Visa, Vanity, and the Great Indian Getaway: Why We Ignore Paradise at Home

 

There’s a strange affliction that hits many Indians the moment their passport gets a fresh stamp: a sudden, unstoppable urge to flee the country in the name of vacation.

The symptoms include obsessive Skyscanner scrolling, Instagram reels of “hidden Greek islands,” and a complete blind spot for anything that lies east of the Arabian Sea and west of Bali within India.

Why explore the living root bridges of Meghalaya when you can take a 7-hour flight and five connecting ferries to a beach in the Philippines where the only root you’ll find is in your credit card bill?

Bali Calling, But Have You Met Bekal?

Let’s talk beaches.
Every influencer is sunbathing in Bali or the Maldives, holding a coconut (that costs ₹800), pretending it's spiritual. But in Kerala’s Bekal or Gokarna in Karnataka, you can sip fresh toddy, feel warm Arabian breezes, and hear temple bells mingling with crashing waves and still afford dessert.

We crave that “off-the-grid” island experience, yet haven’t even set foot on Andaman’s Havelock Island, where bioluminescent waters glow at night like nature’s own disco.

The Snow Syndrome

Indians love snow. Not the messy slush in the corner of a Himachali road, but curated postcard-perfect snow. So we line up for trips to Switzerland, Aspen, or even Georgia (no, not the US one—the one with confusing visa rules and Insta potential).

But Gulmarg? Auli? Tawang? Nah. Too close to home. Too easy. Too… desi.

We forget that the Himalayas literally run along the top of our country like a tiara made of white-capped dreams. You can ski, snowboard, sip hot kahwa, and not once worry about how to say “where’s the bathroom” in German.

Of Food, Flavours & Foreign Menus

Ask any Indian traveller, and they’ll tell you:
"It’s so hard to find vegetarian food abroad!"

Of course, it is. Because you flew past 12 Indian states bursting with thalis, chutneys, pickles, and spices only to eat cold bread and unseasoned soup in a Parisian café while pretending you’re okay.

In Varanasi, you can smell roasting ghee from 400 meters away. In Kolkata, the air itself tastes like mustard oil and mishti doi. In Coorg, every dish is wrapped in smoky flavours and the scent of pepper vines.

But no, let’s spend ₹1500 on a limp vegan sandwich in Amsterdam because it “looks aesthetic.”

Luxury, Reimagined

We chase luxury abroad—fancy pools, forest villas, glamping in deserts. Ever heard of Suján Jawai? It’s a leopard safari experience in Rajasthan where you sip tea while watching wild cats stroll past granite boulders. Or Evolve Back in Kabini, where your infinity pool opens into the jungle.

Why do we overlook this for a cramped AirBnB in Santorini where you spend half the time trying to get a good Wi-Fi signal?

Shopping Sprees and Souvenir Guilt

There’s a unique thrill in spending 20 euros on a refrigerator magnet from Prague. But haggling with a Rajasthani artisan for a hand-embroidered dupatta and asking, “Bhaiya, last price?” .....priceless.

Indian bazaars are literal museums - Banarasi silk, Kutch embroidery, Manipuri pottery - but they don’t come with duty-free tags, so apparently they’re not worth the brag.

So, What’s This All About?

Let’s be clear. There’s nothing wrong with travelling abroad. The world is wide, weird, and wonderful. But there is something off about overlooking the magic of our own land - of flying over it, literally and metaphorically - in search of the same things we already have (but cheaper, spicier, and with better storytelling).

Next time you feel that travel itch, maybe pause. Ask yourself:

• Do I want “a scenic lake” or do I want to float in Loktak Lake, where islands move?

• Do I want a forest stay, or do I want to sleep in a treehouse in Wayanad, where the mist tucks you in?

Desi, But Make It Luxe

The truth is, India has every kind of experience - mountains, beaches, deserts, festivals, cuisines, palaces, yoga retreats, jungle safaris, snow treks, spice plantations, spiritual awakening, and yes, even those iconic “Insta moments.”

All without a visa, and often with Wi-Fi strong enough to upload all your humblebrags in real-time.

Sure, go ahead. Jet off to five countries in seven days, eat overpriced salad, and pretend you’re not jetlagged.

But don’t be surprised when you realise the sunrise in Spiti feels just as magical - without the visa stress, the language barrier, or the €6 bottle of water.

Because sometimes, the adventure you’re craving isn’t 5,000 miles away - it’s just blocked by your obsession with duty-free shopping and European cobblestones.

And let’s be honest, your phone’s going to die halfway through the trip anyway. Might as well be somewhere that has both power outlets and poha.