A Slovenian traveller revealed on social media that she barely needed cash while exploring India, crediting the country’s booming digital payment ecosystem for making everyday purchases remarkably effortless.
A Slovenian traveller revealed on social media that she barely needed cash while exploring India, crediting the country’s booming digital payment ecosystem for making everyday purchases remarkably effortless. Julija, who frequently shares mini-vlogs documenting her travels across India, recently posted a video on Instagram praising the presence of QR code-based payments.
In the caption accompanying her post, she wrote, “One of the things that surprised me most in India was how little cash I actually needed.”
Describing her experience, Julija said that almost everywhere she visited, from roadside chai stalls and neighbourhood eateries to small local shops, merchants often directed her towards a QR code rather than asking for cash.
She explained that the convenience stems from UPI (Unified Payments Interface), India’s instant payment network that enables users to transfer money within seconds simply by scanning a QR code, eliminating the need for lengthy bank account details.
Calling it one of the most efficient and traveller-friendly payment systems she had encountered, Julija noted that accessing UPI as a foreign visitor can sometimes be challenging, depending on factors such as banking partnerships, card providers and available services.
She pointed out that platforms such as PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm and BHIM may help some international travellers make digital transactions more easily. However, she also advised visitors to maintain backup payment options while travelling across the country.
“India is incredibly digital, but having a backup payment option will save you a lot of hassle when you’re in smaller towns, remote areas, or if the internet decides to stop cooperating,” she wrote.
Her observations quickly resonated with social media users, triggering a lively discussion about India’s rapidly evolving digital economy. Several users encouraged her to try quick-commerce services such as Blinkit, arguing that the experience would be equally impressive.
Others claimed India’s digital payments infrastructure is years ahead of many parts of the world, highlighting how even the smallest transactions can be completed in seconds with minimal effort.