An Indian YouTuber faced backlash for attempting to stay overnight at a Thai temple for free, sparking debates on ethical travel practices. Netizens criticized his actions as disrespectful and disruptive, urging him to respect local customs and travel responsibly.
AN INDIAN YOUTUBER has gone viral for all the wrong reasons, as his video of attempting to camp at a Buddhist temple in Thailand free of cost has been widely criticized by several netizens. The YouTuber is known for travelling on a tight budget and has sparked a debate among social media users over whether staying in another country without money for clicks and views should be promoted or not.
The YouTuber in question is Banshi, a 23-year-old man who posts travel videos on his Instagram and YouTube channels and is known for hitchhiking across the country. For his latest adventure, he spent 22 days in Thailand and posted about it on his YouTube channel, named ‘Anything Banshi,’ which has 17.4K subscribers. His latest video, titled “Thailand Good Police Says Get Out of the Temple Now,” has been receiving backlash. The video has garnered over 48K views and was posted on October 6, 2026.
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The video starts with Banshi interacting with the locals in the area and offering a guide on how to eat Thai food. As the video progresses, Banshi is seen trying to convince the authorities at a Thai temple to let him spend the night and camp on the temple premises free of cost.
He even tells them that a temple monk had allowed him to stay the night. However, he is asked to leave by the temple police, who say that the temple does not allow outsiders to stay. The temple police and the temple committee ask Banshi to pack his belongings and leave after their discussion continues for 20 minutes. According to reports, the temple authorities had advised the YouTuber to stay at a budget hotel for his safety; however, he had refused.
Banshi’s travel episodes usually revolve around hitchhiking and travelling to different places on a shoestring budget. When the Thai police offered him the option of staying at a nearby hotel, which might have cost him 400 baht (approximately ₹1,138) a night, he refused.
Banshi’s travel experience in Thailand was covered by local Thai news outlets and began receiving widespread attention on October 11, 2026. A man present at the scene told him to avoid travelling without money and allegedly said, “Don’t travel like a beggar.” While his YouTube video garnered a good number of views, many netizens have slammed the YouTuber for relying on others for food and accommodation.
Many social media users deemed Banshi’s actions at the temple “disruptive” and “disrespectful” while advising him to travel with money. “Send him home. Disrespectful and disruptive. Want to be homeless… Do it in your own country,” wrote one X user. Another user claimed that the YouTuber had deliberately staged the incident and added, “He has the money but these days it’s fashionable to be Indian & perform such stunts because then all folk will crawl out & start commenting/interacting on his SM.”
“Please don't make it a habit to travel without funds and resort to begging on the street,” wrote another user, slamming Banshi. An X user wrote, “Traveling on a budget is understandable, but respecting local customs and sacred places is essential. Glad the Thai police tried to help him find a safe place to stay.”
[RH/VS/HP]
(Edited by Harsh Pandey)
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