Realities of stereotypes about India and Indians

So you’ve heard plenty of things about India and don’t know what to believe and what not? Or are you traveling to India and don’t know what to expect? Well then you’re at the right place because here’s a post that’s going to tell you about the real India.

Here are the stereotypes:

• Indians cannot speak English. This is a tricky one and it would depend on your location in India. In metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi you’ll find that most people can speak fluent English but the scenario is completely different if you go into inner parts of India or a remote village.
• Indian food will make you sick. Again, this would depend on where you’re eating. Never eat on the streets or in open stalls. The food may be tasty but eating in open places is a total no no. Its not just about the flies and diseases when it comes to eating in India but also about spicy food which can often cause an upset stomach in people who are not used to such spices. I’ve had acidity plenty of times after eating spicy food. Its always better to ask the waiter if the dish is spicy.
• Its not safe for women. This is not true if you can take a few precautions. The lifestyle in India is definitely not the same as in other parts of the world and you need to know what’s okay and what’s not. Most tourists get stared at or there are cases of people troubling them because they stand out in the crowd. Buy a few Indian clothes or wear simple jeans and tees. Don’t go out in a bikini top and a mini skirt. Preferably, go sightseeing with someone and not alone. Avoid going alone at night especially at parties or at the beach.
• Its dirty. If you go to Indian villages you’d see that they are simple but not dirty. May be they don’t have all the modern facilities but they have a unique freshness about them. Its just the modern cities of India that are a bit messy.
• People are uneducated. No they’re not. People in cities are highly educated and take education very seriously.
• There are cows running around on the streets. That would be a very rare sight if you’re in a city. This is a stereotype which was true may be a couple of decades ago.
• Its all about the Taj Mahal. Even though Taj Mahal is a beautiful work of art but thats not what India is all about. The truth is that most Indians haven’t seen the Taj Mahal. There are thousands of tourist destinations in India and to describe them I’d have to create another blog. So stop believing that the Taj is the ultimate tourist destination in India.

I hope you found this helpful.