Readers Respond: Your Reaction to India Culture Shock

About.com readers share their reactions to India culture shock.

How did you feel when you first arrived in India? What things do you find difficult to cope with in India? Here's the place to get it all off your chest.

India Culture shock

I live in Canada. Landing in Mumbai. Many people all over. I was doing just fine till we went to the export area and got caught in rush hour traffic. Finding good healthy food, like a fresh salad impossible. I was with my now husband who is from Mumbai. I am starting to have a meltdown by then. Don't you people believe in freeways and grocery stores. I started to fanatize about the grocery stores back home. Oddly I fell in love with India. It IS interesting and very contrasting!

—Guest bluecamas

Going to India

I am from India and I would definitely recommend going there. It might be a shock for some at first but it is a beautiful place filled by different experiences, people, and cultures. All you need to do is open your heart and mind and learn away!

—Guest Hello

Culture shock going in & out rural India

Culture shock going in and out of rural India: http://jpgmag.com/stories/15772 http://jpgmag.com/stories/16308

—Guest My India

visit india anytime......i loveee it

when i first reached india i was quiet set back by it all.being from ireland im not used tothe high population number.there was sso many people.i was visiting a school in chennai and what can i say ....people in indian are so nice.i can honestly say i have never came across nicer ,kinder lovable people.i defently plan to return once i finish my exams.if anyone is stuck wondering if they will visit india or not....who cares about the smell or the busy traffic,go there it will be a trip of a lifetime.i only went for 1 week and i was quiet tired when i got home for the next week or so because there was so much to do in 1 week so take my advise and go for 2 weeks ....you wont be sorry.

—Guest cinta

given a chance,think.

India is a country defined beyond the mess,dirt,cleanliness nd corruption,for once give me a country,that has by far excelled in every aspect ppl can think,it's not perfection that u shld expect,if that is the case,their wouldn't be competition btw manufacturers of products around the world or wars happening. U decided to visit,fine,if u didn't like it,i do get it... Just don't brag that india sucks,not everyone in the country would be the same as the ones u met during ur trip,so stop accusing the country,it's the few ppl whom u met that has brain washed you to think india is bad.

—Guest the ponderer

Citys OK,Villages are the heart of India

In 2003 I made my first solo trip to India, had been twice (1996, 2002) before on tours with small groups, you know... buffet meals, on the bus, off the bus, etc, sheltered, yet I had fallen in love...all along thinking I can do this. Nothing in other third world countries, I have traveled, prepared me for India though. Population density in the cities is a challenge, couldn't even get a morning stroll in the early morning hour after sunrise without it being an obstacle course...and in evening almost terrified to leave my room, it was a spiritual awakening and personally confronting, and growth experience. Now I go anywhere, book all reservations including trains from USA via internet, travel by bus, alone, sticking to Government tourist hotels which are in each state and budget friendly, I am undaunted as a female solo in India, always using good judgement as a solo traveler. I am soon to leave on my 10th trip, I go each year, soon to be aged 60. YOU CAN DO IT!! Yoga practioner!

—Guest RSB

how not 2 go india

i got scared when i went to india because it was really loud and people were asking me to buy there 5rubbish so dont go to delhi

—Guest luvs2shootzombies

India the best

Thanks for the post the points mentioned is really true i am an indian i respect india

—Guest Web development service

indian food

indian food is a mixture of spices and vegetable and fruits and other ingrediants which u wouldn't haven't heard of!!!! there are a no. of vegies which u'd find in india and not anywhere else. the problem is that most of the countries today depend on tinned and canned food. u want homemade , healthy and nutritious food which activates ur taste buds? go to india!! i loved the food on my visit!!!

—Guest thinker

what places to visit in india

places worth visiting but less known: 1.Jammu and kashmir (paradise on Earth)--leh and ladakh (you won't find heat there) and srinagar. 2.punjab- rich culture, fok songs , the indian beats u dance to are punjabi. Chandigarh is one place known for it's shopping places and gardens and CLEANLINESS. 3.himacahl pradesh- hill stations like shimla,kasouli, (beautiful scenerey) 4.delhi- political places 5.rajasthan- udaipur, jaipur, johpur known for their palaces and culture. 6.goa- beaches 7.karnataka- culture, tradition, dances,Bngalore known for it's CLEANLINESS. 8.kerala- one of the "50 PLACES TO VISIT BEFORE YOU DIE" of the world. not worth missing. 9.meghalaya- dense forests . 10. west bengal- darjeeling (tea gardens) and temples , kanchenjunga mt., monastries , etc.etc. these are the 10 worth worth visiting places. others are too but yo can't miss on these ......

—Guest thinker

just a few words ....

hey people, just spare a few minutes to read what i think !! roads in India are chaotic , no doubt , but what else do you expect from the country which is second most populous in the world? let me now tell you something about how indians treat their guests ....guests in india are considered GOD ..."atithi devo bhava" meaning guest should be treated like God. heat ..yes , why not? the tropic of cancer passes through this country which gifts it the varied climate and natural vegetation . in every city of india , you breath a different air , see a different flora and fauna and meet veryy different people. people only know od cities like delhi and Munbai and make their judgement according to them. Mumbai ??? place to visit??? yes , surely but please do keep in mind that it is the finanacial capital of india so is always filled with hustle and bustle , HORNS , and a hell lot of other stuff. it really matters what places you visit in india. though all the places are worth visiting but ...

—Guest thinker

It is a different world

I read some of your comments. Dear, "LEAVE INDIA IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT" is not a solution to make a visitor to your country happy. We share opinion to fix things not to fight over them. I was a foreign student in India and I lived there more than 10 years. Good things of India: 1. It has a very nice, kind and helpful people. 2. The human right and other law established by the government is one of the bests. 3. People with different races and religions live together. 4. Freedom and security is every where. 5. It is a beautiful country. 6. The education structure is nice. Bad Things of India: 1. Its people never say sorry. They are always Mr.Rights 2. It has the worst management. 3. People don't implement the law and rules. 4. Majority of Indians are culturally weak. 5. Environment is really dirty. 6. The corruption is everywhere. 7. They don't like each other. 8. They lie a lot. 9. The education system is not well implemented. 10. Indians are not open to complaints.

—Guest aForeigner

culture shock!!

After spending my first extended period travelling in india --I can honestly say that the culture shock was on my return to the UK. Where are all the people? Why all the choice in the shops, making buying anything hard work? give me beautiful India any time, there's NEVER a dull moment.

—Guest sheisla

Reason for coming to India

Why do international tourist like to visit India and what do they expect from this country ?

—Guest Student

STILL ITS ONE OF THE BEST COUNTRIES

india is land of diversity-from religion to region,from culture to customs,and flora to fauna,it's amazing.. incredible.very few countries are so rich , fortunately ..india is one.Leaving all the factors which will make you feel bad,India is a place where every moments you will spend will memorable and exiciting...

—Guest MD MODDASSIR ALAM