Is India a safe destination for solo female travellers?
Whenever I make local friends in the countries I travel to, a few of them very enthusiastically ask me the question, ‘Is India safe for solo female travellers?’ As someone who hails from south India, I find it very rude! However, I just smile away and tell them, “Yes, it is a beautiful country like yours. And safe too.” So, what prompts people to ask such questions when it comes to women safety in India?
India – the best of the blessed
India is one-of-a-kind for it’s diverse culture, traditions and history. And Not to forget those beautiful landscapes! There are over 100,000 blogs on ‘list of safest destinations’ with India not making it to the list. Honestly, I have also written one on the same topic. And no, I haven’t included India in the list! But does that make it an unsafe destination?
India is known for grandeur of everything. You can meet different people with different traditions who speak 19,500 languages around the country. And 121 of them are spoken by more than 10,000 people. Nope, I ain’t kidding. But it is not difficult to get help since English is also widely spoken/understood by many Indians. And Indians love watching a lot of movies. There are so many ‘woods’ like Bollywood, Kollywood, Tollywood, Mollywood apart from the tropical evergreen rain forests! Hope Hollywood is not insecure with these many ‘woods’ in India lol. And it is a dreamland for foodies. Be it vegetarians, non-vegetarians, vegans or gluten-free lovers!
I know you cannot be laid-back in India like the people in Iceland! There is going to be crowd, culture shock and a lot of sunshine. You just need to carry plenty of sunscreen, a pair of sunglasses, a couple of scarves and a bit of guts. You are good to go! And read my blog to know more about what to carry on your first solo trip.
Internet – the worst best friend
Apart from the stereotyped documentaries on a herd of cattle strayed into the busy streets, poverty line and big fat weddings, India is also about vibrant colours in summer, smell of wet earth after rain, lush mountainous terrains, beautiful coastlines – you name it, India has got the best of nature! Unfortunately, I still think a lot of Indians too are yet to realise the beauty of India.
Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth. – Marcus Aurelius
Every country has got both good and bad parts regardless of geographic locations. But the “good:bad” ratio is obviously going to differ in terms of population. And let’s not forget the contribution from the media and the internet! For example, I was little intimidated after researching the hell out of internet before travelling solo to Egypt. I remember contemplating booking tickets when I read news articles about a foreign woman journalist being mobbed in a protest. However, I also gathered a lot of positivity by focusing on good content like travel blogs. It helped me to take up my first time solo trip to Egypt with confidence. And I’m glad it turned out to be the best solo trip of my life!
Be an ASS
Nope, it’s not what you think! Choosing to be ASS (Aware – Smart – Safe) is absolutely necessary for solo travelling. Needless to say, safety is an important factor when it comes to solo travelling. And I hate to say this, but it is even more important if you are a woman. It may NOT sound fair! Unfortunately, we live in a world where women safety is still a topic on television debate shows. While women empowerment is a future goal for many countries, it is better to take care of yourself just to be on the safe side. You can read my safety tips and advices for female solo travelling here.
So, is India safe for solo female travellers?
If India is not on your bucket list due to safety concerns, you are probably missing out on gripping adventures! Travelling to India is fun, but travelling SOLO to India is a whole different story. I would call it an once-in-a-lifetime experience. I agree, it might get overwhelming in the beginning, but you may return for more once you get a hang of it! After all, India is truly incredible with its rich heritage in all the four directions. Also, an ordinary travel itinerary may not be sufficient because there are SO many places/things to explore! If you be an ‘ASS,’ your trip to India is worth every penny, hands down! Read these 5 tips for India first-timers.