It’s the long road…..A traveler dreams of,
It’s the unseen world………. A traveler dreams of,
It’s complete freedom…….. A traveler dreams of,
It’s the journey ………. A traveler dreams of,
But as a woman who travels alone,
A world that will keep me safe…………. Is what I dream of….
Recently with rape cases catching the media eye, India has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. This ‘darling’ of tourists, known for her diverse culture, heritage, history, landscapes and warm hospitality suddenly finds herself topping almost every ‘Most Unsafe Countries For Women Travelers’ list. Well to say that none of the allegations are true would be a blatant lie, but to say that it is a country where women are not safe at all would be unfair too. India is definitely not as unsafe as projected. Yes! women travelers need to be careful but it isn’t like you are found alone and WHAM! you are raped!
Being an Indian woman who has traveled alone within the country innumerable times my experiences have been fairly pleasant. I have been eve teased, but that is something I have experienced even in other countries 🙂 I am not trying to say that India is a safe heaven for women travelers, No sir! its not…. But if you take a few precautions, then it definitely is not as dangerous either.
Here are a few things I suggest every woman traveling to India (alone or with another female friend) should keep in mind.
1) Transportation :
a) NEVER EVER EVER take lifts from random people on the highway or even within the cities. This is an absolute NO NO; its like going and slamming your foot on an ax and then crying because you got hurt.
b) Avoid traveling without prior reservations.
c) If travelling by train, book your seats for the AC 3 Tier or non AC compartments as these always have ample number of passengers.
d) Avoid trains that leave at odd hours (especially when boarding from a small town) as the stations during those hours might be deserted and unsafe.
The Indian Rilways is a govt organization and has an online website where you can book your train tickets in advance: http://www.indianrail.gov.in/
e) Flights and buses are highly safe options. Though when travelling in a bus make sure you get down at a proper bus depot and not at a random stop mid way.
A good website to book buses online within India is : http://www.redbus.in/indexrt.aspx?utm_expid=2728620-32.FKJVp8V7SAK4Mz0ZzmG8uA.1 and for air travel : http://www.makemytrip.com/
f) If you can afford it, then hire a car as it gives you privacy and the driver makes for an added companion who is well versed with the country and its ways.
Cars on Rent is a popular website within the country for hiring cars : http://www.carzonrent.com/ .
2) Stay :
Avoid staying at random hotels, it is always advisable to have your accommodation figured out and booked in advance. If opting for a home stay over a hotel, make sure the establishment is run by a family. Most Indian towns have good 3 star or 4 star hotels. Remote areas invariably have the State Tourism Department guest houses, lodges or hotels which are well maintained, safe and hygienic.
There are plenty of websites that will give you information on home stays within the country two of those are mentioned below :
i) Best Home Stays India : http://besthomestaysindia.com/
ii) Namastay : http://www.namastay.in/
For Hotel stays:
i) Trip Advisor : http://www.tripadvisor.com/
ii) Booking.Com : http://www.booking.com/
3) Attire/Clothes:
Indians prefer dressing conservatively. Avoid excessive skin show in order to ‘not’ attract unwanted attention. Beach culture is not very rampant within the country except in GOA and ANDAMAN and NICOBAR ISLANDS. In these two regions, specially South Goa and the less explored beaches in the Andaman, you can see women wearing bikinis without being leched or ogled at.
Ideal clothing ( if traveling through the plains and coastal regions in summers)
i) Lenin pants
ii) Knee length shorts
iii) Light cotton shitrs/ t shirts/ vests
iv) Full length or knee length cotton summer dresses
v) And last but not the least the age old tried and tested ‘Jeans’.
4) Be wary of strangers:
Do not befriend and trust strangers especially if it is a group of boys/ men or even a man traveling alone. Never accept food from strangers especially in trains and buses not even the elderly.
Indians by and large a quite warm, friendly and helpful yet it is best to always be on guard as you are travelling alone…
5) Medical Aid and Emergency :
It is advisable to carry your own medical kit with medicines for diarrhea, dysentery, cold, cough, flu etc. But in case of unavoidable medical emergencies it is advised to go to a hospital recommended by your hotel. Avoid going to government run or municipal hospitals ( they are unfortunately the biggest source of infection).
Med India gives you a list of hospitals across almost every Indian city/town: http://www.medindia.net/patients/hospital_search/indian-hospitals-city-wise.asp
6) Keep a phone with you all the time :
It is always helpful to have a phone with you 24×7. Sometimes to call the cops and sometimes if you feel even slightly threatened,take out your phone and pretend as if you are talking to someone and giving out your co ordinates. The person in front will immediately know that you are not absolutely alone and will back off. This comes from a personal experience and trust me it works!
7) Hitting the pubs alone :
Most Indian cities don’t have a very strong pub/discotheque culture. Except for the metros and Goa. Though it is absolutely safe to go grab a drink by yourself, but it is advisable to never leave you drink unattended and don’t get overly drunk. That could land you into serious trouble…!
8) Avoid venturing out alone after dark:
Avoid dark alleys, isolated streets and dilapidated monument sites. You can have a cab that takes you from one place to another, but in cities like Delhi and the NCR region it is best advised to stay inside your hotel post 9 pm. Delhi especially requires one to be ultra careful; more than any other Indian city /town. As much as possible, stick to public places.
9) Avoid camping in the open alone :
Outdoor camping experiences in India are usually organized by established tour operators or experiential travel companies. It is advisable to go through them in case you wish to camp out in the open. DO NOT do it by yourself, as this can truly be dangerous.
http://alternateatlas.com/ : One of the companies that can customize an experience for you.
10) Jewelry, Cash and Documents:
Avoid wearing expensive jewelry and do not carry a lot of cash. It is preferable to carry a waist pouch/bag vis a vis a sling bag, as the sling bag can be snatched easily. Have an ID proof on you at all times.
11) Carry a pepper spray in your bag:
Even though you might never need to use it, but as they say prevention is better than cure. Carry one with you just in case…….:)
OH! and before I end this post, I would like to list down the regions in India I feel are safe and unsafe for women travelers. These are based purely upon personal experiences.
Regions safe for women traveling alone within India (In random order)
i) Goa
ii) Gurjrat
iii) Rajasthan
iv) Kerela
v) Karnataka
vi) North East States ( Mizoram, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya)
vii) Sikkim
viii) Uttarakhand
ix) Himachal Pradesh
x) Mumbai
xi) Pune
xi) Leh Ladakh
xii) Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshwadweep
Regions Unsafe for woman traveling alone within India (in random order)
i) Bihar
ii) West Bengal
iii) Uttar Pradesh
iv) Madhya Pradesh
v) Jammu and Kashmir
vi) Haryana
vii) New Delhi
India is that woman who is old and wise and yet is young and virile because she is constantly evolving. In short India is a land that offers you a myriad of experiences, that are unique and intriguing. Don’t deprive yourself of them just because you are scared, be cautious and you will do just fine…….:)
Happy Journey 🙂
Ghummakar (The Traveler) 