‘I barely needed cash’: Foreigner says India's payment system feels ahead of most of the world

Foreigner visits India, ends up carrying almost no cash: Says many countries are still catching up to this payment systemFor many tourists visiting India for the first time, the food, crowds and culture are usually what leave the biggest impression.

But for one foreign traveller, it was something far more unexpected - paying for things.Julija, a traveller who recently explored India, shared a video on Instagram talking about one aspect of the country that genuinely surprised her. According to her, she barely needed cash during her trip because digital payments worked almost everywhere she went.

And she wasn't talking about malls or big retail stores.From roadside tea stalls and neighbourhood eateries to small local shops, she found QR codes waiting at almost every counter.In the video, she described India's payment infrastructure as being "years ahead of most countries", a statement that quickly caught the attention of social media users.Sharing her experience, Julija said one of the biggest surprises during her travels was how seamlessly people accepted digital payments. Instead of dealing with cash or card machines, merchants would simply point towards a QR code and the transaction would be completed within seconds.

The reason, of course, is UPI - India's Unified Payments Interface - which has quietly become a part of daily life for millions of people across the country.For Indians, scanning a QR code to buy vegetables, pay an auto-rickshaw driver or settle a restaurant bill has become second nature. But for visitors arriving from countries where cash and card payments still dominate, the experience can feel surprisingly futuristic.Julija called it one of the most convenient payment systems she has come across while travelling.At the same time, she pointed out that using UPI as a foreign tourist isn't always straightforward. Access often depends on a traveller's bank, card network and the services available in their home country.Because of this, she suggested that visitors should still carry a card and some emergency cash, especially when travelling to remote locations or areas with patchy internet connectivity.Her observations struck a chord online.Many Indians in the comments section said they rarely carry wallets anymore because QR payments work almost everywhere. Others pointed out that UPI has quietly transformed everyday transactions in a way that even many developed countries haven't managed yet.One user summed it up simply: "This is probably one of India's biggest digital success stories."And judging by Julija's reaction, it's also one of the first things that catches a foreigner's attention once they experience it firsthand.