'I never cried leaving a country': Foreign traveller's emotional farewell to Bengaluru goes viral

Indian Express

3 days ago

An emotional video shared by a traveller named Arina on Instagram is tugging at heartstrings across the Internet. The clip, which shows her tearfully saying goodbye to Bengaluru, India, has gone viral, and it's not hard to see why.
'I have never cried leaving a country,' she says, wiping away tears in the opening moments of the video. What follows is a touching montage of her 15-day journey through the city, its streets, people, and spirit, all of which clearly left a mark on her soul.
In a voiceover, Arina reflects on her time in Bengaluru, calling it an experience that changed her. 'This is India the media doesn't want you to see,' she says. 'I completely fell in love with this country. India is so amazing so far. It's a very divine energy too.'
What stood out to her most was the cultural fabric of the city, a peaceful blend of faiths and traditions. 'Bengaluru is a great collision of few religions – Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity,' she notes, admiring how harmoniously they coexist. She also mentions her fascination with the city's residential areas. 'Indian people have a great taste when it comes to houses,' she adds with a smile.
For Arina, it wasn't just the landmarks or the food, everyday beauty of life in the city struck her. She speaks of the contrasts and textures of the city's streets, describing them as 'full of contrasts, all different vibrant cultures… so pleasant and interesting.'
Her final day was especially meaningful. Dressed in traditional Indian attire, she attended a cultural event filled with prayers and local rituals. 'It was very amazing, emotional, and I never wanted to leave,' she says. 'I fell in love with Bengaluru. I fell in love with people. I fell in love with the realness of India.'
The video ends with Arina standing at Kempegowda International Airport, taking one last look at the city she came to love, before boarding her flight. 'I once again admired the beauty of Bengaluru's airport and bid farewell to India — at least for now, until my next visit.'
A post shared by arina 🍒 (@arinashoco)
The Instagram video, captioned 'Bengaluru: I love the chaos, I love the feeling that you're in the middle of some wild nonstop life. Don't think I've seen this mix of madness and pure joy anywhere else. I miss you already,' has quickly racked up views and stirred a flood of heartfelt responses.
A user commented, 'Bangalore is where the weather feels like a gentle hug and the people carry warmth in their hearts like it's always spring. We're glad that outsiders really love this place. Bangalore always welcomes you with its whole.'
Another user commented, 'Omg I spot my granny's house in Kormangala. We have countless memories on that street.'
A third user wrote, 'You can leave Bengaluru. But the city never leaves you! You'll always find your way to come back, and we'll be waiting to welcome you!'
A fourth person wrote, 'I'm so glad how a foreigner express her Love towards the city while other indian people's trying to defame banglore by bringing conflicts ur always welcome.'