Is spiritual tourism to India dangerous for one’s mental health?

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Hare Krishna: So the question is, is spiritual tourism to India dangerous for one’s mental health and emotional balance? For many of us, this question itself may seem strange, if not outrageous or scandalous.

The context is that recently, an article was published in The Guardian, which was an excerpt from a book titled Lost Forever in the Valley of Death. The article itself was titled Lost Forever in India: Why Tourists Experience India Syndrome. The book describes many travelers who came to India, visited spiritual or holy places, and subsequently became mentally disturbed. Some suffered psychological breakdowns and required treatment. The article also included interviews with a psychiatrist who has treated several such cases. The psychiatrist’s “solution” was often simply the plane ticket back home from India.

This article has raised concerns among many people. Let’s try to look at these concerns one by one.

First of all, if somebody has been disturbed, that is definitely a matter of concern. Considering the broad Indian culture, which welcomes visitors and guests, we want to care for them as best as possible. If visitors are getting disturbed, it is something we should take seriously and try to resolve if possible.

Before addressing the problem, we need to understand how prevalent it is. The book mentions dozens of tourists experiencing such issues. Dozens may sound like a large number to some, but when we consider that India received around 5 million foreign tourists in 2010, and nearly 17 million by 2019 before the pandemic—an increase of over three times—is this really significant?

Every individual case matters, but calling it “India Syndrome” generalizes a minor phenomenon and unfairly labels an entire country. Many Indians who move to America, or people from China or other countries who settle abroad, often experience stress, loneliness, and depression. Should we call this the “America Syndrome”? Certainly not.

Furthermore, culture shock generally fades over time. The article claims that people who stay longer or come for spiritual reasons experience a disturbance in their sense of reality. Would those people accept being labeled with an “America Syndrome” for similar experiences? No.

So, statistically, this is a very small phenomenon with practically no broad data to support it. Among millions of visitors, only a few cases have been reported.

Now, what about the causes? The author himself acknowledges two possibilities: are people already disturbed before coming to India, and India merely triggers those buried issues? Or does India itself cause the disturbance?

Both can be true to some extent. The author suggests that the atmosphere in India may bring out subconscious issues and force people to confront them, which can be destabilizing.

But what causes this? Is it the stimuli India provides, or is it the visitor’s own mind?

Many people have positive spiritual experiences in India. People come not only to visit the Taj Mahal or seek affordable medical treatment but also for genuine spiritual purposes. And often, their decision to come is in spite of mainstream media portrayals, which rarely show India in a positive light. Western media outlets like The Guardian, BBC, or Hollywood often depict India unfavorably.

Where then does the spiritual aspect of India come from? Where do people’s impressions of India come from?

It’s also possible that those who explore spirituality deeply are already struggling emotionally or psychologically. Spirituality can offer solace and strength, but some may require medical treatment. Such individuals might come to India seeking help, but it is not necessarily India that causes their distress—this could happen anywhere.

This is similar to how certain stimuli can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). No one calls this “Afghanistan Syndrome” or “Iraq Syndrome,” despite those being conflict zones. We don’t assign pejorative labels to entire countries due to isolated mental health conditions.

Sadly, as in any field, there can be people who mislead or exploit others. Some may be misinformed or have false expectations about spirituality and India. There are also those who want to make quick money by exploiting spiritual seekers. So a certain degree of discernment is needed.

But such exploitation exists everywhere. In science, for example, academic fraud and doctored data are scandals, yet we do not call it “Psychology Syndrome” or “Science Syndrome.”

The blanket generalization of “India Syndrome” suggests an ulterior motive and ignores alternative explanations. The article only quotes one Indian psychiatrist known for treating these cases, which is hardly a comprehensive perspective.

As Einstein said, “Science is a wonderful thing if one doesn’t have to earn a living from it.”

Why not also consider the experiences of those who have had uplifting, transformative spiritual experiences in India? Many seekers and thinkers have come and gained fresh perspectives, which have helped them function better in life.

Notably, some of the most successful people in Silicon Valley—Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, and actress Julia Roberts—have spoken about transformative experiences in India. They did not suffer mental disturbances; rather, India enriched their outlook.

Why are these positive stories ignored?

This is unfortunate and leads us to the final point: what can we do?

It is important for us to take responsibility for representing India properly. India has a glorious spiritual legacy that can enrich humanity.

If we don’t tell our story, others will—often with a colonial or negative bias. Though political colonialism has ended, its intellectual influence persists, shaping the world’s view of India.

Now, with social media, outreach is more democratized. Many mainstream newspapers are losing influence as thoughtful people seek alternative, less biased sources.

We need more broadcasters and channels that present traditional understandings and are sympathetic to the lived experience of those aligned with Indian wisdom, spirituality, and culture. No one else will do this for us.

It is our responsibility, each in our own way, to share our spiritual experiences and present India’s true essence.

In doing so, we can make a positive difference.