Slovenian woman shares how UPI was the game changer during trip to India
A Slovenian woman said India's QR-based payment system meant she needed very little cash while travelling across the country. Her post prompted users to discuss UPI's speed, offline options and everyday reach.
A woman from Slovenia shared her surprise at how little cash she needed while travelling across India, saying the country's widespread use of QR code-based payments made buying everything from chai to groceries incredibly convenient.
Julija, a Slovenian traveller who regularly shares mini-vlogs from her trips to India, posted the video on her Instagram account.
In the caption accompanying her post, she said one of the things that surprised her the most about India was how digital everyday transactions had become.
"One of the things that surprised me most in India was how little cash I actually needed," she wrote.
According to Julija, almost everywhere she went, whether it was a roadside chai stall, a local restaurant or a small shop, shopkeepers would simply point towards a QR code instead of asking for cash.
She explained that this was possible because of UPI, India's instant payment system, which allows money to be transferred within seconds by scanning a QR code rather than entering lengthy bank details.
Calling it one of the most convenient payment systems she had come across during her travels, Julija noted that access to UPI could be tricky for foreign visitors and depended on factors such as their bank, card provider and the services available to them.
She added that applications such as PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm and BHIM could sometimes help travellers make digital payments, though she advised visitors to India to carry a debit or credit card and keep some cash on hand as a backup.
"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.
Watch the video here:
Her observations sparked a lively discussion online, with several users suggesting that she should also try quick-commerce platforms like Blinkit, saying the experience would leave an equally lasting impression.
Others argued that India's payment ecosystem was years ahead of many countries, pointing to the ease and speed with which even the smallest transactions could be completed.
Some users also highlighted that UPI can function without internet access through offline methods, adding that this feature further showcased how deeply digital payments have become embedded in everyday life across the country.
A woman from Slovenia shared her surprise at how little cash she needed while travelling across India, saying the country's widespread use of QR code-based payments made buying everything from chai to groceries incredibly convenient.
Julija, a Slovenian traveller who regularly shares mini-vlogs from her trips to India, posted the video on her Instagram account.
In the caption accompanying her post, she said one of the things that surprised her the most about India was how digital everyday transactions had become.
"One of the things that surprised me most in India was how little cash I actually needed," she wrote.
According to Julija, almost everywhere she went, whether it was a roadside chai stall, a local restaurant or a small shop, shopkeepers would simply point towards a QR code instead of asking for cash.
She explained that this was possible because of UPI, India's instant payment system, which allows money to be transferred within seconds by scanning a QR code rather than entering lengthy bank details.
Calling it one of the most convenient payment systems she had come across during her travels, Julija noted that access to UPI could be tricky for foreign visitors and depended on factors such as their bank, card provider and the services available to them.
She added that applications such as PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm and BHIM could sometimes help travellers make digital payments, though she advised visitors to India to carry a debit or credit card and keep some cash on hand as a backup.
"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.
Watch the video here:
Her observations sparked a lively discussion online, with several users suggesting that she should also try quick-commerce platforms like Blinkit, saying the experience would leave an equally lasting impression.
Others argued that India's payment ecosystem was years ahead of many countries, pointing to the ease and speed with which even the smallest transactions could be completed.
Some users also highlighted that UPI can function without internet access through offline methods, adding that this feature further showcased how deeply digital payments have become embedded in everyday life across the country.
