Indian Travel Influencer spent 4 Days in North Korea

The Indian travel influencer, Bhuvani Dharan, achieved an unusual feat when he spent four days in North Korea.

Also known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the country is one of the most repressive and isolated nations in the world.

Since its establishment in 1948, the DPRK has been governed as a totalitarian dictatorship.

Kim Il Sung founded North Korea. After he died in 1994, the country was taken over by his son, Kim Jong Il, who continued the dictatorship.

After Kim Jong Il died, his son Kim Jong Un became the Supreme Leader and is currently at the helm of political affairs in the DPRK.

Bhuvani became part of the first group of 22 tourists and influencers to enter North Korea in March 2025. 

Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the country had been closed to foreigners for five years.

After Bhuvani’s batch of tourists left, North Korea shut down to tourists once again.

According to Bhuvani, he did not know what to expect when planning his trip to the country that has the worst human rights record in the world.

The group had to first travel to China and then boarded a bus for a cross-border journey into the DPRK.

Out of the 22 people in Bhuvani’s group, only two were Indian.

The group was accompanied by two guides who were appointed by the government and who spoke English fluently.

North Korea has strict laws against foreign material and pornographic content, and anyone caught in possession of them faces severe penalties.

Bhuvani explained: “Everyone had to make a list of the items they were carrying – especially electronics.

“They made sure we weren’t bringing anything they consider banned – GPS devices, religious books, or pornographic material.”

Bhuvani’s itinerary was non-negotiable and he said that his group were sometimes taken to their destinations via longer routes to give the impression that they were exploring more.

During their trip, they visited a museum, a deer park, several schools, factories, and courtrooms inside educational institutions.

Bhuvani said: “Two weird incidents made me feel like even the school was staged.

“First, a student told me he knew English and Russian.

“Since I’ve travelled to Russia twice, I know a bit of Russian.

“So, I tried speaking a few words, and he just froze.

“It was like he wasn’t prepared for that, maybe because their answers were rehearsed.”

The travel influencer also mentioned being shown cultural performances by schoolchildren. However, this left Bhuvani a little unsettled.

He continued: “Even though the kids were dancing and doing all the right moves, their faces looked sad.

“There was no joy in their expression.”

In North Korea, its leaders – past and current – must be treated with utmost respect at all times. 

Anyone found making jokes or disrespectful comments about them could face serious consequences. 

In Pyongyang – the capital of the DPRK – there are large monuments of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

Anyone who visits these statues must bow to them in respect. Filming and photographs are permitted but they must be respectful.

The statues are required to be in the frame at all times too.

Bhuvani also visited these monuments. Recalling the experience, he said:

“We were told that if we couldn’t show proper respect to the Marshall, we should stay in the bus.”

Describing the daily life in the country, he said: “I saw taxis running at 5 am, which just felt unlikely in North Korea.

“We’d see families in traditional clothing laughing and taking photos near the road.

“But none of them ever spoke to us. Not once.

“From the small window in my hotel room, I could see that no one was outside at night.

“But the next morning, exactly at 5 am, people would appear again, working around their homes like nothing happened.

“Whenever I asked about India, everyone answered Baahubali, as if they wanted to show us that they do watch international cinema here.”

However, as previously mentioned, foreign media is not allowed in the DPRK, with internet access being severely limited.

It is likely that general citizens of North Korea will never even see X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or any other social media platforms.

Talking about the food, Bhuvani said: “It was too cold to have been prepared in the same hotel kitchen. But the taste wasn’t bad.”

Bhuvani spent Rs 4 to 5 lakhs on the trip. He sent four postcards to family and friends, which never arrived.

Throughout their stay, the group never had mobile signal or internet access. 

Bhuvani said: “We were told to stay quiet and discreet if we got on the network.

“But when I checked my phone, I saw a news alert: ‘North Korea has officially banned tourism again’.

“My stomach dropped. I thought, ‘Are we stuck here now?'”

However, following heated discussions with their guides, the group was allowed to leave on schedule.

The travel influencer summarised: “They told us clearly – if we say anything negative about North Korea in our videos or posts, we’ll never be granted entry again.

“So, no, I don’t think I’ll ever go back. They will not allow me back in.”