Travelling Solo as a Woman in India   by Thom Sanders

in Travel    (submitted 2011-08-16)

Taking one of the many solo holidays available in India as a female can be a daunting experience. It's a beautiful country to visit but because of the cultural differences it can be a stressful journey if you go unprepared or unaware. This article sets out some of the best tips for a western female traveller visiting India solo to make the trip that little bit easier and safer.

First up, and it's the big one, be prepared to be the centre of male attention. Travelling in groups gives the sense of open friendliness that tends to be traditional in India, but if you're a woman on your own you're less likely to be ignored by the local males. It can be fairly insistent at times too, so getting used to the some times annoyingly high levels of attention can be difficult for some people. It's not just female tourists that get this attention, local Indian women also get the same treatment, it's just part of their culture. The best way around it though is usually just to ignore it. If the attention gets a little too much a more public confrontation, usually some shouting, to draw the attention of onlookers can also be a good way of getting rid of unwanted "admirers".

Following on from this is an understanding of how to dress appropriately for the country. Much of the un-wanted attention can be some what deflected by and understanding of what's considered to be appropriate for a woman to wear. If you look at the local dress you'll see they cover up, as is traditional in eastern countries; wearing sari or salwar kameez, long tunic and loose pants. The larger cities have more western styles of clothing but it could still be considered as conservative, bikinis, tank tops and short skirts tend only to be seen in the more tourist heavy areas like the beaches of Goa. In general you should make sure your shoulders are covered and to cover up most of your legs, in general it's always best to show as little skin as possible so wearing too much is preferable to wearing to little.

The final little tip is to trust your intuition. If you feel unsafe then chances are you may well be, trust you're feelings. If you don't feel secure in the guest house you're staying in or the local area around it then it's probably a good idea to find accommodation elsewhere.

So where ever you're staying on your India holidays remember that a little thought before hand can make your stay all that smoother and while you're there trusting your feelings and not taking risks will keep you safe when travelling solo.

About the Author

The Adventure Company offers a range of India holidays as well as other fantastic Solo holidays.