‘Time To Give You An Aadhaar Card’: Polish Tourist Shares Travel Tips For India Go Viral

A foreign traveller has gone viral on social media after sharing a list of practical tips for tourists planning to travel across India. Dominika Patalas-Kalra, who is from Poland, posted the advice on Instagram, drawing widespread praise from users for her balanced and thoughtful take on travelling in the country.

Based on her experiences in India, Dominika urged visitors to move beyond stereotypes and rigid itineraries, saying an open mind can make travel across the country far more rewarding. Her post struck a chord with many, quickly gaining traction online.

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A post shared by Dominika Patalas-Kalra (@domipatalas)

Five tips for travelling in India

Dominika began by advising tourists to avoid overly popular tourist hotspots, which she said are often overcrowded, overpriced and

overrated. Instead, she encouraged travellers to explore local neighbourhoods to get a more authentic experience.

She also told visitors not to fear public transport, particularly metros and auto-rickshaws, noting that India’s transport system is “not as bad as you think.” To avoid overcharging, she recommended booking autos through ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Rapido or Ola, where fares are fixed.

Another key suggestion was to travel with a local whenever possible, as it helps visitors discover places and experiences that rarely make it into guidebooks. Finally, Dominika urged tourists to drop preconceived notions about India and arrive with an open, curious mindset.

Social media reactions

The post drew enthusiastic responses from Indian users, many applauding Dominika 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 to India. Great advice for travellers from all over the world.”

Others praised her outlook, with one comment reading: “You are beautiful inside out, and that’s why you focus on the positives and spread them.”

Calling out negative portrayals

This is not the first time Dominika has gone viral. She earlier drew attention for criticising foreign vloggers who, she said, deliberately travel on extremely low budgets in India to highlight poverty and backwardness. According to her, such vloggers often eat unhygienic street food, fall sick and then portray the country in a negative light.

Her recent post, many users said, offered a refreshing and fair perspective one that could help first-time visitors better understand and enjoy travelling in India.