India has always been a magnetic pull for travellers across the world, thanks to its vibrant diversity. However, of late, some travel vloggers have been focusing more on India's poverty, littered streets, or chaotic backdrops. While that is part of the reality, there is a bigger picture. India is also home to world-class luxury hotels, fine-dining restaurants and beautiful sightseeing destinations. Further, there are many wonderful and affordable places to eat and stay during your trip to India, which hardly find a mention in such viral vlogs.
Recently, Dominika Patalas-Kalra, a digital creator and model from Poland who is currently living in India, addressed the issue by uploading a video on Instagram. According to the digital creator, many vloggers from Europe and Poland visiting India often stay in cheap hostels that lack hygiene, are in poor condition, and sometimes do not even have windows. These travellers often eat "bad street food," fall ill, and then paint India in a negative light by saying they got stomach infections during their visit.
"You don't have to go to India and then post videos that you're spending just 100 dollars per week and surviving like this. There are so many cheap hotels, so many cheap restaurants and good ones with good food. You are going to places that even locals are not going to," added the creator.
A majority of users agreed with the video:
One of them wrote, "Thank you for saying it out loud. We definitely need to be better, but that doesn't mean things are not already good here."
Echoing a similar sentiment, another commented, "100 per cent true. Travelling to India for 10 years. I don't understand why people challenge themselves to survive with the bare minimum and then blame India for it. I love India, travel solo, know how to behave and figure out safe places."
"They do it for views because negative things always make people curious to watch. A few months back, I was in India, and it was great. I miss every single place. Got a great apartment for 30 euros per night, which looked so luxurious and had friendly hosts. Ate amazing food and amazing sightseeing. I already miss Indian sweets. We stepped into one store near Qutub Minar, and the bakery smelled great. So many milky sweets. Ras malai was the best," shared a globetrotter.
"Even Indians are not staying in those hotels," pointed out an individual. "Every place has some good things one can enjoy if you are careful to select and spend some time knowing about the place/thing to visit," read a comment.
