When people think of India, they often think of food poisoning.
I had heard about it too.
But during my one-month trip in South India, I never got sick even once.
Street food and local restaurants were actually something I looked forward to every day.
So when I visited North India for the second time, I was honestly a little careless.
Without knowing what was waiting for me.
It Started on a Train
It all began on a train from Agra, where the Taj Mahal is, back to New Delhi.
Something already felt off. I felt strangely unwell.
At first, I thought it was just the heat, because the air conditioning felt broken and it was extremely hot. But even after the AC started working, my condition kept getting worse.
With my friends carrying my bags, I slowly walked through the chaos of New Delhi Station.
I was just following them on autopilot.
At 11:30 p.m., I finally arrived at my hostel.
By then, I was at my limit.
I took a shower and immediately collapsed into bed like a dead body.
The Next Day, Something Was Clearly Wrong
The next day, I still wasn’t recovering. Fatigue, nausea, and a strong headache all hit me at once.
I didn’t have stomach pain, but I knew something was wrong. “Maybe this is food poisoning.”
That thought started to grow stronger. I took medicine I had brought from Japan and just hoped I would recover.
I Lost Consciousness in the Bathroom
Around noon, I went to the bathroom. Suddenly, I felt extremely nauseous and vomited. And the next moment — I lost consciousness.
When I came to, I was lying on the bathroom floor. I tried to stand up, but I fainted again. This time, I hit my head, and a sharp headache followed when I woke up.
I crawled back to my room and collapsed on the bed. It was the worst condition I had ever been in.
And on top of that, I had a flight at 3 a.m. the next day. Even late at night, there was no sign of recovery, and I went to sleep feeling anxious.
The Airport Was the Worst Part
I woke up at 3:50 a.m. On top of everything, I now had stomach pain as well.
I took an Uber to the airport. At the check-in line, I had to squat down just to endure the pain.
But of course, the lines were extremely long. Security was also packed. Even though I had arrived early, everything became a rush.
In the end, I had to run full speed and made it through the gate just 10 minutes before it closed. Completely exhausted, I collapsed into my seat. I fell asleep instantly on the plane.
Recovering in Leh
When I woke up, I felt slightly better. I managed to eat a muffin served on the plane — my first proper food in a day.
Then I arrived in Leh, in northern India. The moment I stepped outside, everything felt different.
Compared to chaotic Delhi, it was another world. Blue skies and dry, clean air.
From there, my body slowly started to recover.
The Real Cause
Once I recovered, I started thinking about what had caused it. The answer came quickly.
It was street food I had eaten with Indian friends I met at my hostel in New Delhi.
The stall was on the roadside and was far from clean. And the main problem was “pani puri.”
Pani puri is a street food made of crispy fried dough filled with spiced ingredients, served with flavored water called “pani.”
The problem was that I had no idea what kind of water was used. It definitely didn’t seem like bottled water.
Why I Couldn’t Refuse
If I had been alone, I would never have eaten it. But this time was different.
“My treat! It’s really good!”
My Indian friends insisted and bought it for me. They looked at me with excited eyes, waiting for me to try it.
I couldn’t refuse. I tried to avoid the liquid inside, but they said, “That’s the best part.”
It was probably my mistake. Even though I couldn’t avoid it completely, I knew it was my own responsibility.
I swore I would never eat street food in Delhi again.
And Then, The Second Time
But that wasn’t the end. I got food poisoning again in India.
This time, it happened in a small village called Tosh in Himachal Pradesh.
It was accessible only by a 20-minute walk, and almost no foreign tourists were there.
Food options were extremely limited, and even packaged cookies in the local shop were expired.
And there, I got sick again.
High Fever and Vomiting
One morning, I woke up with chills, nausea, and a severe headache. At first, I thought it would pass, but it only got worse.
My temperature reached 38.3°C — it was food poisoning again.
I vomited twice in the afternoon.
At night, the condition was unbearable. Even lying down hurt my whole body. I felt nauseous and couldn’t sleep. I kept groaning, falling asleep and waking up again.
Recovery and the Second Cause
The next day, I felt slightly better, but still weak and nauseous. I drank a little tomato soup because I was hungry. I ended up extending my stay by two nights.
The cause this time was probably a vegetable sandwich from a local restaurant.
The vegetables might have been spoiled, or the bread could have been moldy. I had once seen moldy bread at another restaurant. I had also seen flies inside food packaging before.
Since then, I always ask to see the bread before ordering a sandwich and check for mold myself.
⚠️Lessons from India
Food poisoning in India is sometimes unavoidable. But there are a few things you should be careful about:
- Always carry bottled water
- Avoid cold drinks (ice may come from tap water)
- Check cleanliness before eating street food
- Avoid raw vegetables and fruits (they may be washed with tap water)
And most importantly, always carry medicine from your home country.
Conclusion
India was one of the most fascinating countries I’ve ever visited. But at the same time, I learned that no matter how used you are to traveling, you should never let your guard down.
