anyone expects this to be like their home country and expects time schedules to be perfect like a developed country, then this is probably not the country for you lol. it is impossible to describe everything in a mere couple of sentences lol. if I had a family, I would absolutely take them 🙌🙌🙌🌏
You forgot to mention Online Delivery Apps.. Apps like Swiggy, Big Basket, Zomato bring you Food and anything you need once you register. Swiggy has 30 Minute delivery to most Locations in many Cities. So you can order anything anytime.
@@Edgesofearth Thanks - helpful to know. Are you still there on a tourst visa? Thinking about how I can get in but seems that they're no longer issuing.
- Yea. I am still here on a tourist visa. You may need to wait for the world to open back up before you can come. I'm not sure. The world is crazy rigjt now 😳
Being a backpacker there are lots of cons as tourists and visitors it will reduce as you can use Ola and uber to travel point A to B and also permanent residents address of there country can also get sim easily. So being backpacker this are problems.
Good VID. I needed to see and hear the truth. I might go someday. I don't like the trash, it i will have to look past it. I saw a lot of trash in Naples and had to figure out some way of enjoying myself. Thanx , from Sacramento
- once a person gets out of the tourist area, it definitely takes the special type of person to travel in this country. 🤪 I have been here for 3 years. I love it and hate it all at the same time lol I mostly love it. The hotel industry is one of the most difficult aspects about traveling in india.
I am sorry for the issues faced by this traveler ,Unfortunately people some times goes to very poor areas and oldest and shady parts of the cities and then generalize for the whole country , which is not an accurate assessment, as far as convenience is concerned now in india we have Apps and websites to get any service at the click of a button, any service like bus, train, hotel, airlines, food, restaurant, intercity transport all can be done online, even in terms of digital transactions india did 43 billion digital transactions in 2021 alone , you won't need cash for transactions in most parts of the urban areas. but people don't want to do any research and some blame also falls on our travel tourism authorities to not inform travelers no proper signage etc. If you look india from my perspective it is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, India is a mosaic of multicultural experiences. With a rich heritage and myriad attractions, the country is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It covers an area of 32, 87,263 sq. km, extending from the snow-covered Himalayan heights to the tropical rain forests of the south, which give the country a distinct geographical entity. Fringed by the Great Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. India has 2400 KMs of himalayan mountain ranges, 7500 KM of coastline with some average , but some beautiful and stunning beaches , india has around 13000 islands , it has a Desert(Thar) and the place with most rainfall in the world is also in india(Assam), it has a number of huge national park and wild life sanctuaries with rare animals and species which includes the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic lions , Rhino's, elephants , bears etc. Different types of flora and fauna , it has gift of spectacular ancient architecture with thousand of years old temples and cities , also upcoming modern architecture, India's infrastructure is growing at a scale which is highest in the world , 27 cities now have metro trains or work in progress .with the highest GDP growth among major economies, india is transforming rapidly As you travel the expanse of the country, you are greeted by diverse nuances of cuisines, faiths, arts, crafts, music, nature, lands, tribes, history and adventure sports. India has a mesmeric conflation of the old and the new. As the bustling old bazaars rub shoulders with swanky shopping malls, and majestic monuments accompany luxurious heritage hotels, the quintessential traveller can get the best of both worlds. Head to the mountains, enjoy a beach retreat or cruise through the golden Thar, India has options galore for all.
Indians know all the people at least in their village.. That's their culture. A marriage party in India not merely a party but a celebration where the entire villagers take part. And cremation also be with the presents all the people.. That's a different cultures where they try to know each and every person they meet..
Is it true that there are no maps or street signs in India? Sorry if this sounds dumb to ask but I heard that pulling up google maps like you would in the U.S. is completely pointless in India which I imagine then it is easy to get lost
- Nope. English is pretty much everywhere in the big cities and on major roads between cities. It's aso everywhere in the south. Often, you can hear locals communicating to each other in english in the south. small towns and villages, however, is completely different story ..both north and south😜
- 🙈🙈 It is always a concern. i have had tea that was just fine and i have also drank tea in villages why my stomach hurt within five minutes after drinking. the girl politely declined, and we sometimes make the excuse that we just had some tea before coming. or sometimes we might say that we have stomach problems and will only hurt our stomach. but obviously the real reason is that we watched how they prepared the tea and it was incredibly unsanitary, but we cannot tell them the truth. we appreciate the kindness and hospitality, but we fear for our health 😬
thanks for this video, very helpful! i was wondering about transport if you buy tickets online by example redbus or rome2rio, do you recommend this or does this create even more chaos?
I think you are generalising India by just travelling the north. You will find that the culture changes in every state. Im assuming you have travelled in UP and Bihar which are the least developed states in India akin to Pakistan in hdi. Don't let that skew your opinion of the whole country.
- The statements I made in this video were quite specific to the north..I know nothing about the south. I was sure to say that in the beginning of the video. But all pros and cons in the video were mentioned because it happened countless times, in multiple states, by completely different and unrelated people. My overall opinion is that I love India. Don't worry, a couple of cons won't scare me away that easily lol
- Interesting. Someone told me the exact opposite...its cleaner in the south...he is from india. I haven't been there, so I cannot verify for myself. I have heard that English-speaking is a bit more prevalent in the south. That's exciting! I will be able to communicate to me people 😆
@@Edgesofearth Yeah bruv thats what they say cuz they havent been to the north. If you will go to cities like Madras there are like open sewers everywhere and the beaches are full of trash. I prefer Delhi, the Himalayas and the North east over the south anyday. I have been to the south plenty of times for work. Watch youtuber The Wandering Quinn when she was in the south you will see it is just as dirty. But, I would still say its a great place to visit great history and food. Just ignore the trash like you'd do in the north.
Really Bihar akin to Pakistan. U haven't been here so don't try to judge. Though the buildings may not be that high and the people may not be that rich but not totally urbanized doesn't mean being dirty. Plus it is actually quite good not in the western sense of being an IT hub or something but more in the traditional way. From Bodh Gaya to the ruins of Nalanda it is well organized and a spiritual calmness resides here. So maybe thinking(changing) your own mindset about the country would be better before telling a guest(to our country) about how he should visit the place would be better.☺️( From India)
I pretty much agree on everything that you have pointed out. Garbage is one thing we really want to contain but going clueless probably. Want to mention about one con. That is about people intimidating foreigners. It is not any culture here, its just the education among the masses is still pretty low. If you come down south this intimidation is pretty much non existant because of better education, exposure to foreign people who travel here for businesses. But in north its different and really cannot help with it immediately. Hopefully it will get better over the period of time. Even in north the general middle class population dont intimidate foreigners.
which city are you in here ?? I'm going to India soon and mostly staying in the Himalayas but I wanna spend a few days somewhere else. preferably with random animals all around!! pls help me find a place lol
- be sure to read the description.. I usually put it in the description. If I did not put a location in the description, then I have intentionally hid it. I often hide the name of small villages just to prevent Mass tourism because of my video.
- if you stay in varanasi, there will be monkeys everywhere in the city. However, be careful, sometimes they are vicious. There are a lot of places in the mountains of Southern India which have a lot of animals. Lots of birds, elephants, leopards, and plenty of other things. Some are dangerous, some are not.
@@Edgesofearth do you think people would be okay with you feeding the animals? they all look very thin and I was thinking I could get some fruits or dog food or something and just feed strays for a few days
- in the towns this should not be a problem. However I have heard crazy stories and villages. When outsiders feed animals, especially cows, I have heard that villagers have killed the person who was feeding cows. The locals literally thought that the man was poisoning the cow. He wasn't. He was just trying to be kind. But it was too late, the man is already dead. Most animals.. you should be fine. But cows are particularly sacred especially in the north.. It is very common to watch people put their leftovers on the streets specifically for cows that walk by.
They ask you your name and parents information because in india, everything is based on family (class system) although it said that no longer exist, but it does. They are not being rude. In india, everything is based on family respect and community. Those are not weird questions, YOUR IN INDIA, NOT HOME.
There is no need for sim cards if your phone is e-sim equipped. I used Airalo.... but other options are available. Have your phone ready to go as soon as your plane 😅lands.
- generally while traveling, it is quite a bit cheaper to use a local sim rather than an ESim. I even landed at the Calcutta airport and they did not have any sim options available. I had to go to a nearby town and search for a small shop that is willing to sell one to me. So crazy. So if someone absolutely needs internet on the first day of traveling in india, then an ESim might be a good option 🤪
@Edgesofearth Traveling to other towns looking for a sim is a waste of time and money for me. $17 for 10gb that is ready to go upon landing make a lot more sense for my 10 day trip. I always download Google Maps and Translate before i arrive, bothy of which save data use. However, thanks for yiour comment.
@Edgesofearth I guess that I would rather spend the extra $9, which I would likely save on my Uber ride from the airport, and avoid searching other towns for a sim card during my 10 day stay. As well as the money and time spent searching other towns. Perhaps if a person plans on spending 6 months, the search would be worth it.
Thanks for the honest video. On the personal questions issue I should say sometimes even we Indians find some of the queries uncomfortable. But as a rule the standards for a question being personal are somewhat different from the West. India is a family centric society, so asking questions about one's family is deemed quite normal (wanting to see your sister's photo is definitely not). If I bring a friend of mine, Indian or not, the very first questions they are gonna face are like "What's your name?", "What's your father's name?", "What does he do?", " Does your mom work also?", " Who else are there in your family?" and the like. Even, at times people may feel ignored if not asked such questions after being acquainted for the first time. 😆 Here 'living with parents' does not have the disapproving stigma attached to it. Rather, it's the opposite, it's what expected of good, grown-up and caring and responsible children.
- Wow, thanks for the informative comment! when someone asks what the name of your father is, I just cannot wrap my mind around this. why is the name of my father or your father important to anyone? it just seems like the most irrelevant question in the world 😂 similar intrusive questions were asked in the Philippines, but slightly different questions. they are intrusive to the western mindset, but apparently not to many of the Asian countries. Different culture 😜🙃
Out of curiosity: What kind of reactions can you expect if you have chosen to cut contact with your parents and thus don't really know what they are doing?
You actually can get a Vodafone sim card, you just need to show them an official id so they can register the number in your name. I've bought it when I traveled there like years ago.
My wife and I are about to backpack through India. It helps that she is Bangladeshi and speaks Urdu and Hindi quite well. We've practised many times.....I'll hide behind a tree or building until she gets the price of the rickshaw or train ticket. I then jump out. They always have such a beaten look on their face but always laugh with us.
Hello. Apologize for bad experiences in North India. If you are coming again to India, please head towards South India such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka etc. You wont regret it. It is a different world.
South India is exactly opposite to North India. Most of the cons u discussed is not valid for South India. And the best part is north east india. Love and regards. Peace
@Li saaa yes. U can find everything in India. Diversity at its peak. Incredible India. Northern India is only full of manmade structure although beautiful. Peace
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are the most underdeveloped, populated, less literate states of India. I have been to at least 15 states in India. In India, Uttar Pradesh ( Agra) and Bihar are the dirtiest states. Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab are lot cleaner. North East India Sikkim, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh etc are cleaner than North India. Overall South Indian states like Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu are much cleaner and people are literate. In major cities like Delhi, New Delhi is clean and green but Old Delhi is dirty and sketchy. In Mumbai, South Mumbai is cleaner but suburbs are not clean. I think you are generalising and exaggerating things. You said people throw garbage in the river. Actually it's not a garbage but flowers and Garlands which they throw. Especially in Temple towns like Varanasi. After Prime Minister Modi launched Clean India Mission the Sanitation coverage in India is over 98%. Overall people have been made aware of cleaneliness. People in major cities have started segregating dry and wet waste. I would say the older generation was illierate and way dirtier. The current generation is more cleaner and literate. So it will take another twenty years or a generation more for India to be a cleaner country. As India gets Richer, the government will have more money for waste management but it's the mindset of Indians which needs to be changed. Cheers from Mumbai
- Thanks for sharing the deep info! Much appreciated! As a side note, bags of human hair from a barber, tires from a car, countless empty bags of chips and biscuits, and a wooden desk do not qualify as garlands lol. This was all within 15 minutes on one bridge. No joke.
@@Edgesofearth I mean majority of the people throw Garlands and flowers. Rest mostly throw the garbage near and around the garbage bins. Indore city in Madhya Pradesh, too had the same problem but now it's the cleanest city in India. People have started segregating the waste. The roads are cleaned. What I mean to say is things are changing but it's too slow. It will take at least 20 years for India to reach levels of a moderately Clean country as people become more literate and civilized. If our country was as clean as Thailand then we could have received at least 20 million foreign Tourists annually from the current 12 million.
The irony that you are wearing a t-shirt with the quote "Real culture is found outside of the tourist areas"! It is also quite heinous that you have "loved" a comment that says that the people "bothering and cheating" you are "from the bottom of the list", like the people at the top are not "bothering and cheating" their own people.
My dear friend its india were animal people have share the planet and respect there existances.....gargabe is a problem for a population of 1.3 billion of us we are trying to sort it out ....but surely we are improving.....anyways you are welcome with whole heart....
- some behavior is repulsive. Despite some of the negative behavior, I have returned to india. I have been there for separate times. I will continue to return. I do not have a lack of understanding.
- Street food is a bit rough here. There are many three and four star restaurants around. But unfortunately, I have seen some awful preparation but even some of these places. I cannot say that all of them are bad. Absolutely not. However, I have seen my fair share in upscale restaurants. Things like people preparing a giant pot of soup, dropping the ladle on the ground, picking it up and putting it right back in the soup without changing it or even rinsing it off. He thought that nobody noticed. I did. The fact that he thought it was okay.. blows my mind. This is just one of countless examples.
On you with the garbage problem. But about animals - I think we should let nature do what they want, it is our entitlement that we feel the need to keep nature away, I think it shouldn't be an issue. I'm perfectly happy with animals roaming around and do what they want, it is their right after all :)
@@Edgesofearth even as Indian you can't get seat booked in 2 days or even 2 weeks. You can get general class ticket just 1 min before train departure but that means you don't have a confirm or fixed seat, you can seat at any seat in general class, you actually brought that but set in AC class so TC charged you 600 extra. If train was full and tickets booked he would have thrown you off with fine, so yeah general class is good for short rides, very cheap too but not very comfortable if you don't get seat. Than there are chair classes, train set up like bus, they are Intercity trains, they only have 1 or 2 AC compartments and all other are general or reserved chair class, I usually take those trains, you can get confirmed seat ticket even 1 day advance. So yeah system is very complex.
Thanks for talking about it ... Much needed... 70% of Indians need to change ... only 25 to 30% have some manners .. Cheating in matter of change of money, BIG YES. It sucks. ‘People cheating in the country where they talk much about Karma lessons all the time ...’
- Yikes. I have had some seriously awesome experiences with so many Indian people! I hope to have many more! Yeah, there's a few weird things, culturally...specifically when interacting with me. I could go deeper...maybe in another video. Some seriously weird things have happened lol
And You belong to that 30 %, I guess. Please don't use statistics when it is your assumption. Please be acknowledged that you are part of the problem too. In every cities, suburbs and small towns online payments like payTm, UPI are accepted even in small shops, why are you not using them? Ask your self, how many times you do not ask for bill(proper bill with GST no) just to avoid paying few extra bucks which is actually government tax, that could have been helpful for public benefits later.
- unfortunately, the problem goes a bit deeper than that. the government is failing the people. many of these areas did have dustbins nearby and people kept throwing items in there, but eventually they overflow, and now there are whole streets covered in garbage because the government does not remove the trash from the dustbin. because of this, the people have become careless about where garbage goes, because it doesn't really matter anymore, the government will never remove it. that is just one piece of the puzzle. the carelessness about trash runs deep. I have had countless discussions about random topics with police officers, and while they are eating, they throw the garbage on the ground in the middle of the street. if the police don't care, then obviously he people don't care either. So frustrating.
love from India....sincerely apologies for the cons..agreed on most of them. Don't want to hide our faults under the blanket of culture , diversity or something else . yes problems are their but as a society we are in the phase of transition, its a NEW India people are changing over here gradually but Don't let anything hold u back from visiting here again . want so see more of U....
- I am already here again ;)
instablaster
Why are you sorry? It is what it is no matter where you are in the world. Thats why we like or dislike certain places and there's nothing wrong with that.
I LOVED INDIA and lived there 4 months and never found it difficult! I would live there fulltime and maybe will one day! actually am thinking of it. .at least staying there most of the year and coming back to US for a vacation :) sound s good eh?
I'm definitely going to visit India someday. Thanks for the info.
- Hopefully sooner than later!
Maybe turn the 'SOMEday' in to 'SUNday' 😅😉😆
Haha!
Welcome to India :)
You are welcome
I love India, been so many amazing parts of the country. However, India does wear you down. For me, it's the traffic and the endless high pitched honking, for the love of god bring ear plugs if you visit! Crossing the streets is exhilarating at first but scary and exhausting after a few days. India is the kind of place you visit when you're young, the older you get, the harder it is to go with the flow and cope. Maybe I can fit one more trip in before I reach my mid-40s and just can't deal with it all anymore. That said, my god India is an incredible experience!
- I feel ya.
As a Local Indian, I live at the Outskirts of the City for the same reasons. It is very calm and peaceful here, Away from the Traffic and Pollution. I have no idea why Tourists simply head to Cities, The real India is in the Countryside and away from Cities.
I see most Tourists book a Hotel alongside Busy streets which are at the centre of Town or City. Instead, Try getting a Hotel or Lodge at the Outskirts of the City. It will be a far more pleasant experience.
I am really sorry for "cons" that you have faced. But I think I should point to few of the things. India is a diverse country in every aspect. 1.3 Billion people. Huge class differences are there in terms of money, education, culture. People that are bothering and cheating you are from the bottom of the list, most of the Indians avoid them too. And yes plan your journey properly, you will get app for home delivery of everything, from communication, food, vegetables, medicine etc. Buy train tickets reserved or unreserved from app. Please do not mind, but I have to say this that if you are not on a very tight budget then please book at least AC second class. If you go below that you will continue to get whatever you are already getting. As you are a foreigner your currency is very strong here, though I don't think you have not done any hard work to make your currency stronger, cheaters will try to get advantage of your strong currency. I always see foreigners are saying "India is So cheap." -- it is not, your currency is strong. One more thing, when people are asking you personal question, they have already started judging you, be aware. I am not saying that these problems are not present, they are there. Agreed. Most of us don't like them too. So we stay and go to places where things are better and easy for us.
@Black Gold fuck you
Don't u think he knows everything what r you saying bcz he has been in India for long time but the foreigners like him don't go for better option they just go for the cheapest option.
tl;dr😭
Thanks for your comment. Do you have apps to recommand that would work well in Tamil Nadu?
@@ecoconatus8089 what kind of apps ? swiggy and zomato are for food delivery. ola and uber for cab services. makemytrip cleartrip goibibo for flight train tickets and hotels. i am from mumbai . i have been to tamil nadu 20 times. ask me for anything.
Usually, the cons of traveling abroad are trivial but your list has solid dealbreakers.
- some of them are a bit rough, yes. However, India is still one of my favorite countries!
Strange questions Indians ask:
- Where is your mother from?
- Where does your father work?
- Is your brother married?
- Have you ever watched Titanic?
- Did you file your taxes last year?
- What does it feel like to be white?
- lol, I have definitely been asked stranger questions than that. 🙈
@@Edgesofearth
- What color panties you wearing?
I appreciate your sincere enthusiasm for India and travel in general. I also appreciate that you’re not exclusively showing India through rose colored glass. This makes me want to go, but I still am intimidated by India! Sounds very intense!
- It is very intense. Please go. You need to feel it. 🙏🌏
I am and have been interested in visiting India. Your pros and cons are very helpful for me to get myself ready for the great adventure. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the great info - India has been on my "bucket list" for a while. After watching your Cambodia trips we did a backpacking trip thru Cambodia last year...this fall it will probably be India. Thanks again, keep up the great work :-)
- Cool! Glad I could help! Thanks for watching! Keep on exploring! 🌏✌🤘
I spent 3 weeks in india touring around just before the virus started , we had photos taken everywhere we went , it is something you just have to accept , it was a bit like being famous , it certainly was an experience
- lol
Very honest and legit cons in India. It really makes a tourist feel awkward. Can only imagine what female tourists would feel!
nah man i completely agree. I'm an indian living in australia and having both perspectives really opens me up to the flaws (and lovely aspects) of India. There are so many things that no one seems to be doing anything about...
OMG this was great! and, sooo funny about the selfies! I want to visit India one day soon-on my bucket list. Thank you so much!
- Glad you found it informative! 😇🙏
@@Edgesofearth ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
I rely on you to "suffer" through all the cons you described in the first 12 minutes of this video as I sit in my recliner and tour India vicariously through you on TH-cam, Brock. I can understand now why you can get a 10 year visa.
- lol. Yeah...to me, it is the whole package that I want to experience...both the good and the bad. It is only then that I can say that I truly traveled a country!
I will try to give my pov on each cons:
Garbage issue: this is going to take a fundamental change in the mentally of the ppl, but I also think authorities haven't done enough to curb this problem, there is no proper waste management system esp in smaller towns and cities, also they need to lay down strict rules and hv heavy fines on culprits, things will change. Same ppl when go to foreign countries follow these rules and don't throw litter outside.
Scams and cons: because of the sheer no. Of ppl here, the no. Of such will always be higher, but I think in % they are low, most of us will always try and help you out.
Stray animals: well this is a cultural thing, can't judge anything keeping Western lenses, like many Indians will find keeping animals in fences and chains is regressive and that they shd be free to roam.
Personal space and selfies: I just don't understand the obsession re selfies with foreigners, nut in general if personal space is your thing then this country is not for you. We are very social ppl and it's very common to ask questions like what does my parents do, what do I do for living, I'm married or not. But asking for a pic of your sister is very very weird, even for us. So stay away from such ppl without worrying whether you looking like rude, if you feel awkward, just ignore, don't pay attention.
SIM cards and train tickets: again the govt and authorities needs to do more for tourism and make these things easy. Though I have watched some vlogs in which ppl hv said it's very easy to get SIM cards at airport and that irctc website accepts international cards, do check vlogs by Ivana Perkovic or Christine Kaaloa.
In general, India is very diverse country, in one city itself you will find many different kind of ppl. For e.g. in Pune where I live, You will find the cleanest of areas where ppl won't bother you with selfies, ppl displaying pda, girls wearing anything they want and then in other areas you will also find the things you mentioned. It's just up to ppl what they are seeking here and truth of this country is a mix of all these things.
- I loved hearing this from your perspective. Thanks for sharing! ✌
I saw the "Don't litter" program start in the USA.
1) Public ad campaigns. Companies using public air waves had to provide free air time for public service ads. (US is now run by corporations now though)
2) Fines with warning signs. This generates revenue to pay for ads and enforcement.
I love your comment.
Thanks for the honesty. We are trying to change our ways and hopefuly will be okay 3 to 4 generations.
I live in India. The trash problem is very frustrating. People have(in general) very less awareness of what they are doing. Public cleanliness is not a part of life for many people. It won't be wrong to say that people are lazy in that regard as many people won't bother to go to throw garbage in the bin even if it is 10 steps away. They just throw it right there on the ground and sometimes in water too. At many places,there's no garbage collection system and hence people are forced to do it. So, government needs to work on that. But what I've noticed traveling around India is that there will be places where you'd not see a piece of trash and you'll find parts of the country very filthy. North is more polluted than the South. West isn't really great when it comes to cleanliness. Northeast is better in that regard. The government has been pushing Swachha Bharat (clean India) mission rigorously through awareness, advertising and all. It has yielded good results but there is a very long way to go.
I feel cleanliness is a habit. If it becomes a habit, it won't go away.
The other cons you mentioned are also largely true. I relate to them as someone who lives here.
- Yeah, unfortunately.😩
We can only hope the government does their part..and change this. It CAN be changed. I look forward to that day! 🙌✌🙃
India has always been somewhere where I would like to go but the cons you display can stop a lot of people sadly. In reality, every country or place will have cons, but knowing how to navigate them is key. I am from Chicago and know it is extremely high in crime but you just learn where to go or not too or if you’re in a bad area, you just use caution. Can’t wait to visit India, any advice anyone?!
- Agreed. I guess that is one of the major reasons that i made this video. it allows you to prepare, physically and mentally, before you even get there.
Edges Of Earth I appreciate you getting back to me! I am a new subscriber and really love your content 🙂 great video!
@Ryan Donnelly , you are absolutely right mate, if you do proper research and planning, use proper digital apps for booking everything , it would be a very nice and unique experience, you can go to Himanchal pradesh and northeast india for himalaya's , goa and andaman nicobar for beaches , rajasthan for palaces, forts and desert safari , kerala for rainforests, backwaters etc
Hi
Great overview.
Planing to go to India (God willing) over the summer. Have done a ton of research.
I’ve been to Kathmandu and many other remote places such as a village far off in China. Used to such adventures.
I find India to be that one country that I have to visit before I get any older (38 now).
I was about 5-6 years old when my parents and I with siblings traveled to India and I still remember it like it was yesterday. Back then it was called Bombay and we did come across plenty of hardship. But a memorable trip nonetheless.
Times have changed and I’m sure it’s easier now to do this as a solo traveler vs with small kids and family 28-29 years ago.
Backpacking my way (God willing) for 3 weeks.
- I love exploring this country 🙃🤘🏼
Good info!! Thanks for the honesty.
I agree with some points . Love from India ❤️👍
Everything you have said is true but I have to mention most of them don't really apply to regular tourists. And for traveling and hotels online booking and payments are much appreciated. Avoid tuk tuk Use Uber and Ola. You need to learn to say no to people who ask for selfies and ask unnecessary questions.
- 💪
India is a Unique Country it is very different from Europe or America or non Asian or African Countries. U can also visit nearby Countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Tibbet, Bangladesh to get a idea of India. India has Himalayas which provides Fresh & Purest Air to India & are very Dangerous but also Beautiful U can see Garbage but still they are really Worth to Check. If U need a Balanced Exposure of Indian Himalayas go to Manali & nearby Areas. Manali in Himachal Pradesh is one of the most visited Hill Stations on Earth. It's Like a City but great Views. Old Manali is surely a Area to check out. U fill face no problem of Transport or Hotels or other stuff as Everything is available there according to Money U spend from 1 Rs Matchbox to Expensive Food & Stays. U have to come to New Delhi to go Himalayas. If U want less people & less crowded Areas go beyond Manali like Spiti Valley, Kinnaur Valley & other Areas. Laddakh is also a very Popular Tourist Destination
I am going to North India next month, Anxious but also excited
- Enjoy! I am jealous 🤘🏼
Loved your honest take on the pros and cons of travelling in India, Brock! It's refreshing to hear both sides of the experience. Has any particular city or village in the north stood out to you the most?
looking forward to coming June to start my vlog journey found your video most helpful bro 💯♥️
- 🙏🏼👍🏼
Good journey bro 😊
When you pay for the poverty tourism , you get crappy service, it's like someone going to LA n harping about skid row . Reality - SIM cards are available at the international airports , buy them and get an IRCTC account to book trains, use OLA , Uber and metro trains instead of Auto rickshaw , Avoid sketchy neighbourhoods , like one would avoid faihill in philli .. importantly stay in hotels n hostels with at least 25 good reviews.. it's common sense travelling . And importantly eat at decent looking restaurants or the ones with good reviews n drink bottled water.. I had my laptop stolen in Valencia , purse in Barcelona , with people coming up to me trying get money while pretending to be helpful, there are crappy places everywhere but if you wanna go by paying bare minimum the experience won't be pleasant neither a real reflection of the place.and that's true for everywhere ..
Well said.
I can't say you're totally wrong...😅
EDIT: Infact India is the one of the best (if not THE best) places for Luxury Tourism.
Your money takes you much farther (in terms of Luxury) than probably anywhere else in the World.
You can stay in 5 Star Luxury Hotel which is a 13th Century Palace for (sometimes) less than $ 100 a night...imagine doing that in European Castles & Châteaus for example.
You truly get pampered at your 5 Star Stays...something you'll always miss when travelling abroad even whilst spending 3X more...
& then these people (even ladies) come & stay in Rs. 350/- per night Hostels & then complain about comfort, hygiene & safety, where even we won't let our sisters stay...
@AnkitYadav-td6mg it's true. You have white westerners who can afford to live relatively well in a country for a short period, but they bang on about an "authentic experience," which usually means poverty tourism.
My sister lived there with her husband for a year or so, I regret never having visited at the time but on the other hand they told me so many "horror" stories - even though they loved the beautiful landscapes- that it made me not want to go. I'll visit plenty of other Asia countries and am looking forward to it. I decided I don't have to go everywhere, I will choose places that really attract me.
- there are many things about India that I just like, and there are many things that I do like! Despite the things that I don't like, I still want to go back and experience the things that I do like. 🥲
As a tourist , I have been to many cities in India and when I have purchased many packaged food products , bottled drinks or other items , I have always been charged the correct amount and been given the correct change
When I used the multi hire rickshaw to go about 1 or 2 kilometres on many occasions , the fare was only 7 rupees , which is about 20 cents and when I gave the drivers 20 rupees and I didn't need the change , they would follow me and make me take the change
Agree about the rubbish , it needs a plan to clean it up , such as a price on it so the poor can collect it and make some money . the dogs are a big problem for me , they would bark and follow me and try to attack me and I don't want rabies also have been to many hotels to stay and I have had many problems with no hot water or only hot water around 2 hours a day or often , the water supply was off for most of the day and 24 hour water is a essential service as it makes it very difficult without water for the toilet or to use the taps for cleaning .
- Thanks for sharing! Yeah, pros and cons everywhere, that's for sure. Dogs become crazy at night, or after they have given birth to puppies..
Really Interesting video. ✌️
Will be visiting Monday Im open to all ..
Actually regarding the "dirt" part in my opinion the answer is far more nuanced and complex than what many people think. During Indias Independece movement Inda was a very very poor country with only 12% literacy rate. The freedom movement was led by a small group of elite class including nehru and all. Hence political unity was something which we never had as people. It was more like a collection of regions forming india. Now you wonder how is that related to garbage. Well, if people don't have a sense of patriotism or political identity as indian then it's quite natural they will not care about their surroundings. The south seems better because it has lesser population. But the sad reality is we as a nation especially the lower class(sometimes even the upper first) have not associated ourselves as indian first. We always see ourselves as tamil first or Malayali first. I know the word "nationalism" has a very negative connotation in the west especially Europe due to the two world wars but in a developing country like india which is so vast and so divided on language and religion a little bit of nationalism is needed for political unity. I'm not trying to justify anything but this is my opinion on why we have this garbage problem and why it's so profound.
17% literacy rate *
- correct, this in no way justifies the garbage. It is definitely a culture and a mindset.
what's interesting to me, though, is that you say there's not a lot of nationalism or patriotism. But when I go walking and meeting everyone, everyone tells me India is number one! They love india! Lol
I even have watched countless amounts of police throw garbage on the ground.
I could talk to you for an hour about garbage in India.. it would just be a giant waste of time. The reality is that it does exist. And it is unfortunate. 🤷🏼♂️
Thank you! I am getting ready to backpack through India, and this is exactly the type of information I was looking for. To me, not being from a traditional WASP american background, a lot of these cons are exactly the kind of culture im looking for
- Enjoy!
This is still one of my favorite countries to explore 🤘🏼🎥
Best thing to do is make a friend with a local to explore & not get cheated & use all the hacks & shortcuts & expenses etc..
- that has been my everyday for the last 8 years 🤣🤘🏼
When is the best time to visit India?!
- Depends if you like intense heat or not lol. to me, that's the only difference.
if you are traveling west, south then Nov-Jan is good time, temperatures range from 22 to 30'C. If you are travelling North, summer is good time which is March-May timeframe
"June to september" Big no
3:16 tbh that sounds like acount security questions
Thanks for all the info. I am planning a trip to India this fall. I want to get off the beaten path, do you have any recommendations of sights to see that are not so crowded with tourists? I am still early in the planning process, but from what I’ve seen I think I want to explore northern india and Rajasthan. Again, great video!
- In India its so easy. Go 1km in any direction away from any tourist area. There won't be foreigners 🙌🏼
Hi Lauren! I'm also planning a solo trip to India in September, however I am looking at going to Pune city for volunteer work. As a fellow female traveler, I think it would be great for us to connect! Let me know :)
@@jacksgapy unfortunately my plans have changed and I will not be going to India this year. I hope you have an incredible time though!
@@LifeWithLauren13 aww okay, that's a shame. Thanks for responding though 😊
- I'm totally eavesdropping 👀🤣
I am an Indian and I absolutely agree with all the cons.
- 🙏
If you read through the comments, there are a few who disagree. Or maybe the truth hurts..not sure.
@@Edgesofearth There is no point to disagree. Whatever cons you have mentioned is 100 % fact. There are some serious issues we need to work upon and these issues have been there for a long time. I absolutely loved your honesty, you speak on point and they are very interesting to hear. The thing people should admire is that you should never shy away from the facts. People should also see the way you have admired our country and I know you love India. Grt channel happy to be subscribed. If you ever visit Kolkata, i stay here bro :) all the best
@@Edgesofearth
Yes truth hurts, before we went to India we thought it will be all glam, like they show in the Bollywood movies, we were very disappointed with the reality, we were young started getting sick so we returned on the 3rd day & never visited again, & that was in the 90's, I thought things would improve by now.
Agree with most of your points except the for the 'getting hassled on the streets' one. This is a more of a pro than a con in my opinion... you can walk down one road and by the time you reach the end of it, you've met 20 new people, had 4 cups of masala chai, chatted about life/politics/food culture and all while getting a chance to practice some Hindi. For this reason alone, it's impossible to be bored in India.
And I've never seen one of these foreigner train stations you spoke about???
- Haha, this was/is mostly a pro.to me also...but there are times when I need to go somewhere to meet someone at a certain time...and then everyone wants to stop me. When i kindly decline, they have sometimes said swear words at me because they think i am rude...wtf lol
Its not a foreigner train station lol, but a station that will sell a ticket to a foreigner...when others wont. (reserved seat).
general class is never a problem.
Whoa that’s cool :O
Tickets online. Car and train.
Avoid people. Learn saying no to them... (unnecessary)
U are right about unhygienic. Food and stuff but u will never forget the test....... We will make our country clean.. Inshaallah..... And keep travel..... One more thing south India is diffrent u shuld try.
- I will be in Southern India for the winter 😇
As Indian I agree with all the cons
We really need to work on ourselves and country. 🤦♂️
- it is the people, and it is also not the people. It's basically government policies. So many things could change in an incredibly small amount of time if the government would change policies.. and also enforce them. Policies are nothing unless they are enforced.
Even despite all of the negativity, I absolutely love india! I want to go back. 2 and 1/2 years in your country is not enough 🙃
I been 17 times in India,but I never had any problems,they May try,but It didin't work much
Thanks for this video. It was very educational. It allows us to have better expectations and preparation. What are your thoughts on family traveling with children?
- cool. Glad it helped.
in terms of safety, I think that everything will be absolutely ok. people are generally rather warm and welcoming. just tell your children to be aware of every step that they take, because there are holes in the ground and in the sidewalk and feces and places that you would never expect.
as long as everybody travels with an open mind, then you your trip should be ok. if anyone expects this to be like their home country and expects time schedules to be perfect like a developed country, then this is probably not the country for you lol.
it is impossible to describe everything in a mere couple of sentences lol.
if I had a family, I would absolutely take them 🙌🙌🙌🌏
You forgot to mention Online Delivery Apps.. Apps like Swiggy, Big Basket, Zomato bring you Food and anything you need once you register. Swiggy has 30 Minute delivery to most Locations in many Cities. So you can order anything anytime.
- lol, I never used it...so it wasn't a huge plus for me
3:52 I immediately thought of an "Indian version of Johnny Mathis"!
But great video, very informative!
- lol. I have no idea what that is
After digitalisation in India..a lot changed in 5 yr…lot of things you can do online now mention in video
This was a great video.
Has anyone been to India since the Covid pandemic started? What’s life like on the ground now compared to the above?
- I am still in India. it's virtually identical. The only difference is that 5% of people wear masks now.
@@Edgesofearth Thanks - helpful to know. Are you still there on a tourst visa? Thinking about how I can get in but seems that they're no longer issuing.
- Yea. I am still here on a tourist visa.
You may need to wait for the world to open back up before you can come. I'm not sure. The world is crazy rigjt now 😳
@@Edgesofearth Thank you - that's helpful to know!
Being a backpacker there are lots of cons as tourists and visitors it will reduce as you can use Ola and uber to travel point A to B and also permanent residents address of there country can also get sim easily. So being backpacker this are problems.
Good VID. I needed to see and hear the truth. I might go someday. I don't like the trash, it i will have to look past it. I saw a lot of trash in Naples and had to figure out some way of enjoying myself. Thanx , from Sacramento
- 😇😇
I've been there and for me the cons far outweigh the benefits.
- once a person gets out of the tourist area, it definitely takes the special type of person to travel in this country. 🤪
I have been here for 3 years. I love it and hate it all at the same time lol
I mostly love it. The hotel industry is one of the most difficult aspects about traveling in india.
@@Edgesofearth I couldn't put up with the constant harassment I was facing everyday.
But I'll give it another chance one day.
- 😬😬
I am sorry for the issues faced by this traveler ,Unfortunately people some times goes to very poor areas and oldest and shady parts of the cities and then generalize for the whole country , which is not an accurate assessment, as far as convenience is concerned now in india we have Apps and websites to get any service at the click of a button, any service like bus, train, hotel, airlines, food, restaurant, intercity transport all can be done online, even in terms of digital transactions india did 43 billion digital transactions in 2021 alone , you won't need cash for transactions in most parts of the urban areas. but people don't want to do any research and some blame also falls on our travel tourism authorities to not inform travelers no proper signage etc.
If you look india from my perspective it is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, India is a mosaic of multicultural experiences. With a rich heritage and myriad attractions, the country is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It covers an area of 32, 87,263 sq. km, extending from the snow-covered Himalayan heights to the tropical rain forests of the south, which give the country a distinct geographical entity.
Fringed by the Great Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west.
India has 2400 KMs of himalayan mountain ranges, 7500 KM of coastline with some average , but some beautiful and stunning beaches , india has around 13000 islands , it has a Desert(Thar) and the place with most rainfall in the world is also in india(Assam), it has a number of huge national park and wild life sanctuaries with rare animals and species which includes the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic lions , Rhino's, elephants , bears etc. Different types of flora and fauna , it has gift of spectacular ancient architecture with thousand of years old temples and cities , also upcoming modern architecture, India's infrastructure is growing at a scale which is highest in the world , 27 cities now have metro trains or work in progress .with the highest GDP growth among major economies, india is transforming rapidly
As you travel the expanse of the country, you are greeted by diverse nuances of cuisines, faiths, arts, crafts, music, nature, lands, tribes, history and adventure sports. India has a mesmeric conflation of the old and the new. As the bustling old bazaars rub shoulders with swanky shopping malls, and majestic monuments accompany luxurious heritage hotels, the quintessential traveller can get the best of both worlds. Head to the mountains, enjoy a beach retreat or cruise through the golden Thar, India has options galore for all.
Indians know all the people at least in their village.. That's their culture. A marriage party in India not merely a party but a celebration where the entire villagers take part. And cremation also be with the presents all the people.. That's a different cultures where they try to know each and every person they meet..
- Definitely interesting..
Is it true that there are no maps or street signs in India? Sorry if this sounds dumb to ask but I heard that pulling up google maps like you would in the U.S. is completely pointless in India which I imagine then it is easy to get lost
- Nope. English is pretty much everywhere in the big cities and on major roads between cities. It's aso everywhere in the south. Often, you can hear locals communicating to each other in english in the south.
small towns and villages, however, is completely different story ..both north and south😜
Anti terrorism safe n secure. Helpful to pre plan trip n book ticket in advance. True.
At 3:00 do you guys see the animal behind him what is that animal if you see it like this comment
- lol 🐿
I Was afraid he got bitten!
i like roblox Was thinking same ..
4:06 I’m laughing so loud that it’s 2:25 am and my brother woke up 🤣🤣🤣
- I watched that whole selfie segment again with that random teen. So creepy and weird 😂
Edges Of Earth yes really, it must be frustrating sometime 😓🤦🏻♀️
Thank you Brock
Great vid is it safe to drink the tea because of the water?
- 🙈🙈 It is always a concern. i have had tea that was just fine and i have also drank tea in villages why my stomach hurt within five minutes after drinking.
the girl politely declined, and we sometimes make the excuse that we just had some tea before coming. or sometimes we might say that we have stomach problems and will only hurt our stomach. but obviously the real reason is that we watched how they prepared the tea and it was incredibly unsanitary, but we cannot tell them the truth.
we appreciate the kindness and hospitality, but we fear for our health 😬
Thanks for the research
12 min cons - 3 mins pros
thanks for this video, very helpful! i was wondering about transport if you buy tickets online by example redbus or rome2rio, do you recommend this or does this create even more chaos?
- to be honest, I'm not sure.
You can probably use the app. But I am not a big fan of putting my credit card on any app.. let alone a foreign one.
I think you are generalising India by just travelling the north. You will find that the culture changes in every state. Im assuming you have travelled in UP and Bihar which are the least developed states in India akin to Pakistan in hdi. Don't let that skew your opinion of the whole country.
- The statements I made in this video were quite specific to the north..I know nothing about the south. I was sure to say that in the beginning of the video.
But all pros and cons in the video were mentioned because it happened countless times, in multiple states, by completely different and unrelated people.
My overall opinion is that I love India. Don't worry, a couple of cons won't scare me away that easily lol
@@Edgesofearth dude the south is even dirtier. Just so happens that in the south most locals can speak broken English.
- Interesting. Someone told me the exact opposite...its cleaner in the south...he is from india. I haven't been there, so I cannot verify for myself.
I have heard that English-speaking is a bit more prevalent in the south. That's exciting! I will be able to communicate to me people 😆
@@Edgesofearth Yeah bruv thats what they say cuz they havent been to the north. If you will go to cities like Madras there are like open sewers everywhere and the beaches are full of trash. I prefer Delhi, the Himalayas and the North east over the south anyday. I have been to the south plenty of times for work. Watch youtuber The Wandering Quinn when she was in the south you will see it is just as dirty. But, I would still say its a great place to visit great history and food. Just ignore the trash like you'd do in the north.
Really Bihar akin to Pakistan. U haven't been here so don't try to judge. Though the buildings may not be that high and the people may not be that rich but not totally urbanized doesn't mean being dirty. Plus it is actually quite good not in the western sense of being an IT hub or something but more in the traditional way. From Bodh Gaya to the ruins of Nalanda it is well organized and a spiritual calmness resides here. So maybe thinking(changing) your own mindset about the country would be better before telling a guest(to our country) about how he should visit the place would be better.☺️( From India)
I pretty much agree on everything that you have pointed out. Garbage is one thing we really want to contain but going clueless probably.
Want to mention about one con. That is about people intimidating foreigners. It is not any culture here, its just the education among the masses is still pretty low. If you come down south this intimidation is pretty much non existant because of better education, exposure to foreign people who travel here for businesses. But in north its different and really cannot help with it immediately. Hopefully it will get better over the period of time. Even in north the general middle class population dont intimidate foreigners.
- Definitely an interesting country. I can't wait to go back for my fourth time 🤘🏼
@@Edgesofearth oh 4th time. That's interesting.. 🙌
which city are you in here ?? I'm going to India soon and mostly staying in the Himalayas but I wanna spend a few days somewhere else. preferably with random animals all around!! pls help me find a place lol
- be sure to read the description.. I usually put it in the description. If I did not put a location in the description, then I have intentionally hid it. I often hide the name of small villages just to prevent Mass tourism because of my video.
- if you stay in varanasi, there will be monkeys everywhere in the city. However, be careful, sometimes they are vicious.
There are a lot of places in the mountains of Southern India which have a lot of animals. Lots of birds, elephants, leopards, and plenty of other things. Some are dangerous, some are not.
@@Edgesofearth do you think people would be okay with you feeding the animals? they all look very thin and I was thinking I could get some fruits or dog food or something and just feed strays for a few days
- in the towns this should not be a problem. However I have heard crazy stories and villages. When outsiders feed animals, especially cows, I have heard that villagers have killed the person who was feeding cows. The locals literally thought that the man was poisoning the cow. He wasn't. He was just trying to be kind. But it was too late, the man is already dead.
Most animals.. you should be fine. But cows are particularly sacred especially in the north..
It is very common to watch people put their leftovers on the streets specifically for cows that walk by.
@@Edgesofearth Ohh okay I'll be careful then. thank you!!
Love your vid
- 😇🙏
They ask you your name and parents information because in india, everything is based on family (class system) although it said that no longer exist, but it does. They are not being rude. In india, everything is based on family respect and community. Those are not weird questions, YOUR IN INDIA, NOT HOME.
- yes it is weird. Weird is subjective.
If you are from india, it is not weird. If you are from every other country in the entire world, it is weird.
There is no need for sim cards if your phone is e-sim equipped. I used Airalo.... but other options are available. Have your phone ready to go as soon as your plane 😅lands.
- generally while traveling, it is quite a bit cheaper to use a local sim rather than an ESim.
I even landed at the Calcutta airport and they did not have any sim options available. I had to go to a nearby town and search for a small shop that is willing to sell one to me.
So crazy.
So if someone absolutely needs internet on the first day of traveling in india, then an ESim might be a good option 🤪
@Edgesofearth Traveling to other towns looking for a sim is a waste of time and money for me. $17 for 10gb that is ready to go upon landing make a lot more sense for my 10 day trip. I always download Google Maps and Translate before i arrive, bothy of which save data use. However, thanks for yiour comment.
- To each their own lol.
I pay about $8 per month for about 90gb by using a local sim.
I stay up to 6 months at a time 🙃
@Edgesofearth I guess that I would rather spend the extra $9, which I would likely save on my Uber ride from the airport, and avoid searching other towns for a sim card during my 10 day stay. As well as the money and time spent searching other towns. Perhaps if a person plans on spending 6 months, the search would be worth it.
Thanks for the honest video. On the personal questions issue I should say sometimes even we Indians find some of the queries uncomfortable. But as a rule the standards for a question being personal are somewhat different from the West. India is a family centric society, so asking questions about one's family is deemed quite normal (wanting to see your sister's photo is definitely not). If I bring a friend of mine, Indian or not, the very first questions they are gonna face are like "What's your name?", "What's your father's name?", "What does he do?", " Does your mom work also?", " Who else are there in your family?" and the like. Even, at times people may feel ignored if not asked such questions after being acquainted for the first time. 😆 Here 'living with parents' does not have the disapproving stigma attached to it. Rather, it's the opposite, it's what expected of good, grown-up and caring and responsible children.
- Wow, thanks for the informative comment!
when someone asks what the name of your father is, I just cannot wrap my mind around this. why is the name of my father or your father important to anyone? it just seems like the most irrelevant question in the world 😂
similar intrusive questions were asked in the Philippines, but slightly different questions. they are intrusive to the western mindset, but apparently not to many of the Asian countries. Different culture 😜🙃
Out of curiosity: What kind of reactions can you expect if you have chosen to cut contact with your parents and thus don't really know what they are doing?
So true, I actually have recieved discounts in shops in other cities as owner knew of my great grandfather😂 So it does have some benefits.
You actually can get a Vodafone sim card, you just need to show them an official id so they can register the number in your name. I've bought it when I traveled there like years ago.
My wife and I are about to backpack through India. It helps that she is Bangladeshi and speaks Urdu and Hindi quite well. We've practised many times.....I'll hide behind a tree or building until she gets the price of the rickshaw or train ticket. I then jump out. They always have such a beaten look on their face but always laugh with us.
- 🌳😆
All of what you said about India is true
Garbage is really a problem. Very true review.
fantastic 🥰🥰🥰
Hello. Apologize for bad experiences in North India. If you are coming again to India, please head towards South India such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka etc. You wont regret it. It is a different world.
- Lol, it is definitely bit different down here I am currently in Tamil Nadu 💪🌏
South India is exactly opposite to North India. Most of the cons u discussed is not valid for South India. And the best part is north east india. Love and regards. Peace
- I'm excited to visit the south in the future!
@Li saaa yes. U can find everything in India. Diversity at its peak. Incredible India. Northern India is only full of manmade structure although beautiful. Peace
This is very true. I went to Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in 2017, I was not approached for selfies one single time.
It’s because most North Indians are drunk 😂
No one:
India: stop light Indians:beep intensifies
Con outweighs the pros
- I just talked about the cons longer to try to explain them better. However, I still want to return to india! One of my favorite countries!
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are the most underdeveloped, populated, less literate states of India. I have been to at least 15 states in India. In India, Uttar Pradesh ( Agra) and Bihar are the dirtiest states. Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab are lot cleaner. North East India Sikkim, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh etc are cleaner than North India. Overall South Indian states like Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu are much cleaner and people are literate. In major cities like Delhi, New Delhi is clean and green but Old Delhi is dirty and sketchy. In Mumbai, South Mumbai is cleaner but suburbs are not clean. I think you are generalising and exaggerating things. You said people throw garbage in the river. Actually it's not a garbage but flowers and Garlands which they throw. Especially in Temple towns like Varanasi. After Prime Minister Modi launched Clean India Mission the Sanitation coverage in India is over 98%. Overall people have been made aware of cleaneliness. People in major cities have started segregating dry and wet waste. I would say the older generation was illierate and way dirtier. The current generation is more cleaner and literate. So it will take another twenty years or a generation more for India to be a cleaner country. As India gets Richer, the government will have more money for waste management but it's the mindset of Indians which needs to be changed. Cheers from Mumbai
- Thanks for sharing the deep info! Much appreciated!
As a side note, bags of human hair from a barber, tires from a car, countless empty bags of chips and biscuits, and a wooden desk do not qualify as garlands lol. This was all within 15 minutes on one bridge. No joke.
@@Edgesofearth I mean majority of the people throw Garlands and flowers. Rest mostly throw the garbage near and around the garbage bins. Indore city in Madhya Pradesh, too had the same problem but now it's the cleanest city in India. People have started segregating the waste. The roads are cleaned. What I mean to say is things are changing but it's too slow. It will take at least 20 years for India to reach levels of a moderately Clean country as people become more literate and civilized. If our country was as clean as Thailand then we could have received at least 20 million foreign Tourists annually from the current 12 million.
- I hope so! I hope the push to be clean continues as you say. Everyone will win!
The irony that you are wearing a t-shirt with the quote "Real culture is found outside of the tourist areas"!
It is also quite heinous that you have "loved" a comment that says that the people "bothering and cheating" you are "from the bottom of the list", like the people at the top are not "bothering and cheating" their own people.
11:34 talks about food standards in India while a rat runs down the wall in the background 😂
However great video thanks for all the information ;)
- hahah, I think that was a chipmunk.. but I am replying, based on memory 😂😂
You probably don't know the difference between a rat and a squirrel.....
It's a squirrel, not a rat.
you stupid idiot that's a squirrel
Lol that's a squirrel. Rats usually don't run around in the open like that.
My dear friend its india were animal people have share the planet and respect there existances.....gargabe is a problem for a population of 1.3 billion of us we are trying to sort it out ....but surely we are improving.....anyways you are welcome with whole heart....
Because cow is your mother..And this is what we can expect form animal chlids..🙂🙂
Repulsive is really a strong word to use, based on you lack of understanding. If you, a foreign, do not come to their country, stay in yours.
- some behavior is repulsive.
Despite some of the negative behavior, I have returned to india. I have been there for separate times. I will continue to return.
I do not have a lack of understanding.
Always trust everyone to do what is best for them.
ok we can work on these things nothing wrong in the video
Do Indie jsem se vždycky chtěla podívat!
Aint enough pro's in the world to convince me to go after you mentioned the fly's and car dust on the food.
- Street food is a bit rough here.
There are many three and four star restaurants around.
But unfortunately, I have seen some awful preparation but even some of these places.
I cannot say that all of them are bad. Absolutely not. However, I have seen my fair share in upscale restaurants.
Things like people preparing a giant pot of soup, dropping the ladle on the ground, picking it up and putting it right back in the soup without changing it or even rinsing it off. He thought that nobody noticed. I did.
The fact that he thought it was okay.. blows my mind. This is just one of countless examples.
I don't think you realize how funny this video is.
- Why so?
On you with the garbage problem. But about animals - I think we should let nature do what they want, it is our entitlement that we feel the need to keep nature away, I think it shouldn't be an issue. I'm perfectly happy with animals roaming around and do what they want, it is their right after all :)
Long journey train tickets buy atleast 2 months in advance
- Difficult when I don't know where I want to go until like 2 days before 😆
@@Edgesofearth even as Indian you can't get seat booked in 2 days or even 2 weeks. You can get general class ticket just 1 min before train departure but that means you don't have a confirm or fixed seat, you can seat at any seat in general class, you actually brought that but set in AC class so TC charged you 600 extra. If train was full and tickets booked he would have thrown you off with fine, so yeah general class is good for short rides, very cheap too but not very comfortable if you don't get seat. Than there are chair classes, train set up like bus, they are Intercity trains, they only have 1 or 2 AC compartments and all other are general or reserved chair class, I usually take those trains, you can get confirmed seat ticket even 1 day advance. So yeah system is very complex.
You should have visited Northeast states completely different and way more cleaner than other states
- In the future 💪💪
Where do you recommend in particular?
@Dayna McCarthy I recommend you visit Meghalaya you will love it
Thanks for talking about it ... Much needed... 70% of Indians need to change ... only 25 to 30% have some manners ..
Cheating in matter of change of money, BIG YES. It sucks. ‘People cheating in the country where they talk much about Karma lessons all the time ...’
- Yikes. I have had some seriously awesome experiences with so many Indian people! I hope to have many more!
Yeah, there's a few weird things, culturally...specifically when interacting with me. I could go deeper...maybe in another video. Some seriously weird things have happened lol
Edges Of Earth Agreed with your content but few things really need change in india ...
As a indian I never seen talking about. Karma in india except from foreigners that they get knowledge from some historic or religious books
And You belong to that 30 %, I guess. Please don't use statistics when it is your assumption. Please be acknowledged that you are part of the problem too. In every cities, suburbs and small towns online payments like payTm, UPI are accepted even in small shops, why are you not using them? Ask your self, how many times you do not ask for bill(proper bill with GST no) just to avoid paying few extra bucks which is actually government tax, that could have been helpful for public benefits later.
@@GOP0000 r8
Wow we need to get together to help make a change!
Great 👍.........honest view✌🏾
- 😇😇🙏
Good
do you speak the language?
- Bits and pieces. Enough for basic communication..
I feel really ignorant saying this but like how hard is it to put rubbish in a bin
- unfortunately, the problem goes a bit deeper than that. the government is failing the people. many of these areas did have dustbins nearby and people kept throwing items in there, but eventually they overflow, and now there are whole streets covered in garbage because the government does not remove the trash from the dustbin. because of this, the people have become careless about where garbage goes, because it doesn't really matter anymore, the government will never remove it.
that is just one piece of the puzzle. the carelessness about trash runs deep. I have had countless discussions about random topics with police officers, and while they are eating, they throw the garbage on the ground in the middle of the street. if the police don't care, then obviously he people don't care either.
So frustrating.
@@Edgesofearth Every place should have an incinerator at least and burn their own rubbish at home.
- Lots of change needs to happen
A rat the size of a small dog climbing down the side of the building is the biggest .com of traveling to India lol.
- 😂😂
*biggest con
@@Edgesofearth Thanks for taking the time to upload. Very informative video. Subscribed.
That's a squirrel.
When our Indian friends visited UK, she said ' In UK you have dogs waste almost in every side walk & in India we have human waste every where 🙄
- 🤐🤐
No these are happened in 1900s when there are no toilets