Travel Guides & Articles
India travel tips: Viral: Dutch woman shares tips for first-time travel in India, netizens react |
People from across the world travel to India and share their reviews and tips on travelling across the country. From positive to negative, people have all kinds of experiences while visiting the Indian subcontinent. However, in the midst of a thousand social media posts sharing tips for people travelling to India for the first time, one post has caught the eye of many for its unique claims.A Dutch woman named Ivana who is not just travelling in the country but also living in it, recently took to Instagram to share a detailed post about her life in the country, sharing things she had known before. From Indian families to sarees and rickshaw struggles Ivana had a say for it all and netizens are loving her reviews.
Indian values
Titled ’10 things I wish I knew before coming to Indian for the first time’ the post began with her appreciating India’s hospitality with the saying ‘Atithi devo bhava’ advising the travellers to ‘be prepared to be fed to death’She also shared how much Indians value family which is something one can only understand after spending time with them. ‘So def try to befriend local people and see how they live.’
Travel tips
Image credits: Getty Images
Another interesting tip Ivana shared was her experience visiting one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. ‘Taj Mahal is quite difficult to reach. Plan a trip to Agra for 2/3 days in order to not have a lousy Taj experience. Some basic tips: be THERE at 6am for a foreigner ticket, but keep in mind Taj is closed on Fridays for prayer,’ she wrote. She also revealed that the colour of the Ganga river in Rishikesh is ‘minty green’ and advised that if people plan to swim there then they should wear full clothes and watch out for currents and cold temperatures.
Saree experiences
Ivana shared that a saree is difficult to wear if not worn before but once worn, it’s highly comfortable and advised taking help from an elder aunt or at a salon.
India is not overcrowded
Image credits: Getty Images
One of the biggest misconceptions people have about India is that it’s overcrowded, which Ivana cleared with her statement. ‘India is not overcrowded! There’s plenty of space and ‘slow’ times. For the tourist places try to visit way before 10AM (like 8AM!) or you can go to more rural areas to escape all crowds. Be mindful of which places you visit without a guide though! Some places are even off limits for Indians.’
Netizens react to Ivana’s post
People who are planning to visit or move to India have been thanking the influencer for her tips and experiences. “Hi Ivana, just wanted to say that I absolutely love your content! I’m moving to India soon and have saved all your tips and infos, so helpful! Thanks for sharing such valuable insights 🙏” wrote a woman in the comments.“Such a good post, thanks Ivana! ❤️” added another.“Like you might have experienced, it’s easier to eat with your hands (wash them beforehand obviously)” wrote another, sharing their own tip.
Travel Guides & Articles
Guru Nanak’s birth aniv: Centre denies Sikh jatha permission to visit Pakistan
The Union government has refused permission to send a Sikh jatha (group of pilgrims) to Pakistan for Sikhism’s founder Guru Nanak’s Parkash Parb in November this year, citing security concerns.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had started the process earlier this year in July, gathering passports of intending devotees and sending applications to the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi for the necessary visas for the 10-day pilgrimage. However, in a letter sent to the chief secretary of Punjab and other neighbouring states, the Union ministry of home affairs stated that the current security situation between India and Pakistan made it unsafe for pilgrims to travel.
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“Considering the prevailing security scenario with Pakistan, it would not be possible to send the Sikh pilgrims’ jatha to Pakistan on the occasion of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Gurparb in November 2025. We request that Sikh organisations in your state are informed and that the processing of jatha applications is stopped immediately,” reads the letter, dated September 12, sent by the under secretary of the Union ministry of home affairs to the chief secretary of Punjab and other neighbouring states.
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The Union government’s refusal to permit the Sikh jatha follows a series of security-related travel restrictions. The SGPC was unable to send pilgrims to Pakistan for the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in June this year due to similar concerns.
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The Union government’s refusal to permit the Sikh jatha follows a series of security-related travel restrictions. The SGPC was unable to send pilgrims to Pakistan for the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in June this year due to similar concerns.
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After the Pahalgam terror attack in April this year, which claimed the lives of 26 people, the Union government tightened travel restrictions, barring Indian citizens from travelling to Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border checkpost. In response, Pakistan suspended all SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas for Indian nationals, with the exception of Sikh pilgrims.
SGPC condemns move
The decision has sparked outrage, with SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami condemning the government’s refusal. “This decision is an insult to the religious sentiments of Sikh pilgrims. While cricket matches are being played between India and Pakistan, pilgrims wishing to visit their religious shrines are being denied this right in the name of security,” Dhami said.
He appealed to the Union government to reconsider the decision, pointing out that the Sikh pilgrimage to Pakistan has been a long-standing tradition, with Sikh jathas visiting Pakistan for Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary for decades. “Since Partition, Indian Sikhs have been allowed to visit their religious shrines in Pakistan without interruption. This is the first time such a situation has occurred,” Dhami added.
Guru Nanak’s Parkash Gurparb is a major religious occasion for Sikhs worldwide, with many travelling to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to pay homage at the Guru’s birthplace. The Nehru-Liaquat Pact of 1950 allows Sikh pilgrims to visit Pakistan’s sacred shrines on four key occasions — Baisakhi (Khalsa Panth foundation), Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom day, death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary.
In the past, thousands of Indian Sikhs have visited Pakistan for the Guru Nanak Gurpurab celebrations. In 2023, over 5,800 Indian pilgrims travelled to Pakistan’s gurdwaras to mark the Khalsa Foundation Day (Baisakhi), setting a record.
KOHIMA- Heavy monsoon rains lashed Nagaland on Sunday, triggering multiple landslides that disrupted traffic along both National Highway-29 (NH-29) and alternative routes, prompting authorities to issue an urgent travel advisory. While no casualties have been reported, officials have cautioned residents and travelers to remain alert as the state braces for more rain in the coming days.
In Peren district, Deputy Commissioner’s office issued a public advisory warning of several landslides along the Mhainamtsi–Pimla road, an alternate route frequently used when NH-29 is blocked. Authorities confirmed that the road is currently impassable, with debris and unstable slopes posing risks of further slides.
Meanwhile, flooding from the Chathe River triggered a major landslide near Pherima village on NH-29, the crucial highway connecting state capital Kohima to the commercial hub of Dimapur. Videos shared on social media showed massive debris covering the highway, stranding vehicles and halting movement of goods.
Emergency teams, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), have been deployed for clearance and restoration work. Officials recalled that this stretch witnessed a deadly landslide in September 2024, which claimed six lives, underscoring the chronic vulnerability of the route.
The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) reiterated its warnings about landslide-prone zones in the state, urging people to avoid travel on unsafe stretches, monitor official updates, and remain vigilant in hillside villages. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued heavy showers for the next 48 hours, raising the risk of further landslides and flash floods.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s office assured that state resources have been mobilized, and local communities will receive support. Residents in vulnerable areas have been asked to follow NSDMA’s safety guidelines, including avoiding steep slopes, watching for unusual cracks or ground movement, and preparing for possible evacuations.
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