Hello! and is it really that bad?

Qismat

Hello everyone! I finally joined this forum after a month of browsing i would like to say thank you to the posters who have already answered a lot of my Questions

I 2 Weeks i will be off on my 4th trip to India. India is my ongoing obsession since childhood! i love it there and most of the time i feel relatively relaxed there. I've spent the last 5-6 years going back and forth and have finally convinced my younger brother (I'm 25 and he is 22) to come along for the fun. My previous trips have mostly been to the north east and the south with a little bit of bihar thrown in. I've never been to Rajasthan or even New Delhi for that matter. When i hear people go on and on about how awful and stressful and unsafe they found india it is normally this "golden triangle"area that they have visited. This is precisely where i am heading with my brother.
So my question to IMers is is it really so bad???

Hal

If you have experience traveling in India I don't think you'll find it stressful.

There are definitely many touts in places like Agra and Jaipur, but I think the area gets a bad rap because it's often the only place that first-time travelers see and they aren't prepared for it.

alouise

Probably is, Qismat. But I'm still taking my daughter through there in January, although not exactly via the main route. It's been over 20 years since I toured the "golden triangle" - and it was a wonderful experience apart from a few annoying touts near Agra Cantt station. Bearing in mind that their numbers have probably multiplied exponentially since then, I think lowering the expectations might increase the chances of a delightful surprise or two. Also, I think a suitable contrast helps boost those chances as well. So we're arriving on a train from Bihar rather than from Delhi and we'll be visiting a couple of places we haven't seen before, Fatepur Sikri and Deeg. That might help increase the "wonder" factor too, seeing new places.

skk

Edit:

Welcome. Enjoy this forum and India

-skk

nayan

The OP maynot have any subcontinental origins/links at all.

The username may just be a nice "Indian" sounding word she found out.

Anyway - she hs already visited India a number of times.

skk

Absolutely - that explanation is great.

-skk

Qismat

I am female and not of indian origin, i didn't realise that it was so important to pick my name based on gender or that an islamic choice of spelling would be so offensive to you. My basic understanding of hindi/urdu is just that - basic. When i was in pakistan people didn't seem to take offence to me using "hindu" words/pronounciation but if it is really so offensive i can change my name if you like. I joined this forum to ask for and to offer advice, not to create conflict with other members.

nayan

Qismat,

Welcome to Indiamike. Your username is just fine. No one would have raised an eyebrow had you been of the muslim faith. India has the second largest muslim population in the world(or is it the third now?).

Qismat is a word that is just as often used by hindus too.... ask me

You said you have already visited India so you must be knowing these.

No need to guard your tongue at all.

Hope you have a great trip.

capt_mahajan

Bihar will be closer to the GOlden Triangle in general cultural characteristics than the Northeast or South- if that helps.

I guess you have already read the many threads on 'eve teasing', sexual harrassment and general tips for women travellers- you have to trudge through them for some good advice.

Since you have travelled a fair bit and will probably have your wits about you taking the usual precautions, I don't think you need to be particularly concerned.

Even if the OP were Muslim, I doubt it would raise eyebrows. India has more- or as many- Muslims than Pakistan- including many travellers, I am sure. In fact, a foreign tourist is likely to be automatically assumed to be Christian (and rich!) by many.


=crossposted with nayan=

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Outside the machine

skk

There may be certain issues, but overall, well you'll handle it the best you can.

-skk

skk

the paki nuttah blog has an interesting perspective on this,IMO

-skk

capt_mahajan

I went to the blog earlier, but it was too long to read.

My opinion, regardless and again, is this: the female and 25 may be of pertinent interest, the Muslim bit, almost always not.

Qismat

Thanks everyone who gave their input in regards to my question. I think i will be ok, i jsut hope my brother doesn't get a bad inpression of the whole country based on a few annoying touts and eve teasers (not that i think he is that easily influenced anyway) India is so diverse that i never really feel as though experiencing one part makes you qualified to be an expert on another, but that is one of the things that brings people back again and again. I'm really excited to see some new places, especially ones that are so famous. I'll probably have some more questions befor i go but thanks for the friendly welcome.

capt_mahajan

To the OP, yeah your brother will be part of the equation, too. Impressions of the country do not matter that much, but there may be occasions when he will need to keep his cool.


You can always move on if you don't like any excessively tout filled/hasslesome place.

Qismat

i just realised that as long as my brother enjoys it this could be my most hassle-free trip in the making - befor i was usually travelling alone or as an unmarried couple - surely this is the most respectable i've ever been and right when i was beginning to feet comfortable in "scarlet woman" hat!