Blog

Is it safe for a woman to travel solo in India?

I have traveled solo in India many times since I was 17 years old. Being a native I know the ins and outs of the reality of traveling solo in India as a woman. Contrary to what popular media might have you think, the most dangerous things you need to look out in India is the water. The reality is that India is a very dangerous country for women and violence against women in common. But this violence does not come from strangers and is usually the actions of a family member or known person. Crime against travelers is very rare and solo female travel in India is a great experience. 

I have heard some travel tales from solo travelers to India that had bad experiences. In almost every single one of these I have found that the traveler was exploring a sketchy part of town, not following local laws or being overconfident in general. India is as dangerous to travelers as any other country in the world would be if you went there unprepared. 

My travels in India have taken me from the northern Himalayas to the south most tip of India and I have loved every single moment of it. I have traveled solo and with family and have adventures beyond belief every single time. As a solo female traveler in India I have come to appreciate the beauty of this country in ways I thought was impossible. I highly recommend every single woman to take a solo trip to India to have this experience themselves.

If you are scared or feel unsure about whether you should travel solo in India, keep on reading. My solo female travel guide to India will have you prepared against every possible scenario you could encounter by the end. You are going to feel confident about conquering whatever this country might throw at you. And you are going to come out of it with amazing memories and a more experienced solo traveler.

The biggest threats in India

• Mosquitos – We as Indians know the tips and tricks to keep mosquitoes at bay. During monsoon season we are already going out with long sleeved clothes. To keep mosquitoes at bay, incense is lit under the table when sitting outside. If you are from outside the country, the first thing you should do before coming to India is get all your medical shots and make sure you are up to date on your vaccinations. Your first aid kit should be packed with the essentials and of course malaria tablets. Do not worry too much if you don’t have all your meds. India has a very cheap and good pharmaceutical industry. The pharmacists are very experienced and can always recommend what a good medicine for you will be. Doctors visits are also not expensive unless you have to be admitted into a private hospital for some treatment. 
  
• Water – The biggest issue as a solo traveler in India that you are probably going to encounter is the food and water. I am a native and even I got terribly sick after having street food in Jaipur once. For foreign travelers especially, your tummy and digestion is much more sensitive that Indians. If something was enough to make me badly sick, it would definitely take you to the hospital. Only ever drink bottled water or filtered water. If a restaurant asks you whether you want bottled or normal water, they mean normal filtered water which is completely safe for consumption. In fact it is much more environmentally friendly than bottled water. Do not ever eat street food which does not have a proper establishment. What I mean by proper establishment is that it is not a well known restaurant. My guide to the 30 Best Restaurants in Delhi for the International Traveler has the best restaurants to try the local cuisine in town without getting sick. 
  
  To try the best cuisine in Delhi from all around the country use – 30 Best Restaurants in Delhi for the International Traveler.
  
• Scams – As a solo female traveler in India, scams are going to be a huge concern to you. You do not have the security of depending on another person for their judgement. You will need to make decisions on your own and you do not want to get scammed. The best way to do this is to read up on all the local scams thoroughly before you arrive at your destinations. Always purchase your tickets through the internet on a well known website. Do not ever engage with anyone trying to deal with you on the street. They are always a scammer. REMEMBER REMEMBER it is better to lose out on a great deal than get scammed and lose out on all of your money.

Where to stay?

When I traveled as a student I used to stay in hostels and on couches whenever I could to save money. This is a very bad idea in while traveling solo in India. Accommodation is not something you should ever skimp on in India. This is primarily because first you do not know which neighborhoods are good and which are bad. And the bad ones are really bad, that will scare the crap out of you. It is not worth it to save a few hundred dollars to be in those unsafe neighborhoods.

Secondly, many people who list these hostels and sketchy Airbnbs are creepy men and hostels being used as brothels at night. You do not have the know how to determine which ones are good and which ones are bad and as I said before, the bad ones are really bad. Always make sure you book a good hotel or hostel. 

There are a lot of good cheap hostels that are coming up in Delhi now and they are a delight to stay in. These are a great way to make friends for solo female travelers in India.

Our hospitality industry is also one of the best in the country. The top hotels in any city will blow your mind with how amazing they are. I always encourage travelers in India to at least experience a few of the amazing hotels we have. The Samode Palace in Jaipur is nestled amongst the Aravali hills. Its Sheesh Mahal Suite is famous for being decorated with reflecting glass on every surface of the room. Houseboats in Kerala float through the backwaters and mangroves on the coast. Estates up in the Himalayas directly overlook the snow covered peaks of the Himalayas.

Checkout some of the most luxurious and palatial stays in Jaipur –  Where to Stay in Jaipur: Top Luxury Hotels.

Which places are best for a solo female traveler in India?

If you are a solo female traveler in India, I recommend starting at a city that is higher on the list and then move to the lower cities. The higher numbered cities will allow you to acclimate before really jumping into the craziness of the lower ranked cities.

1. Kerala – Called God’s country for its nature, Kerala is absolutely beautiful. South Indian people are also more polite and the culture less crazy than the north. You can really take your time exploring non touristy areas here without any fear. This is where I recommend most solo female travelers to India start. Once you have explored the south you will be much more comfortable with what to experience in the North.
   
2. Rishikesh – Most of the yoga ashrams are near here. This is a lazy city with not many places to see. People come here to do yoga and chill out in the gorgeous Himalayas. Some of the most beautiful estates in the Himalayas are in this area. You can hike and eat high tea and relax. As a solo female traveler in India you will feel very safe up in the mountains.
   
3. Goa – This is where all the international music festivals happen. This city barely feels like India with its primarily Christian population and Portuguese architecture and influence. As a solo female traveler you can really enjoy the beaches and the nightlife which is safer than the rest of the country.
   
4. Udaipur – This is one of the safest cities in India. Being so small and usually full of tourists during peak time there is no neighborhood that your would feel unsafe at. You can take your time exploring the entire city by yourself without needing a local guide.
   
   One of the top hotels in Udaipur – Staying at the Luxurious Leela Palace, Udaipur.
   
5. Jaipur – My favorite city in India! Jaipur is a gorgeous city and one of the stops on the Golden Triangle tour. The city thrives on tourism and the tourist attraction in Jaipur are very well lit and safe for all travelers. It also has some of the most amazing palaces and forts that exist in India.
   
   The most gorgeous palaces, forts, food places and temples in Jaipur – INSIDER’S GUIDE: Top 25 Things to do in Jaipur.
   
6. Delhi  – The capital of the country is frequented by thousands of tourists during peak season. You will find many many other solo travelers in your hostel or hotel heading out to the same destinations. This is a great place to get your first taste of the craziness that North India has to offer.
   
   For the best things to do and places to see in Delhi – Top 10 Historical Places in New Delhi
   
7. Varanasi – The holy city of India is a top tourist destination for all travelers coming to India. This should be saved for the last as it can be overwhelming. The city has so much culture that you should probably do this last before you head back home. As a solo female traveler in India this is going to be the most challenging and the most rewarding city you are going to visit.
   
   For the best curated 3 day trip to Varanasi for you – 3 Day Itinerary for Varanasi, India’s Holy City.

Solo travel tips for women in India

• Do your homework – India is so big and vast that it becomes impossible to plan on the go. From the moment you touch down you will be bombarded with the colors, food, culture and people. The culture shock will be very real and you will be too overwhelmed to plan ahead for yourself. This is why it is very important that you plan out every aspect of your trip before you arrive. As a solo female traveler in India, it is especially important to have all your details planned out in advance. This is to make sure you are safe and have the necessary details for lodging, food and sightseeing in safety.
  
• Dress appropriately – Delhi and Mumbai are metropolitan cities and fairly liberal. You will find women going to clubs dressed in cute western clothes. The rest of the population is very conservative and you should follow the rule of covering up your shoulders and having long bottoms. These are some great stores like Anokhi and FabIndia in the major cities where you can shop for these clothes. While traveling solo in India, this simple trick will save you a lot of leery comments and stares. 
  
• Don’t go to sketchy areas – As in any country there are some bad areas which get very unruly and unsafe at night. Hauz Khas village in Delhi is safe during the day but at night it is considered one of the worst parts of the city. You should always only visit the tourist areas and spots which are considered safe by the locals. As a solo traveler in India especially, you should never step into any unsafe areas.
  
• Be loud and rude – I am going to be honest here. Most of the men in India haven’t been taught shit manners. They think it’s OK to ogle women and behave like trash in general. I have had many instances like men refusing to move aside to let me pass or stare at me for long periods of time. As a solo female traveler in India the best thing to do in such moments is to very loudly and publicly call them out for doing so. This shames them into leaving you alone and works wonderfully for me each time. You have to be assertive and very confident when you travel solo in India as a woman. 
  
• Don’t arrive at a new destination at night – One of the best pieces of advice I have ever heard. If you are traveling at night by train or bus this becomes especially dangerous. The bus station might also not be in a safe area. If you unfortunately do end up arriving at night, call ahead and have the hotel send a driver to pick you up. Tell the driver your bus number and ask him to wait for you where the bus arrives. The drivers that work with hotels are very well mannered and make sure you are safe. 
  
• Don’t smile – I saw some advice on a blog that said you should smile at everyone and treat India as any other western country. My sister did this once and ended up with a stalker Uber driver. India is not another western country. You cannot behave like it is one and expect it to not have any consequences. In India if you even make eye contact with a man it is treated as a come on. It is a terrible culture that I hate about my country but it exists. The way to keep yourself from getting into any uncomfortable situations as a solo female traveler in India, is to never interact with any man you don’t know. This means no smiles or small talk or eye contact with strangers. 
  
• Know about photo taking – If you are from another country and do not look like the locals it is very likely that locals will ask you for pictures with them. If any men come up in groups or by themselves then very firmly say no. They have no good intentions and will try to cozy up to you. If any cute families come up and ask then it is no harm and you can take a picture if you don’t feel uncomfortable.
  
• Take good transportation – If you have to travel alone at night then ask your hotel to arrange for a taxi to and from your destination. Taking an Uber alone at night is also considered dangerous for women. If you do end up having to take an Uber have all the safety features on and have someone waiting for you at the destination. The Uber drivers in India have this bad habit of asking you to walk to their cars instead of arriving at the pickup spot. In those cases call them and ask them to meet you at the pickup spot and refuse to budge. If any drivers ask you if they can pick up a friend and have them ride along, firmly say no. If they do not budge then exit the car and ask for another Uber.
  
• Get a local sim card – Most of the communication in India is done through Whatsapp or texting. While traveling solo in India it is a good idea to have a reliable form of communication. Have a local sim card with reliable service and internet on demand that you can use in any emergency.
  
• Budget higher – Yes it is possible to survive in India on $20 per day but this is a very bad idea in my opinion. Firstly, the cheap hostels are in very unsafe areas that a solo female traveler in India should never visit. Safer hostels are going to be priced a little higher. Also, unless you are going to be eating home cooked rice and daal, the food is also going to add to your budget. You do not want to eat street food so you should plan a portion of your budget for food.
  
• Be careful at Holi – Holi is the festival I really wanted to talk about. It is the festival of colors celebrated throughout the country. Whether you are traveling solo in India or not, you cannot just go down into the street to celebrate this festival. The men in the streets get very rowdy. If you are a guy you will get your shirt ripped in celebration and if you are a woman you will be harassed or worse, groped in the crowd. You should play at your hotel or at a Holi party organized by a respectable group. Rishikesh is one of the best places to celebrate Holi in public. It has a safe culture and tourists go there to play Holi which makes the city a safe zone. 
  
• Get travel Insurance – Having traveled all over the world, the one thing I have learnt is that you always want travel insurance with you. If you are going to a country on another side of the world and some misfortune happens you want to have the peace of mind knowing that you are covered. For this reason the only travel insurance I trust is from World Nomads that I have personally used on multiple trips.

Ultimate Step by Step Guide to Plan Your Trip to India

---