Travel smart, not hard! Avoid the crowds and disappointment by steering clear of India’s worst tourist traps. Discover 6 overrated activities that might not be worth your time and money, and plan a more authentic and enjoyable Indian adventure.
India is a fascinating country, full of various customs, beautiful scenery and ancient ruins. Sadly, not all the tourist destinations of this beautiful country are created equal. To tell the truth, Indian tourism, especially in certain regions, is characterized by many such centers which are at the same time expensive and crowded, and do not live up to their promise. If you’re planning to visit India, here’s a list of overrated locations you might want to bypass and enjoy cheaper yet more worthwhile alternatives.
1. Souvenirs from Agra’s Taj Mahal souvenir shops
The Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a heart’s desire for many people, is without a doubt an attraction that ranks among the top places to see in India. The weak point is that the shops selling mementos around this great structure can be a great source of profitability. Most of these stores sell ‘genuine’ artefacts made out of expensive materials such as marble or colorful gemstones but these are too expensive for most people. The truth is that such items are very often produced in bulk and at reasonable prices and then sold at a profit. To avoid this trap, we recommend taking photos of the people working at such places. Instead, go to the national stores where these items are also sold, but of better quality and much cheaper.
2. Mall Road in Shimla
Situated in the most attractive location, the Mall Road of Shimla provides an ideal combination of shopping, sightseeing, and restaurants, and even some traces of colonialism but for some reason, this part of the town has become more of a tourist trap as it is overly crowded during peak seasons. Goods and food prices at this location are overly priced and do not appropriately reflect their quality. Furthermore, annoying touts, as well as haggling, can spoil a lot of the fun. For some peace and tranquillity, it may be ideal to visit other less known areas of Shimla or small towns like Kasauli.
3. Goa’s Beaches in Peak Season
Goa is every beach lover and party lover’s favorite destination. To some extent while its beaches and nightlife are the best reasons to visit on their own, trying the trip during the peak season (December till February) can be incredibly irritating as many people have the same idea and so it gets crowded jerking up prices as well. Baga, Calangute, and Anjuna beaches are overcrowded with lots of tourists during most of the year pushing the prices of lodging, food, and activities to unreasonable heights. For a moderate tropical holiday, consider travelling during the off-season or visiting southern beaches any time of year including Palolem and Agonda which are quieter.
4. Jaipur’s Amber Fort Elephant Rides
Thousands flock to the majestic city of Jaipur and its Amber Fort, which is a beautiful and historic site. Interestingly, one of the elephants is the one that rides to the fort, which is a favoured tourist attraction but not without controversy. The elephants are poorly treated and overexploited which raises ethical issues. If you have any regard for ethics you should take the jeep to the fort or place the impressive structure and the glorious views. That way you avoid being a part of the extreme barbarism of animal cruelty.
5. Varanasi’s Ganga Aarti Boat Rides
The Ganges River in Varanasi, which is known as the spiritual capital of India, has become popular with the breathtaking Ganga Aarti, which is a ceremony performed in the water. For what it is worth, the tragedy that surrounds witnessing the ceremonial event always makes people look for boat rides to view the ceremony. Nonetheless, such options are readily available but to witness an event so sacred Aarti, one does require a fair amount of peace. There are no highlights that describe the absolute beauty and peace of the ritual more so than watching the Aarti from the ghats. Here, you can soak in the mystic beauty of the ritual without the distraction of a chaotic boat.
6. Developing a fondness for Solang Valley in Manali when it comes to thrilling paragliding, zorbing and skiing activities.
Manali’s Solang Valley appears to be the most popular region in India for paragliding and skiing, along with offering several other activities such as zorbing. Nevertheless, these activities are often expensive and overcrowded due to high rates of tourist footfall in the area during the peak times of the year. Moreover, even the safety standards are sometimes not as good as one might expect. However, if you still want to indulge in these thrilling activities, it would be wise to try paragliding in Bir Billing or skiing in Auli, which offer plenty of value for money and also better safety standards with fewer crowds.
Conclusion: There is no need to imitate the hoards of tourists; look for real experiences instead.
India has many glorious attractions, but there are some that are quite over the top. These offbeat places are perfect for people who are on a tight budget and do not like generic tourist hotspots. Exploring the lesser-known parts of Shimla, or the not-so-well-developed beaches in Goa, or even animals like elephants, which are very unethical for tourism; there are so many things you can do to enjoy the diversity that India has to offer.
