Polish Visitor Shares Heartfelt Lessons About India and Its Warm Culture

Dominika Patalas-Kalra, a Polish traveller and content creator who has been extensively exploring India, has gone viral on Instagram after sharing a candid list of five things she wishes she had known before arriving in the country. Far from the usual complaints about crowds or chaos, her observations highlight the warmth, diversity, and nuances of everyday Indian life that often surprise first-time visitors in the most positive ways. The post, which has garnered thousands of appreciative comments, is being widely shared as a refreshing counter-narrative to the negative portrayals sometimes seen in foreign travel vlogs.

Among her key insights, Patalas-Kalra stressed that Indian food is not uniformly spicy, provided travellers know where to look, and that strong bargaining skills are essential in markets and with transport. She also urged visitors to look beyond surface-level poverty and notice the significant number of luxury cars and comfortable lifestyles that coexist in Indian cities—often surpassing European standards. Most notably, she advised against sticking only to heavily touristic sites, recommending instead immersion in “local India” for a richer, more authentic experience. Her fifth point celebrated the genuine hospitality Indians extend to foreigners, treating them as honored guests and going out of their way to ensure comfort.

The post has struck a chord with Indian social media users, who have flooded the comments with gratitude and invitations to visit their home states. Many praised Patalas-Kalra for her balanced and affectionate perspective, with responses ranging from “You are beautiful inside and out” to practical travel tips from locals eager to show her more of the country. Several users highlighted her earlier criticism of budget vloggers who deliberately seek out the poorest areas, eat questionable street food, and then portray India negatively—an approach she called out as misleading and unfair.

Also Read: How to Make Matar Paratha: The Ultimate Winter Comfort Food Recipe

Patalas-Kalra’s growing online presence reflects a rising trend of long-term foreign travellers offering nuanced, experience-based views of India that challenge stereotypes. By focusing on cultural depth, regional variety, and the warmth of ordinary Indians, her message serves as both a practical guide for future visitors and a heartfelt appreciation of a country that continues to captivate those willing to look beyond the tourist trail.

Also Read: 12 Science-Backed Hacks to Achieve Deep, Restorative Sleep Tonight