Debunking 7 Common Myths About India You Probably Believe

No need to stress!

As someone that struggles with spicy food, this was the assumption that I found most worrying leading up to the trip. But on arrival, I was greeted with a wide array of western food (even in less touristy areas) and the food was only spicy if you specifically asked for it to be. They certainly had incredible ways of making the food spicy, if you like that sort of thing, but it was no trouble at all to get the flavour without the burn. 

So why does everyone assume Indian food is spicy?

I learnt very quickly that there is a big difference between ‘food that is spicy’ and ‘food that uses spices’. You see, I think this is why people are getting it wrong, because although the food is not spicy, they do use a huge array of spices in their food to make the most incredible, mouth-watering flavours that make you want to cry because your tastebuds are so happy. 

Know Your Body

It is true that a lot of people do get sick when they travel to India, however I can happily say that it is not guaranteed, as I certainly did not get sick throughout my 4 months of travel there. Perhaps I have a strong stomach, perhaps I just got lucky… I guess we can’t know for sure. But I can assure you that I was not being entirely ‘safe’ with my eating and drinking either.

I indulged on street food, I made risky decisions in restaurants, I swam in the waterways, I even drank the water on some occasions. Yet no sickness for me. Some of my fellow travelers did become sick throughout the trip, but we were mostly able to pin-point exactly which risky meal caused it. 

Start Small

The trick is to ease yourself in! We worked hard at the beginning of the trip to ease our bodies into the new food, drinks and culture. We made sure to filter the water thoroughly and eat street food only when it seemed ‘safe’ or ‘clean’ in our opinions.

But as the trip went on it was easy to work out what was going to end badly and what you should be able to get away with. We were able to get lazy with our water filtering, and in some areas, not bother at all.

So yes, I know that there are a few horror stories out there, but that doesn’t mean that it is guaranteed to happen to you, and most importantly don’t let it stop you from trying their food and experiencing all the flavours that they have to offer.

It’s a matter of respect.

Indian culture has very specific ‘expectations’ regarding dress and etiquette. However, these vary greatly throughout the different parts of the country as well as different genders, social status and relationship status. I am no expert on Indian culture, and it would be disrespectful to pretend that I know the exact expectations.

However, to respect Indian culture, it is important that you pay particular attention to your knees and shoulders when dressing. A t-shirt and long pants (or skirt that almost reaches the ground) is typically the way to go. 

My advice would also be to buy a scarf while you are there and wear or carry it with you everyday. Scarves are a fantastic way to cover up if you feel the need or if you are requested to by a local. Some temples and sacred areas also require specific dress arrangements to enter, and a scarf should assist you to cover up on these occasions if needed. 

That being said, everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, and it is not law to dress in any particular way in India, so if you wish to walk around in shorts and a crop top you will not be stopped, but it would be extremely disrespectful.

Grateful, helpful and kind

Indians are some of the kindest and humble people that you will ever meet. In most cases, they have very little, but expect even less. There will be people begging in the streets, there will be people that live on less than $1 a day, but there are NOT people wandering the streets trying to reach in your pockets or over-charging you beyond belief. Like everywhere in the world, there are always a few people that make you question your faith in humanity but they do not represent the entire country. 

No Donations

In actual fact, on multiple occasions we attempted to donate money to some of the incredible people that we met that deserved so much more than they were getting, but on every occasion they refused the money selflessly. We never had any issues with pickpockets, scammers or rip-offs. But you do need to be aware that people offering blessings, photographs, and souvenirs will obviously be expecting payment for their services. 

Looking for a Bargain?

Likewise, bargaining is a big part of the Indian shopping culture, so sometimes the first price is not the best price. An easy way to know if a price is open for adjustment is; if the price is written down or marked on the product, it is not negotiable. If the price is spoken or told to you, there is often room for movement. This is not to be seen as trying to scam you for more money, but rather an opportunity to reach an agreement about what the buyer and seller both agree to be a fair price. If you intentionally bargain too low, you are actually scamming them! 

Crowded?

This assumption comes from the big cities and tourist areas where people naturally gather in large numbers. Most cities around the world are much the same. However, as you step out of these population dense areas, the crowds dissipate and the land opens up. In saying that, the number of people that they manage to fit onto public transport is honestly nothing short of a miracle. 

Smelly?

A diet rich with curries and spices naturally does add a little odour to your body, you will experience it yourself. But just like the smell of your own home, over time you get so used to it that you don’t notice it at all. 

Clean?

India hosts a very different education and method towards rubbish disposal. Rather than trash bins and garbage removal that you may be used to, India utilises the animals and the natural flow of water to dispose of trash.

In most areas they have channels along the sides of the street that rubbish goes into, keeping it off the street yet still in reach of the animals and is washed away by rain. Other areas use dump style methods where rubbish is piled up and burnt. And unfortunately in some areas the trash is just thrown on the ground. 

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle!

While it may be a surprise to see trash and effluent disposed of in such a public manner, India is well ahead of the world in terms of recycled materials, there are NO single use plastic items, everything is compostable, edible (either by humans or animals), or recyclable. The only plastic objects readily available were the plastic drinking bottles, which were reused for multiple functions until they were eventually collected and burnt or recycled. Even the McDonalds had zero plastic!