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‘Everyone Looks Same': Yatra Guru Ji Under Fire Disrespecting Nagaland Locals
Travel vlogger Bhanwar Lal Vishnoi is facing backlash after claiming that the faces of Nagaland people look very similar.
Bhanwar Lal Vishnoi, popularly known as Yatra Guru Ji, a travel vlogger from Rajasthan, is under fire for posting videos that many believe disrespect women from Nagaland and tribal communities. His recent YouTube uploads, featuring provocative thumbnails and insensitive titles, have sparked widespread outrage on social media.
The backlash intensified after a video was posted on June 18, in which Vishnoi commented on the appearance of people in Nagaland. In the clip, he says, 'There's something I want to say, the faces here all look kind of similar. As I walk ahead into a more crowded area, I feel like I've seen these people before. Then I spot someone else and again I feel like I've already met them. All the faces look very similar. I'm not making fun of anyone, but I'm just sharing what I honestly feel. It seems like everyone looks the same."
The statement, although prefaced with a disclaimer, has been widely condemned as racially insensitive and ignorant. Social media users and locals have called out the vlogger for his remarks, accusing him of promoting harmful stereotypes. Many are now urging authorities to take legal action against him for his offensive behaviour and for disrespecting tribal communities through his content.
Although in the videos, Bhanwar Lal Vishnoi mostly talks about Nagaland and other parts of the Northeast, the thumbnails show local women in a very misleading and disrespectful way. The titles of the videos have also left viewers upset.
Speaking with The Print, research scholar Heenu Riba, from Arunachal Pradesh, said, 'He has exotified our bodies. He is not showing our culture in the videos, but selling our bodies for his views."
After facing backlash, Yatra Guru Ji posted a new video where he said sorry for hurting the people of the Northeast and for showing women in the wrong way. He also told his audience that his team is now working on changing the thumbnails of the videos. While apologising, Bhanwar Lal Vishnoi also explained why he used such pictures and titles. He said he used them to get more views, as this type of content attracts more attention. At the same time, he also said that his videos are clean and meant to share useful information.
Surprisingly, Bhanwar Lal Vishnoi has also shared content with YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who is currently facing serious accusations of sharing sensitive details about the Indian Army after Operation Sindoor. The two were together during several trips, including the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland in 2024.
