Don’t Believe Everything You Hear About India

India is an exotic locale, shrouded in mystery for those who have never been there. Myths abound about this eastern country, ranging from rumors of snake charmers and gurus on every corner to impressions of poverty, filth and illiteracy. If qualms about India are keeping you from booking that once-in-a-lifetime trip, consider these myths that have been thoroughly debunked by those in the know.

Myth: India is a dangerous, barbaric place for travelers and foreigners.

Fact: Disease-carrying insects and water, corruption and crime – yes, those things exist in India. However, they do not account for the entire makeup of the country. The truth is that there are nice areas and not-so-nice areas, just like any place in the world. If you approach your travels in India with common sense, an open mind and a positive attitude, you will find places of beauty and people of kindness.

Myth: India is a poor country.

Fact: Poverty is a condition of perspective. Even in areas where multiple people live in tiny dwellings, those dwellings are often kept clean, and many of the people living own their own electronics such as televisions and DVD players. While many people in India may seem to live in relative poverty, there is also a middle class that is rapidly growing. Additionally, some of the richest people in the world live in India. There is also a big difference between inner poverty and outer poverty. A person without much money or a big house is not necessarily a poor person. Many Indians who are materially impoverished are quite content and generous, living a rich spiritual life.

Myth: India is a homogenous nation.

Fact:. The truth is that India is one of the most diverse countries on the planet with 28 states, seven union territories and nearly two dozen recognized languages. Not only does the language change as you travel the country, but food and local customs do as well. India has the unique quality of being both a real, physical place and a state of mind that travelers carry with them always.

Myth: Most Indians are uneducated.

Fact: Education is an extremely important part of Indian culture, with medicine and engineering being two of the top career paths in the country. PhDs and MBAs are considered common requirements for employment, so children are strongly encouraged to do well in school. The educational system in India is highly competitive, and students from all economic backgrounds take their studies very seriously.

Myth: Indians are all vegetarians.

Fact: While certain groups such as Jains and Hindu Brahmins are required to be vegetarian, most Indians do not observe a vegetarian diet. However, Indians do tend to eat much less meat than people in the West, and vegetarian restaurants are much more common.

Myth: Yoga is a form of exercise.

Fact: Yoga originated in India and is actually one of the six schools of Hinduism. Hinduism maintains the belief that all is god, and all is one. Raja yoga is, in part, the practice of creating and maintaining physical health. This enables the practitioner to still the mind in order to focus on the tenets of Hinduism and live life accordingly. The physical aspect of yoga is just a fraction of what is actually a comprehensive philosophy and way of life.

Myth: India is filled with snake charmers.

Fact: While snake charming does exist, it is illegal in India and has been since the late 1990s. This has been extremely hard on the country’s 800,000 snake charmers. The practice was traditionally handed down from generation to generation but was banned due to pressure from animal rights groups. Many snake charmers continue to struggle to find alternate ways of making a living.

Myth: All Indians practice Hinduism.

Fact: While the majority of the people in India practice Hinduism, other religions such as Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism are also practiced. While Hinduism is generally considered to be a religion, there are those who define the practice as a philosophy or way of life instead. This is, in part, due to the facts that Hinduism was not founded by one person, has no central authority and does not have a clear origin.

Myth: Hindus worship millions of gods.

Fact: Hindus believe in Brahman as the one source of everything and hence, that god is in everything. The various individual gods are simply different aspects of Brahman. This allows Hindus to worship the precise aspect for which they feel a need.
So now that you know the truth, you can ditch those preconceived notions, and pack your bags -- India awaits.

This guest post article was written and provided by Erica Gustafson who is a freelance writer, avid traveler to India and online media consultant for Expedia. When visiting India she enjoys staying at the Sahara Star hotel.