Travelling to India is exciting since the country has a lot to offer. It is colourful, diverse and welcoming. It is also home to over a billion people, and soon could be the most populated country on Earth. Before you head to India, you might already have tons of stereotypes about the country based on what you read online or what you heard from other people. These are among the typical stereotypes and the truth behind them that you need to understand.
Poverty is visible everywhere
It is quite an unfair statement to describe a country like India. Poverty is prevalent around the world, and not only in India. However, given the potential of this country due to its labour force, we can expect India to be an economic tiger in the future. However, even those who live in poverty still manage to make the most of their lives and remain happy.
The real India is chaotic
It is yet another unfair depiction of the country. You might only see the negative side of India when you watch documentaries and news reports. However, these shows don’t depict the expensive side of India. Given how diverse the country is, there are a lot of districts that offer luxury hotels, shopping malls and bars for travellers. These are safe places for you to visit if that is your concern. Also, even in countries with strong security forces, it is inevitable there will be some chaos.
Indians speak “Hindu”
Don’t confuse the language with the religion. Hindu is the religion while Hindi is the language. Most Indians follow Hinduism, although it is not the only common religion in the country. Given how large and diverse India is, you will see people following different religious groups. They also live in harmony with one another despite their differences. Hindi, on the other hand, is a language in India. However, given how diverse the country is, a lot of people don’t speak Hindi. It is only the prevalent language in North India. As you head south, you will hear people talking in different languages. English is also a popular language in India as it used to be a British colony.
It’s all curry and butter chicken in India
Given how diverse India is, even its food is diverse. You can find Indians preparing different types of dishes, and they are all worth trying. If you head to Kerala, you can see coconut as one of the most popular ingredients. In Kolkata, you can taste some of the tastiest seafood as the city is near the open waters. Up north, you will find the most delicious naan or white bread. You can’t go home without trying all these mouth-watering dishes.
Indian women wear a saree all the time
Although it is common for you to see women wearing traditional costumes, they don’t do it all the time. They also wear other types of outfits like regular people. They wear traditional costumes for formal events and religious activities. Apart from that, they wear what people in hot countries usually wear. The good thing is that the culture of the country is alive because of these colourful costumes.
These are among the stereotypes people have about India. You can remember these India travel tips so that you will have a rich experience on your visit there.
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