Latest update:
Dominika Patalas-Kalra from Poland shares practical tips for traveling India on Instagram, encourages open-mindedness and local exploration, and receives praise for her respectful advice.
Dominika Patalas-Kalra from Poland shares practical tips for traveling India on Instagram, encourages open-mindedness and local exploration, and receives praise for her respectful advice. (Photo: Domenica Patalas-Kalra (@domipatalas)
A foreign traveler has gone viral on social media after he shared a list of practical tips for tourists planning to travel through India. Dominika Patalas-Kalra, from Poland, posted the advice on Instagram, and received widespread praise from users for her balanced and thoughtful approach to traveling in the country.
Drawing on her experience in India, Dominica urged visitors to move beyond stereotypes and rigid itineraries, saying that an open mind can make traveling across the country much more rewarding. Her post struck a chord with many, and quickly gained traction online.
Five tips for traveling in India
Dominica has begun advising tourists to avoid popular tourist areas, which it said are often overcrowded, overpriced and overpriced. Instead, it encouraged travelers to explore local neighborhoods for a more authentic experience.
She also asked visitors not to fear public transportation, especially the metro and rickshaws, noting that the transportation system in India is “not as bad as you think.” To avoid overcharging, she recommended booking cars through ride-hailing apps like Uber, Rapido or Ola, where prices are fixed.
Another key suggestion was to travel with a local whenever possible, as this helps visitors discover places and experiences that are rarely listed in guidebooks. Finally, Dominica urged tourists to abandon preconceptions about India and arrive there with an open and curious mind.
Social media reactions
The post received an enthusiastic response from Indian users, many of whom praised Dominica for her practical and respectful advice. “It’s time to give you an Aadhaar card,” one user joked, while another wrote: “You are always welcome in India. Great advice for travelers from all over the world.”
Others praised her look, as one comment said: “You are beautiful from the inside out, and that is why you focus on the positives and spread them.”
Recall negative images
This is not the first time Dominica has been widely affected. She had earlier drawn attention for criticizing foreign vloggers who, she said, were deliberately traveling on very low budgets in India to highlight poverty and backwardness. According to her, these vloggers often eat unhealthy food on the streets, get sick, and then portray the country in a negative light.
Many users said her latest post offers a refreshing and fair perspective that can help first-time visitors better understand and enjoy traveling in India.
17 January 2026 at 11:02 PM IST
Read more
