• Source:JND
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Indian tourist in Paris:  For most tourists, the French capital is the epitome of romance, beauty, and culture. From hanging out at corner cafés to gazing at the Eiffel Tower sparkling at night, Paris has traditionally been advertised as a dream destination. But for other visitors, those dreams shatter nearly as soon as they set foot there. In place of romance and charm, they encounter overload, disillusionment, and even physical illness.

Not All Of Paris Looks The Same

A viral video shot by an Indian tourist, featuring the city's lesser-known face, has gone viral on social media and ignited heated debates online, raising awareness of Paris Syndrome.

The tourist, Vinayak Mishra, shared his experience on Instagram with the caption, “Paris gave me a plot twist in the first 5 minutes.” The video, which has already crossed 1.5 million views, begins with Mishra stepping out of a train station only to find himself surrounded by litter, shouting crowds, and a chaotic street scene.

 
 
 
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A post shared by Vinayak Mishra (@thevinayakmishra)

“Where is this? Is this Paris? Looks like a fish market,” he can be heard saying in the clip, visibly taken aback. Later, the video cuts to a more polished part of the city, prompting him to add, “This neighbourhood is normal, but the other place was weird. People are coming from all directions and screaming, as well as garbage lying around. I did not have this image of Paris in my mind.”

The Symptoms: More Than Disappointment

Travelers who suffer from Paris Syndrome report a range of unsettling reactions. These include:

• Acute delusional states – Feeling confused or disconnected from reality.
• Hallucinations – Hearing or seeing things that are not present.
• Persecution feelings – Feeling locals are being rude or aggressive towards them.
• Derealization – The city seems unreal, twisted, or dreamlike.
• Depersonalization – Feeling of observing oneself from outside the self.
• Panic and anxiety – Severe worry and emotional distress.

In addition to these psychological symptoms, the physical symptoms also commonly show up, such as dizziness, sweating, quickened heartbeat, nausea, or vomiting.

Why Paris?

Paris holds a unique place in the global imagination. Labelled as the "City of Love" and etched on film, literature, and social media timelines, it becomes a perfect symbol. This level of idealisation makes the shock of reality feel sharper than in other cities.

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The video has set off a heated discussion on social media. A user said, "Brother, stay within central Paris. If you are even remotely outside, then this is what you will experience. Also, do not venture out in such places at night. It's really dangerous." One wrote, "This is the other side of Paris they don't want to show us." Others came to the defence of the city, noting that the image could have been the result of a hectic market. "So this is the case with every city, there are clean areas and dirty areas," was one response, adding that the media tends to cover only gleaming neighbourhoods in Western cities while dwelling on cluttered ones in Indian cities.

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While millions still fall in love with Paris because of its museums, monuments, and café culture, Mishra's video is a reminder that every city has two sides. For some, that reality is invigorating. For others, it becomes disturbing.