7 Life Lessons You Only Learn Living In India

Considering its population size and diversity, as well as its rich millennia-deep history, India is undoubtedly a strong candidate to impart several valuable life lessons. We’ve rounded up a list of the seven most important and relevant life lessons you can learn only when you live in the country.

Be patient

When you’re sharing a country with a billion other folks, you will find yourself with no option but to cultivate endless patience. Whether you are waiting for an overworked bureaucrat to finish your visa paperwork or pulling yourself through the eighth dance sequence in the four-hour Bollywood movie you are watching, patience is what you need to hold on to.

There’s always a way

There’s more that unites us than divides us

India runs on what it calls ‘unity in diversity’ and that translates to how we’re all human, the same as any of the 1,600 language speakers, 29 state dwellers or 10 different religious followers. India teaches and practices co-existence like arguably no other place on earth can, and there’s no better philosophy to ground yourself with when faced with the country’s incredible diversity.

Never be quick to judge

India is a land of constant surprises – not just for visitors but for those who’ve lived here as well. At blame for its unpredictability are its billion-plus strong population, hundreds of languages and local subcultures, and thousands of years of complex history. You’re always better off making less assumptions, about a particular street foods’ ability to burn a hole through your gut, about a seemingly innocent granny’s ability to scam you out of your life savings, and so on.

You don’t need much to have a good time

Throwing aside religious, class and social differences, and pressing issues of all sorts, Indians still come together to celebrate hundreds of festivals every year. The country wouldn’t exist so peacefully if its people didn’t constantly find ways to unwind, celebrate and party-it-up in whatever form. India does Diwali, Holi, Christmas, Eid-al-Fitr, and way too many more festivals to even keep track of, with unmatched grandeur – all you need is the spirit to celebrate.

It’s okay to ask for help

There’s no way to get by in India without some cooperation from your fellow humans. India can be an unnecessarily overwhelming experience when you don’t enlist the help of those around you. And so if you find yourself lost, confused or in need of a second opinion, ask someone around you.

It’s always better to be courteous

Of course, this is a globally applicable lesson, but one that particularly needs reminding when you’re living in India. It’s easy to get frustrated when you’re not particularly in the mood to co-exist, share or be patient with your billion-plus fellow residents, but there’s no point being rude or acting out your frustration.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.