5 Myths about India

India is often discussed in the “west” (e.g. North America / Europe) in negative terms. Upon arrival to India, I braced myself for the things I had heard about. For example: pollution, traffic jams, scams, and the imminent danger I would face due to traveling solo as a female. As a result of my experiences, I am writing this article following 2 wonderful months backpacking across India in 2019. 

Borne out of my experience as a solo female backpacker in India, I want to share my commentary on India. I will share 5 myths about India as well as discuss their origins and weigh their merit. This being said, I was not a first time traveler, I had traveled extensively solo and I took certain precautions. Tune in for a later article titled: “Top 3 Safety Tips for Traveling Alone as a Woman”.

Myth #1: India is unsafe (especially for women!)

At the start of every travel season, international news articles list where to go and where not to. Among the “do not go” list are a handful of Indian cities (if not the whole country). Cited as being dangerous, female travelers are often encouraged to travel elsewhere.

To evaluate if India is unsafe, there needs to be an explanation of ominously negative messages about India. As recently as 2018, the India Times called attention to the global understanding that India is “dangerous”. However, in order to assess this claim, it is essential to examine the tools of analysis. So, what makes a country dangerous? Internationally, a country is typically considered dangerous if: 1) the country is in a time of active war / conflicts (political / civil unrest), 2) higher-than-average crime risks, and/or 3) the level of national security / stability the country is not able to be maintained. However, in evaluating India on these measures, it is important to stop the “India is dangerous” rhetoric in favor of a more realistic “India is a complex country with different regions of varying levels of risk”.

To begin assessing India in terms of safety, let’s turn to the first point, does India have active war / conflicts that might indicate unrest? Yes. Kashmir has and remains a disputed territory, The area is located above the state of Himachal Pradesh in Northern India and is a major point of contention between India and Pakistan. Each country believes the land, be it due to religious rite or geography and government investment, should belong within their control. However, due to the scope of this article, I will not be diving into the Kashmir dispute, but encourage anyone interested in geopolitics, global affairs or India to read as many sources on the matter as you can find. Regardless of the conflict itself, it is important to understand that geographically, India is a vast country made up of 29 states and 7 union territories. The state of Kashmir and Jammu is located on the Northern boarder of India near eastern Pakistan. The typical tourist would have no reason to venture to Kashmir. Additionally, although the area remains one of political uncertainty, locals often go skiing in the state, so if you plan to visit the state during a trip to India, being more well-informed (and/or among locals) about Kashmir / Jammu becomes increasingly important. Although conflict remains isolated, concern still remains. While crimes against women are a risk in India, I think such crimes are possible in anywhere in the world. One has to use the same common sense and caution when traveling in India that they would use anywhere.

Myth #2: India is too polluted to vacation

Alright. Following my trip to India, I lived in Hanoi, Vietnam for close to a year. Is the pollution as bad as people say?

I think my opinions on this are skewed as I lived among pollution indexes ranging from unhealthy to severely unhealthy during my time in Vietnam. Locals in Delhi will tell you about the intense pollution that is often made worse during winters due to the still winds; however, personally, I did not find January-March to be an unbearable time to be in India due to weather or pollution. While I noticed it in Delhi, I found areas like Alleppey, Kochi, and even Mysore to be significantly better.

If you are concerned about the health impacts of pollution and/or are immuno-compromised, I would strongly recommend an N-95 mask often associated with Coronavirus control.

Myth #3: Food is unsanitary! I will get sick!

I think I’m a bit of an odd ball here. I spent the 2-3 months leading up to my time in India trying to get sick…. In Thailand, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, I sought out foods that were seen as things foreigners may not be able to stomach.

Why would I do this? Pani puri on the streets of India, of course! Locals love this water-based snack but for many foreigners, the tap water used to make the treat can cause severely upset stomachs; referenced in Three Idiots, “Delhi belly” is a real risk of street food consumption, but it’s one that’s almost said with pride.

If you are sensitive to certain foods, dairy-heavy cooking, or just want to air on the side of caution (unlike me): I’d recommend using Trip Advisor and other avenues to “fact check” your restaurant of interest. If the restaurant is well-reviewed, changes are it will be fairly safe for foreign consumption.

Myth #4: India is so dirty!

India is a developing country. Developing countries are well… developing.

I firmly believe that going to a foreign country and labeling it as dirty and speaking about in a negative light can damage the reputation of the country and hurt the tourist industry in developing countries in ways that harm the communities that call this country home.

Given this disclosure, India is a beautifully rich country with a vast array of cultures and traditions that’re different from my own. I would be reluctant to label India as anything given the diversity across the nation and within states.

That being said, if you are not looking for a backpacker experience or are new to traveling, I might suggest starting in Sri Lanka, India “lite” and traveling up to South India and into Northern India as a means of adjusting to the ways of life.

Myth #5: India is a poor country and not worth visiting!

Words cannot explain how I feel about India. The country is positively radiant with different colors, sounds, smell and textures everywhere you look. I have not been to a country that is similar to the beautiful insanity that is India! You’d be remiss to skip India on an Asia tour. India has it all! Beaches, think Varkala and Goa. If you want classy cities with good eats and lots to do, think Mumbai or Jaipur. If you want to get off the grid a bit, think Varanasi or Shimla.

Till next time, India!