A video shared by travel influencer Klaudia Falenta has gone viral after she described a frightening encounter at New Delhi Railway Station, where she was nearly scammed while attempting to board a train to Varanasi.
The incident, which Falenta documented in an Instagram reel posted on Sunday, has reignited conversations around tourist safety and persistent scam tactics at major transit hubs. Calling it “another crazy travel day in India,” she admitted the episode left her shaken and angry, saying it “definitely got my blood boiling”.
‘Why I hate Delhi train stations’
In the video, the solo traveller explained that she had reached the station early in the morning after booking an Uber for her eight-hour journey. At the station entrance, a man allegedly approached her, claimed her ticket was invalid and tried to redirect her to another office.
“That’s why I hate Delhi station. This man just tried to straight up scam me,” Falenta said, visibly upset. She added that the confrontation lasted nearly ten minutes, during which she repeatedly showed her valid tickets before the man finally backed off.
The stress was compounded by the fact that her train was due to depart in just ten minutes, heightening her anxiety during the encounter.
Sharing the unfiltered side of travel
In the caption accompanying the reel, Falenta said she almost chose not to include the clips because anger was “out of character” for her. However, she decided to post them to stay honest about the realities of travel.
“Travel is not always positive and happy, and that’s when you grow the most as a person,” she wrote, stressing the importance of showing unfiltered experiences rather than curated perfection.
Social media reacts with support
The video drew largely supportive responses from viewers, many of whom acknowledged the challenges faced by foreign travellers navigating busy Indian stations. Some users offered advice on avoiding unsolicited help, while others reassured her that experiences vary widely across the country.
Comments included messages like, “More strength to you — you will have better experiences at other Indian locations,” and “Glad you are overcoming challenges many of us don’t even think about.”
Journey ends on a positive note
Despite the stressful start, Falenta said the remainder of her journey went smoothly. She managed to reach her platform with help, boarded the train on time and enjoyed interacting with fellow passengers.
“From here on, it was easy sailing,” she said, adding that she later explored Varanasi and had a positive experience there.
The episode once again highlights the need for better monitoring and traveller assistance at major railway stations, especially as India continues to attract solo travellers from across the world.