Thread: Female traveling solo to India

Hi every one,

I am planning to do a 2 month long trip to India and was wondering if it would be safe for a solo female traveler to go around on her own? I am mostly interested in doing the usual touristy stuff like Jaipur, Agra, Fatehpuri sikri, Udaipur for a few weeks and Pushkar for a few weeks and then possibly some time in Goa and Kerela.

My main conscern is traveling in trains. I am a member on another travel forum but that forum is mostly frequented by forigners who dont have a clue in my opinion and just talk out of their a** and I am looking for first hand advice from the locals and though I would post this here as this forum looks like is frequented by Indian people.

Do Indian girls travel alone in trains or is it a rare thing to do for girls in there? If that is the case I might have to find a travel partner.

I am also looking for more sugestions on destinations that are not very popular with foreigners and open to suggestion

My straight advice. "Female solo travelling shall be avoided in India or either you are that kind"..

Travelling alone in trains is some what risky even for Indian girls (if they are pretty and below 45)
If you are a caucausian ,fair,and some what pretty ....this applies to you very well.
Expect lot of amorous advances from all and sundry!

Indian trains are safe if you travel in Reserved Sleeper(2nd class) or A/c compartments.
Indian reservation is computerised and you can plan your long distance journey ahead(beyond 700 km say Mumbai- Agra or Newdelhi- Trivandrum like that)

Since you are going to be moving from guest house to guest house every 2 days- remember Indian railways has a TATKAL /"emergency" booking system just before 24 hours ,You need to pay Rs 75 more but you get confirmed sleeper to sleep.(also safer )

I do lot of travelling in the train and my schedule is always just before 48 hours and all Tatkal booking is done from my computer via Net or land in Reservation office sharp at 7.30am.(These last minute seats for the next day journey -will be sold by 8.30am.Booking computer opens at 8am)

In train hustlers apart most middle class men/women are decent ,speak english and some what helpful.
However freindly they are, Dont ever accept free food not even water.Too many drugging and stealing cases in train.

Put a message in BackPacker hostels Bulletin board and get another girl companion to go around. Go to GOA first and meet your kind.
You can learn India very fast. Dont go to fancy restaurents .Red looking curry will kill you.
eat continental food (like pasta etc) once in a while only as it is snobbish here and costs five times basic Indian vegeterian food.
Biscuits are cheap in India.(also fresh fruits including banana) when it doubt eat biscuits,cakes and fruits.
Cheaper to share a room and auto/taxi's too.

Hot Indian vegeterian meals are safe in a cafe/budget hotel( rs 50-100 $1 to 2)

Roadside snacks--avoid however tempting....you will anyway get Delhi belly..amoebiasis- Buy on landing in Indian pharmacies (you dont need any prescription for anything in India) ....TINIBA (Tinidazole)

I have done back packing all over the world. But in India I travel in style...

Long term foreigners have established western style restaurents here

Me and my wife eat only Continental/mexican/Mongolian/Italian /german/french cuisine when we visit historic monuments or back packer famous tourist areas in India (cheaper than 5 star hotel restaurents for similar quality)
Hampi
Pondicheery
Goa.......

Last but not the least:
get Indian style clothes ( rs 500-800 say $ 10-20)
Avoid skimpy tops and tight Jeans.(ok with a long top) see picture but less jazzy.you can cover your head with long scarf when you visit Hindu temples.( they might stop you at sanctum sanctoram)

while using Indian Railway, restrict only to A/c II-tier and A/c III-tier.
Avoid A/c First class and also avoid Sleeper class for safety reasons.
for online ticketing try www.irctc.co.in

^^Punchbhut is correct, avoid also first class because of the coupe-coupa stuff..

(hope coupe spelling is corect)

btw i enjoyed game of cards with oldies while coming from bng to delhi

We have a lot of shops selling Indian dresses so I will get some before I leave. I have found out that all my train journeys are during the day and only about 4-5 hours at the most. I have been told to get AC chair car seats instead of the ones that have sleeping arrangements.

I should change the title of the thread to three females traveling in India instead of the one I have up there because two of my friends are willing to join in. They are more interested in Goa and Kerela so I might still have to do the North India bit on my own.

Well thanks guys for all your suggestions.

Ok I totally disagree with the above statement that traveling alone is not safe in India. Kate the only thing you have to take care about is not to accept any food/drinks from strangers and not to totally mix up with any new faces. Rest, you are coming to worlds biggest democracy with second largest population (everybody down here is living peacefully without any disturbance and surprise no body is killing them everyday).

Originally Posted by mickey

My straight advice. "Female solo travelling shall be avoided in India or either you are that kind"..

What kind are you talking about mickey, please explain (neutral tone)

vibes is correct, but i have seen myself rolfers ogling on foregners..
then the vice-versa too.. :P


kind:- someone who is here to do drugs and likes and run naked on beaches.. etc..

ok i was wrong about saying too directly.. but i think being cautious is not bad..
in short "behave when you are in a foreign land", "dont be stupid, and smile without no meaning, and what? enjoy travel"..

@ O.P.

It would be better if you come with a travel partner. India is not safe at all, these days.

Hello ,
There is nothing to worry In India India is safe then other country people are good if Indian people see you in trouble I am 1000 % sure they will come and help you coz you as a foreigner to our country it's our duty if we see some people no good around you many Indian people will come come further to protect you So I suggest travel alone and it's safe when ever you are in train just try to make friendly with the people who travelling with there kids and family so they will not guide you any wrong way.

Indian still they have a self respect and they are respecting foreigners coming to India every Indian should understand this make India proud.

Just because of 10 percent of dirty Indian u cannot judge all Indian in same categories so please feel free to travel and all Indian are friends and will be there to help you in iny situation.
Good luck

Originally Posted by Kate

Hi every one,

I am planning to do a 2 month long trip to India and was wondering if it would be safe for a solo female traveler to go around on her own? I am mostly interested in doing the usual touristy stuff like Jaipur, Agra, Fatehpuri sikri, Udaipur for a few weeks and Pushkar for a few weeks and then possibly some time in Goa and Kerela.

My main conscern is traveling in trains. I am a member on another travel forum but that forum is mostly frequented by forigners who dont have a clue in my opinion and just talk out of their a** and I am looking for first hand advice from the locals and though I would post this here as this forum looks like is frequented by Indian people.

Do Indian girls travel alone in trains or is it a rare thing to do for girls in there? If that is the case I might have to find a travel partner.

I am also looking for more sugestions on destinations that are not very popular with foreigners and open to suggestion

Yes many Indian girls travelling alone and also many families you can find out inside train you just need to be carefull about your personal belonging okay that's every country have a theif so nothing strange be carefull of your personal belonging and just be straight with the person you need help don't talk much just concentrate on your destination and follow your heart and mind says

All necessary advices are already given. So I wouldn't add to it.

But I was wondering, how come you are not visiting Mumbai?