A travel fantasy where Hawkins meets Hindustan
If the Stranger Things kids ever crossed over into India, they’d instantly realise two things:
- Our cities are chaotic enough to rival the Upside Down, and
- We have a talent for turning the ordinary into something epic.
Think about it – India already has mysterious forests, haunted forts, dusty small towns, colourful streets, neon-lit gaming arcades, late-night snacks, ancient legends, and an endless stream of supernatural-sounding local myths.
So where would each character feel most at home? Let’s open the gate and find out.
1. Mike Wheeler – Pondicherry’s French Quarters
Mike is the emotional backbone of the group – dramatic, intense, full of quiet feelings he pretends not to have. Pondicherry would speak to that part of him.
Imagine him biking through pastel bougainvillea-lined lanes, the early morning sun hitting the yellow French villas just right. He’d stop at small bookshops, run his fingers across old paperbacks, buy one he’ll probably never finish, and then brood by Rock Beach as waves crash against the promenade.
Mike’s Pondy routine:
- Writing long letters to El from a corner table at Ciclo Café
- Getting sentimental at Auroville while pretending he’s above it
- Buying handmade trinkets for the whole gang
- Overthinking life for absolutely no reason
Pondicherry is the perfect setting for his teenage melancholy.
2. Eleven – Rishikesh (Power + Peace + Rebirth)
El has lived a life no kid should live – trauma, labs, monsters, telekinetic battles.
Rishikesh would give her what she’s never had: freedom.
Picture her standing at the middle of Laxman Jhula, wind in her hair, river roaring below, tourists buzzing around her – and for once, she’s just a girl blending into the world.
She’d:
- Try river rafting and scream not out of fear, but joy
- Sit quietly by the Ganga during sunset, watching lamps drift on water
- Eat smoothie bowls like she’s discovering fruit for the first time
- Finally, learn that silence doesn’t always mean danger
Rishikesh would help her rebuild the parts of herself that Hawkins broke.
3. Will Byers – Mcleodganj’s Misty Mountains & Art Cafés
Will is the gentle soul, the artist, the one who carries impossible emotions quietly.
He’d melt into Mcleodganj like he’s been waiting for it his whole life.
Imagine him sketching at Illiterati Café, surrounded by books and mountains, while Tibetan prayer flags flutter outside. He’d wander narrow lanes with a soft smile, buy handmade journals, and attend tiny local music gatherings that heal him in ways Hawkins never could.
He’d spend hours:
- Listening to indie musicians in dim-lit cafes
- Hiking to Bhagsu waterfall with his sketchbook
- Talking to travelers who feel as misplaced as him
- Finally feeling safe enough to breathe deeply
Mcleodganj gives him the space to be soft – and that’s all he’s ever needed.
4. Dustin Henderson – Bangalore’s Arcades & Tech Havens
Dustin is chaos, brains, and charm in one curly-haired package. Bangalore would adopt him instantly.
He’d walk into Indiranagar gaming lounges like a king, challenge everyone to arcade battles, win half, and make best friends with the rest. He’d hop between geek cafés, stuffed with comic merch, neon signs, and bizarre mocktails named “Quantum Fizz.”
His Bangalore antics:
- Barging into tech stores, asking questions that confuse the staff
- Getting lost in board-game meetups
- Excitedly explaining quantum tunneling to strangers
- Eating way too many Korean corn dogs in Koramangala
He’d be a legend there – no Demogorgon required.
5. Max Mayfield – Mumbai’s Skate Parks & Underground Music
Max is fire and steel disguised as a teenager. Mumbai is her natural habitat.
She’d own the Bandra skatepark, weaving through graffiti-splashed ramps like she’s racing an invisible monster. Her evenings would be a blur of Versova indie gigs, thrift shops in Khar, neon lights, and sea-salted wind at Marine Drive.
Max’s Mumbai aura:
- Skateboard under one arm, iced coffee in hand
- Finding rooftop music circles no one’s heard of
- Becoming best friends with local street cats
- Watching sunsets from Worli Sea Face with her headphones blasting Kate Bush
Mumbai wouldn’t intimidate her. She’d intimidate Mumbai.
6. Lucas Sinclair – Delhi’s Street Courts & Vintage Energy
Lucas is grounded, curious, sporty, and stylish. Delhi? A perfect fit.
He’d spend afternoons at street basketball courts, sliding into games like he’s lived there forever. Evenings would be Janpath – trying jackets, bargaining like a pro, walking away smugly after saving INR 200.
Lucas’s Delhi life:
- Eating momos so spicy he cries but denies it
- Exploring Hauz Khas Fort at golden hour
- Joining college kids for impromptu cricket
- Becoming low-key obsessed with sneaker stores
Delhi gives him a balance of chaos and swagger – exactly his vibe.
7. Nancy Wheeler – Kolkata’s Cultural Maze
Nancy is sharp, observant, and investigative. Kolkata is a living storybook waiting for someone like her.
She’d disappear for hours in College Street, hunting old newspapers, uncovering hidden stories, sipping on watery-but-iconic coffee. She’d explore North Kolkata’s decaying-but-poetic balconies, interview strangers, join heritage walks, and probably solve three local mysteries without breaking a sweat.
Nancy in Kolkata:
- Notebook always in hand
- Obsessed with trams
- Photographing old houses before they’re gone
- Attending adda sessions with locals who adore her curiosity
Kolkata would treat her like one of its own.
8. Jonathan Byers – Goa’s Quiet Villages, Not the Beaches
Jonathan needs peace. Goa beyond the noise gives him that.
Imagine him walking through Aldona, Moira, Siolim – camera hanging around his neck, capturing peeling paint, old churches, empty fields, kids playing barefoot. He’d sit in cafés with wooden chairs and yellow walls, editing photos for hours.
Jonathan’s Goa rituals:
- Cycling through narrow lanes
- Shooting film photos at blue-tiled houses
- Attending tiny beachside jam sessions
- Making playlists inspired by the ocean
Goa would let him disappear beautifully – without feeling lost.
9. Steve Harrington – Chandigarh’s Clean Chaos & Soft Cool
Steve is the lovable himbo with a heroic heart. Chandigarh fits him like a glove.
He’d love the neat roads, the organised sectors, the lakeside evenings. He’d be the guy helping tourists take photos at Sukhna Lake, carrying three cold coffees for his friends, and getting adopted by random families because he looks trustworthy.
Steve’s Chandigarh life:
- Biking around perfectly paved lanes
- Becoming friends with every café owner
- Joining pickup football games in city parks
- Getting recognised by school kids: “Bhaiya, aap Stranger Things wale lagte ho!”
He’d blush every time.
10. The Whole Gang – India’s Most Mysterious Corners
When they’re together, adventure follows. No exceptions.
They’d end up exploring:
- Rajasthan’s haunted forts at night
- Foggy Kasol trails that look straight out of the Upside Down
- Retro arcades in Goa
- Manali’s British-era buildings with ghost stories
- Candle-lit night markets buzzing with strange sounds
And somewhere between the echoing corridors and flickering streetlights… they’d definitely sense something odd. Not dangerous – just deliciously eerie.
Final Thought
If the Stranger Things kids came to India, they wouldn’t just find new places. They’d find new versions of themselves. India has that effect – it transforms, reveals, softens, surprises. Here, even the ordinary feels supernatural. And maybe, in the crowded markets and misty mountains, they’d realise something Hawkins never taught them:
Not every mystery wants to kill you.
Some just want to show you a good story.
