India is a fantastic destination for the solo female traveler for so many reasons. Few countries will leave such a lasting impression on you as India will.  It is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating, magical, stunning, colorful, exotic and diverse places that you can visit. It is a country that overwhelms the senses. You cannot help but be excited by India.

I traveled solo in India for two months a number of years ago, traveling from Delhi through Rajasthan and down to Mumbai by train and bus (through Delhi, Agra, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, the Thar desert, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai). It was my first experience of traveling solo outside of Europe and the U.S. and I would highly recommend it. . The people, the history, the spirituality, the chaos, the food and the breathtaking beauty of the country were some of the things I will never forget about my time there.

India is an extremely affordable destination. There are always great deals to be found on flights from Europe and once there it is great value. Hotels, transport and food are really affordable which means you can stay for longer!

A few points to bear in mind as a solo female traveler in India are ….

Safety

Violence towards women in India has made headlines in recent years. However I don’t think that India should be stereotyped as a dangerous place for women to travel. Southern India is seen to be an easier destination for the solo female traveler. I personally found that it helped to wear a ‘wedding ring’ and to tell strangers that I was married. Men will stare at you which is where sunglasses can be useful. Use common sense and be cautious. Be confident and assertive. There is definitely a balance that can be achieved between openness and caution.

What to wear

India on the whole is a conservative society. Wear modest clothing and respect the culture. You are traveling in a far more traditional culture and dressing modestly will make sure you attract less unwanted attention.

Stay in well traveled areas.

Do not venture too far off the beaten track. There is great infrastructure in terms of tourism around the travel highlights in India.  There is no need to travel alone to really remote areas. Some of the highly publicized attacks on western women in the past few years happened in remote areas.

Transport

Take government run taxis, look out for  female drivers. Book the highest class train ticket possible for your journey in an upper berth. On trains chain your back pack to your bunk so that you know it isn’t going anywhere fast and that way you can actually get some sleep. Depart and arrive at destinations in daylight if at all possible.

Let India surprise you and travel with an open mind!

Thanks for reading ..

Trish xx