5 Reasons Why Travelling Solo in India is Not So Scary!
I remember the first time I took a train by myself from my small hometown to the big bad city of Delhi. While dropping me off, my mother announced to everyone sitting around me that I’d be alone for the journey, in the hope that some good soul would look out for me. I felt like a fresh wound exposed to the elements of nature. All stares & smiles I received on that train ride felt sinister. I wasn’t half as mortified to be journeying alone as I was in realizing that everyone around me knew it. Not much has changed for solo trips that start at home (and that’s a story for another day), but I’ve come a long way, stuffing my pockets with solo adventures.
If you’ve read anything about travelling in India, you’ve probably read scores of reasons why travelling solo in India, especially as a female, is at best, scary. You’ve probably read hundreds of tips to avoid getting ripped, mugged, touted or groped. You’ve probably felt surprised, angry, sorry and nervous, in that order, after reading all that you’ve read. So I present 5 reasons, from personal experiences, to assure you why India isn’t such a scary place after all, to travel, to travel alone, and to travel alone as a female:
1. Your perception is half your experience.
Last year, when I felt my corporate job was burning my soul, I took a 2-month sabbatical to see the countryside of Europe and take my first solo trip in the high Himalayas of India. I didn’t spend hours reading about travelling solo and the things that could go wrong; I just took off, fearless and trusting, sans the scenarios my parents painted in my head. After the initial solo travel jitters, I quickly realized that making friends was easy, people were helpful, and ignoring the occasional jerk came naturally.
Photo by Steve Evans.
2. Strangers fear for you.
While people are nicer to solo female travellers in most countries, it is particularly so in India (and mostly in a platonic way) because everything you’ve read & heard about the country being unsafe for women has also been read by thousands of other people, many of who will take it upon themselves to ensure that you get around okay. Stuck in Pin Valley and waiting for a ride, I literally had an entire village scrambling to find me a way to get back to my base town of Kaza before nightfall. I was offered food and endless cups of tea, invited to attend a cultural function in the village school, and ended up exchanging life stories with strangers while I waited.
3. You are constantly reminded to be safe.
Even if you do decide to let your guard down, you’ll constantly be reminded of how risky it is to be by yourself, and how unsafe this country is for solo women. On a bus ride during my recent trip to North Kerala, I met a chemistry teacher from the small town of Kannur, who tried to initiate a conversation with me in Malayalam and when I told her in English that I don’t speak the language, she affectionately chided me and made me swear not to tell anyone that again. (How I could pretend to know a language without knowing it is something I refused to argue about). She went on to warn me not to talk to strangers. By the time she alighted from the bus, I knew all about her inheritance, her love for Malayalam literature, and her son’s north Indian friends, and she knew all about my pepper spray!
4. Among 1.1 billion people, you’re hardly ever ‘alone’.
Let’s face it. You must really work hard to find a dark lonely alley to walk along. Unless you are trying to chart an off-road trail, there is no reason to not always be surrounded by plenty of people, locals if not foreigners when you happen to be somewhere less travelled. As I found out, the region with the lowest population density in India also has the friendliest of people; a simple interaction in Spiti for directions or a ride would often turn into a homely meal, a revelation of the region’s best kept secrets, or a heartfelt invite to join a family on their yearly pilgrimage.
Photo by Anurag Agnihotri
5. There’s a ‘women-only’ everything.
Say what you may, but that’s a blessing not so much in disguise. From women-only ticketing queues, railways compartments and bus seats, to run-by-women-only taxi services and home stays, having women-friendly services is a reassurance that there are places where (sleazy) men cannot intrude. Feminists may argue against the segregation and fairly so, but when you are passing the night on a bus predominantly filled by men, it is comforting to smile at the woman sitting next to you.
Have you ever travelled solo in India? Would you recommend it to fellow travellers?
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
- Wanderlust in Words: Travel Writing Picks of The Week. | The Shooting Star
- Travelling alone? 8 Ways to Deal With Loneliness. | The Shooting Star
- Als Frau alleine in Indien -mit ein paar Tips
- Travelling in India as women alone – including some tips
- 6 Alternatives to Travelling Alone. | The Shooting Star
- First Time Travelling Alone? 6 Practical Tips. | The Shooting Star
nice post . ur facebook page on indian solo traveller is a testimonial
Thanks Samaresh
I’m doing the solo thing in India at the moment… People are so concerned for my welfare that I’m even being interviewed by reporters about that very fact! A lovely post
So reasons 2 & 3 really do hold then
Enjoy the concerns while they last!
Wow! Just wow! I admire you for taking such a huge leap from fantasy to reality! I also have been dreaming of travelling for one year now but it never happened! Mostly due to lack of like minded company!! I totally totally admire you for taking that first leap and going away to Europe of all places! And that too alone!! Another Wow!
Haha, thanks
See that’s the thing, once you’re actually out there and travelling by yourself, you realize it’s really not such a big deal or leap. You should take the plunge and set out alone. It can be addictive! Good luck.
Traveling solo is fun. I spent 5 days exploring Mcleodganj last month all alone. Got lost, made friends, felt truly happy and at peace.
But at the same time, I think that traveling solo isn’t for everyone. Most people have their own comfort zones in company of people which they find impossible to escape.
You’re absolutely right, solo travel isn’t for everyone. But you sure can’t know your comfort zone without even trying it. I’m sure everyone who’s ever travelled solo has felt the ‘out of the comfort zone’ pangs
i very much agree. the problem is that we have a strange society that judge things much before they actually happen. If everybody mind their own business, you will never have a problem in this great land
That’s true Tushar, but because everyone minds everyone else’s business, there are so many people looking out for solo travellers & their safety. It’s a double edged sword
Funny, I never thought about it from this angle when I traveled in India (being a man, I suppose the dynamics are different). Why travel alone? Let me add some thoughts to your post. I think traveling alone is wonderful because you’re more likely to socialize with new travelers (instead of just staying with your friends), your’e more likely to converse with local people, and it’s easier to learn the local language of the country you’re visiting.
I agree those are great reasons to travel solo, and there are so many more. But in this post, I was trying to paint some arguments on why contrary to what’s popularly believed, travelling solo in India is not more scary than travelling anywhere else.
I travelled solo in India (around Maharashtra & Gujerat) in 2004 & had an amazing life changing experience. I’d definitely say that it wasn’t that tough; though there were certain times that I had to toughen up and fight for my way (eg. in the trains from Mumbai to Aurangabad). Great blog, btw!
Thanks, and welcome to The Shooting Star
Sounds lovely, and yes I know what you mean by having to toughen up. It’s all part of the experience!
I’ve traveled to India solo three times now. I met so many more locals going off on my own than when I did traveling in a group of people.
That’s good to hear Alex, and probably true for travelling in any other country too
Well said and simply put.. i like the fact that you aren’t fighting, exclaiming or trying to hard to make this point.. just stating things in a very matter of fact manner.
I’ve just come across your blog, but will definitely stick around considering I’m a passionate female traveller (still trying to break the corporate life mould) on a 5 year quest to discover India (of course in spurts and bursts)…
also… it is true.. the people in Spiti are the BEST.. i was stuck in Rangrik trying to get to Kaza… best experience ever..
Thanks Janita, I’d love to read more about your travels (where can I?). Oh yes, I can’t wait to go back to Spiti, especially after living in Delhi for almost 10 months now!
Hey!
Its amazing what u r doing.
I have travelled solo in manali..being a city girl born n bred in bombay, I crave fr the mountains each n every morning I wake up.
A year ago I took off to manali..the train journey is long but the sights u get to see, the platforms u get to get of at fr 7mins at a time… All once in a lifetime experiances.
Iv always wanted to make aife out of travel..and the urge for it has maximised since manali.
I recently quit my not so corporate job in films as a fashion designer…buc as much as I love clothes, there’s waayy more to life then being stuck in the city.
I collect shoes and agarbattis from each place iv been too–manali, hampi, rajasthan…but that’s a tiny collection I want to expand.
About manali..if ur going places on foot and do not hav a vehical..staying out too much post sunset isn’t advisable. Locals r friendly…local kids are adorable…share you gummy bears with them..the itrigue and the smiles and giggles that come from it are precious.
Eat trout, in everyway there is on the menu. Drink wine like a lady..local fruit and flower wine!
Buy shoes n handbags.
Steal apples..or get some1 to take u apple picking…eat apple pie everywhere u can..be a critic. It brings your tastebuds alive.
But most of all- walk walk n walk by the side of the road with your eyes and ears on the river.
I hope to travel solo more now that I of the rat race. Although a job in travel wouldn’t hurt, would it!
I traveled with a friend around India (both females and of Hispanic heritage). I read all those horror stories of what could go wrong and I honestly almost cancelled my trip. I won’t deny that I experienced a lot of culture shock but the people in a small city in Gujarat made me feel at home. I can honestly say it was the trip of a life time. India is wonderful and completely safe. I hope that I can return one day.
Glad you didn’t cancel your trip, Mitzi! Sometimes, even living in India, travelling to certain parts is a bit of a culture shock, but that’s perhaps also the best part about travelling here; you never know what you’ll find. Come back soon
Oh Shivya,
Thank you thank you for this post! I nearly cancelled my plans to book my little solo trip to Delhi and Agra today, when reading the many horror and warninf stories. but after this post Im happy I will be buyin my ticket for my week in INDia. yay.
Do you have more detailed stories ands for places like Agra, visiting the Taj Mahal and Dehli, solo and on a budget, with an inquisitive eye…. ?
Id love to read more
Thanks!
I agree with you Shivya. Having travelled across India alone, I rarely felt scared or as if I was in danger. Using your common sense and instinct always helps too, but plenty of people will help along the way.
Excellent post! I have taken the plunge and been allowed a 6 week career break from my soul sucking job to travel to India. (single female under 30!) I keep seeing scary facts / stories everywhere and my friends are not much help. But then I found your blog and feel sooooo much better thank you! I can’t wait for the trip. I’m scared and excited in pretty much equal measures, but I know once I am there, I will not want to come home!
)
According to the stats, India is overcrowded. You may think once there you will be surrounded by many strangers. Yet, it is (very) easy to find places, streets where there is nobody (or almost).
Of course that’s true, but it is equally easy to find people / help, especially on the countryside.
Hi
thank u so much!
this was such a nice article. Quite contrary to all the dark and depressing articles about women travelling doing the rounds nowadays. I often visit your blog:). Uve sort of become a role model. Im a 25 yr old freshly graduated doctor struggling to get into specialisation and can only currently dream of travelling the way you do. Reading about your accounts gives me hope that one day i will succeed.
Reblogged this on The Nomad Damsel and commented:
India is a country I would love to revisit (not with a tour group) and this post gives me hope and courage!