Indian YouTuber faces backlash for trying to camp at Thailand temple
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An Indian YouTuber has faced online criticism after attempting to camp overnight at a temple in Thailand without paying for accommodation.
Viewers criticised his approach to budget travel and praised the local police for handling the situation calmly.
Banshi, 23, who documents his travels on his YouTube channel Anything Banshi, had spent 22 days in Thailand before filming the incident in Udon Thani. He titled the 33-minute video “Thailand Police say get out of the temple”.
The video initially showed Banshi interacting with Thai locals who invited him to lunch and introduced him to their food. However, the situation changed when he reached a temple and tried to convince the authorities to let him camp there overnight.
Banshi told the police and temple authorities that a monk had permitted him to stay. However, they refused to allow him to spend the night on the premises.
The discussion lasted more than 20 minutes. Banshi repeatedly said he had no bad intentions and claimed he had not slept for three days. The police offered him a nearby budget hotel for 400 baht a night, but he declined.
The authorities eventually asked him to pack up and leave. A man also advised him against travelling without sufficient funds, warning him about the risks.
“Don't travel like a beggar,” the man told him.
Banshi later pitched his tent at a nearby petrol station.
The video has received more than 46,000 views, drawing criticism from viewers. One commenter warned that filming monetised YouTube videos on a tourist visa without a work permit could violate Thai law. Others urged him to respect local rules and avoid travelling without enough money for basic accommodation.
“Being a beggar tourist like this can damage the image of India as a whole. Respect yourself and show respect for your fellow Indian citizens,” another viewer wrote.
Several commenters also raised concerns about so-called 'beggar tourism' and its potential impact on the goodwill extended to Indian travellers abroad.