Would you travel to Delhi

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Delhi is polluted for sure (and worst in winter months, due to stuff being burned for heat), but it's also improving. AQI improved in 2025 compared to previous years. The goverment has policies like mandating scooter rickshaws (tuk tuks) move to electric since they used inefficient two-stroke engines and are on the road all the time.

India is rapidly improving, but it has a way to go. I've been many times. I'd say it's a country where you love or hate it, with no middle ground. If you're a traveler willing to roll with the punches, you'll be fine. There's an enormous amount of history and culture to see.

If you're going to Delhi and want to stay in a "Western" area, stay in Aerocity near the airport. They created basically a modern mini-city, with everything you can walk to. It's not "real" Delhi, but a good place to have as your base if you want to ease into India.

This is so disingenuous. First, the pollution is due to a lot more than "stuff being burned for heat." But the AQI has been TERRIBLE in Delhi this year.

I'm the one who lived in that region for several years, and I still have Delhi and a few other Indian cities in AirIQ on my phone, so I see the AQI levels every day. Here is a link to the daily rankings of worst air in the world, on which you will find Delhi every day: https://www.iqair.com/bh/world-air-quality-ranking

It's been consistently over 200, sometimes over 300 or 400 all winter thus far. FYI, the "good" is considered less than 50 (pm2.5).

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyvdmyd8mpo

https://www.aqi.in/blog/grap-stage-4-delhi-aqi-600-december-2025/

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/air-quality-worsens-in-delhi-aqi-recorded-at-438/article70421980.ece

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP - And OP, if you have any questions about where to go, what to see, anything. Just ask away. Most of this thread is made up of people who have never been there and have no idea what they're talking about and are repeating talking points they've heard on social media and whatnot.

I lived there for two years for work. I know what I'm talking about.

I'm sorry my posts on this thread hurt your feelings, but denial and pretending everything is great is helping nobody.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People from Delhi do not want to be in Delhi.

Certainly not when the pollution is high. Better time to travel is Feb and March.

Stop telling lies. Even in February and March, the average pm2.5 level is over 100, sometimes over 200. Safe is 50.

I lived there. I know the truth about your country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I did once, but would not again. It’s a dump. All of India is actually. Atrocious, hideous country. Traffic was horrible. The way they treat women is horrible. The food is dirty. Why are you considering it OP?

^^I should add that the way they treat lower classes is disgusting too. They treat their servants like literal slaves. No respect or dignity. It’s awful.

This^.

I found it shocking. Growing up learning about the caste system in India, it was taught to us as if it was kind of a thing of the past. It’s definitely not.

+1000 So strange how Indian people completely ignore this fact.

Meh, I see Americans ignore racism and slavery.

It's a bit ironic of you to talk about slavery in the US, when at least that was made illegal long ago. In India today, the house servants/maids are slaves for all intents and purposes. Everyone from lower middle class and above employs them. Children serving is common too, even though that is "illegal", and it means they don't go to school and are stuck in the cycle forever. I saw TERRIBLE things in upper middle and upper class Indian households with the way maids were treated, and how people justify it. You can respond by lying, but this issue has received so much international coverage anyone can confirm.

I wouldn't call the servant/maid system "racism", though, as they are the same race. This ongoing exploitation/slavery is definitely classicism, though.

https://www.antislavery.org/what-we-do/past-projects/india-domestic-workers/

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3j0e79q52o

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/child-labour-rescue-cases-increase-in-delhi-this-year-compared-to-2024/articleshow/122865019.cms

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. This is one of the most racist posts I’ve read in a while. To be so dismissive and generalizing to an entire country.

My family is from the region and we’ve traveled across India and Bangladesh. It’s not an easy trip but it sure is a gratifying one. The food is diverse and spectacular and the history is incredible.

If we are going to generalize countries, I’d point out how the US treats Black people and tolerates gun violence. I’m Anerican though and know that these are areas of our less perfect union and I have hope for improvement.

Sorry if the reality of the situation makes you uncomfortable, but India is a horribly unhygienic, pollution filled country with an appalling record of treatment of women and lower classes.

+1,000 I would I never set foot in India because of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Wow. This is one of the most racist posts I’ve read in a while. To be so dismissive and generalizing to an entire country.

My family is from the region and we’ve traveled across India and Bangladesh. It’s not an easy trip but it sure is a gratifying one. The food is diverse and spectacular and the history is incredible.

If we are going to generalize countries, I’d point out how the US treats Black people and tolerates gun violence. I’m Anerican though and know that these are areas of our less perfect union and I have hope for improvement.

I bet all, your Indian relatives want to come to the US though.

DP here. My Indian relatives are all in the US. In Potomac, Bethesda, McClean, Great Falls, Arlington... and they are very rich employers too. But, I doubt they will employ what Trump calls the "talentless Americans". 0:25 on the video below...

So if you all are trying to get away, why is it racist for Americans to not want to go there?

Not at all racist if Americans don't want to go to Delhi because of pollution, poor infrastructure and poverty OR if they just don't want to visit India. India does not lack humans. We don't care if not one single foreign tourist visits India because the domestic tourism itself is uncontrolled and mind-boggling. And as a third world country, India's pollution and filth is at another level. Especially since we have allowed India to be the dumping ground for trash imported from other countries too for many years.

What is racist is the tone of this thread where Indians are being called rapists, misogynists and casteist. With a convicted felon POTUS, extreme-right wing politics that has even banned abortions and women rights, and the racism towards minorities - USA is a laughing stock of the world.

Having said that ... Americans are so screwed economically and politically thanks to China, and they need India so badly for their tech needs, business interests, and as a defence partner... that they have to now eat some humble pies. Y'all know that TACO called Indian PM 4 times and was ghosted? Right?

So, you may not want to go to India as tourists ...but, some of you will have to go to India just to earn money. Even JLo and Beyonce go there and shake their booty in skimpy clothes to dance in some Indian wedding sangeet like the mujra girls of past. They don't care if the society is misogynistic, has caste system, or has a class divide. Why do these people do not mind India? Mainly because it is not at all different from USA with a FLOTUS who was a nude model and Epstein trafficking in children and Trump grabbing pu$$ies and feteshizing his own daughter.

Don't have double standards. Because there is a lot of shit that will stick on you.

Hope you have a safe holiday season and stay indoors in your house wearing a bullet proof vest. I hear America is not safe for anyone.

Can you talk about the domestic tourism? Do lots of rural folks visit the big city? Or do lots of city folks visit another city or the beach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did once, but would not again. It’s a dump. All of India is actually. Atrocious, hideous country. Traffic was horrible. The way they treat women is horrible. The food is dirty. Why are you considering it OP?

^^I should add that the way they treat lower classes is disgusting too. They treat their servants like literal slaves. No respect or dignity. It’s awful.

This^.

I found it shocking. Growing up learning about the caste system in India, it was taught to us as if it was kind of a thing of the past. It’s definitely not.

+1000 So strange how Indian people completely ignore this fact.

Meh, I see Americans ignore racism and slavery.

It's a bit ironic of you to talk about slavery in the US, when at least that was made illegal long ago. In India today, the house servants/maids are slaves for all intents and purposes. Everyone from lower middle class and above employs them. Children serving is common too, even though that is "illegal", and it means they don't go to school and are stuck in the cycle forever. I saw TERRIBLE things in upper middle and upper class Indian households with the way maids were treated, and how people justify it. You can respond by lying, but this issue has received so much international coverage anyone can confirm.

I wouldn't call the servant/maid system "racism", though, as they are the same race. This ongoing exploitation/slavery is definitely classicism, though.

https://www.antislavery.org/what-we-do/past-projects/india-domestic-workers/

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3j0e79q52o

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/child-labour-rescue-cases-increase-in-delhi-this-year-compared-to-2024/articleshow/122865019.cms

This is true and I'm curious if people don't care or they think the "slaves" should be grateful to them. That's the impression that I had. The household help was not allowed to talk to other household help for fear they would compare conditions and wages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Project 2025 and you all are complaining about India

Women will be wearing head coverings by the time maga is done

One can most certainly complain about both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, the rapist capital of the world.

That's gang rape capital.

[Anonymous]

Would I go? I mean, yeah. If I have to, I'll go. I've been about 10x so clearly not staying away entirely or overly concerned about security, but it's a shithole (I am NOT maga, I hate he took this from us!) So I wouldn't choose to go there on my own dime or recommend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. This is one of the most racist posts I’ve read in a while. To be so dismissive and generalizing to an entire country.

My family is from the region and we’ve traveled across India and Bangladesh. It’s not an easy trip but it sure is a gratifying one. The food is diverse and spectacular and the history is incredible.

If we are going to generalize countries, I’d point out how the US treats Black people and tolerates gun violence. I’m Anerican though and know that these are areas of our less perfect union and I have hope for improvement.

I bet all, your Indian relatives want to come to the US though.

DP here. My Indian relatives are all in the US. In Potomac, Bethesda, McClean, Great Falls, Arlington... and they are very rich employers too. But, I doubt they will employ what Trump calls the "talentless Americans". 0:25 on the video below...

Telling no? Your relatives are here and not in Delhi? And you are upset that we are tearing down Delhi?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. This is one of the most racist posts I’ve read in a while. To be so dismissive and generalizing to an entire country.

My family is from the region and we’ve traveled across India and Bangladesh. It’s not an easy trip but it sure is a gratifying one. The food is diverse and spectacular and the history is incredible.

If we are going to generalize countries, I’d point out how the US treats Black people and tolerates gun violence. I’m Anerican though and know that these are areas of our less perfect union and I have hope for improvement.

NP- as an American , I wouldn't argue with your generalization of America. Those things are totally true. America has great things about it too, but those are 2 ugly things about it for sure. Also the rabid consumerism, the overall tendency towards selfishness that we couch as "independence", etc. I would not say it is discriminatory towards Americans to point out these truths. Why is it discriminatory for the PP to point out these truths about India?

[Anonymous]

I’ve been to India and Nepal and I LOVED Nepal. I absolutely loved the Nepali people, the culture, the mountains, etc. It’s a wonderful place and I’m determined to return as soon as I retire. I consider my travel in India to have been an “experience”, one I’m not inclined to pursue again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been to India and Nepal and I LOVED Nepal. I absolutely loved the Nepali people, the culture, the mountains, etc. It’s a wonderful place and I’m determined to return as soon as I retire. I consider my travel in India to have been an “experience”, one I’m not inclined to pursue again.

Can you please elaborate? Are the nepali people less inclined to try to rip you off or have a caste system? I really don't know. Fresh air and no pollution seems the obvious difference!

[Anonymous]

I've been to India numerous times because my husband has family there. I've been to Delhi once and it was madness. But there are pretty cool things there. Jantar Mantar is interesting, it's an astronomical observatory, built in the early 1700s. The Gandhi Memorial is nice too, and the Red Fort is worth a visit. And if you're going to be in Delhi, you cannot skip a trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. You can take a train or hire a driver. I've also heard cool things about Jaipur, the next time we visit we want to go there.

India is very unique place, but definitely not for everyone. It can be overwhelming in many ways. But it is also beautiful (all of the colored saris on women - amazing) and the food can be delicious...I still dream of the homemade dishes our relatives cooked for us when there. But I will suggest hiring a guide/driver when touring attractions in Delhi (or other cities in India). We found it helpful to have someone to take over the transportation logistics, and usually guides that are found through the nice hotels are very knowledgable and are able to make the experience positive.

I've also been to Mumbai and would prefer that city to Delhi, the Elephanta Caves are cool. And the Taj is a classic hotel to experience, we were there a year before the bombing. I've spent the most time in Hyderabad, it's not a big tourist town but Golkonda Fort is really cool and there's also Film City. Being a westerner in India usually means two things: either you have someone bothering you (trying to sell you something, trying to take your picture) or the people who lead with kindness. I've always chosen to focus on the people leading with kindness and ignore the weirdos. And believe me as a white woman I've dealt with my share of weirdos in India.

Hope this helps.