travelling alone as a (european) woman in north India - any difficulties to expect?

LK09 · 3 months

American, lived in India but not Indian. - I wouldn't expect problems during the day besides staring or gawking from some guys, but traveling alone at night as a woman could be a serious problem.

Be ready to fight your way through crowds, and don't expect a lines to work the same way they do where you are from. If there is a woman's line, use it. If someone is trying to sell you something or being too nice to you - it's perfectly ok to tell em to buzz off.

Faking their accent when speaking English might feel rude, but i found it really helps when there is confusion.

When in doubt, find a woman to help you.

SlasherPunk · 3 months

It would be better if you had a male companion with you. Try not to be on the streets when it gets dark. Although you can go to clubs late in the night, you still must be cautious. The best way to travel would be buses (they are often crowded so you might have to wait for a less crowded one).

It is advisable to not wear revealing clothes. Avoid skimpy skirts and low-neck tops. Maybe you experiment with the traditional sarees or salwar kameezes.

Also, India is more conservative than European countries. So, what might be accepted as "perfectly normal" in your country might very well be a taboo here.

mymyreally · 3 months

Practice your "fuck off" face till perfected.
Don't make eye contact.

InternetOfficer · 3 months

Indian tourist visas require you to stay out of the country for 2 months before you can re-enter. So ensure that whatever tickets you book to Kathmandu don't result in your passport being stamped in India.

Travelling by train would require you to book tickets well in advance or pay a premium for a limited number of seats that are sold on the day before the journey.(with no real guarantee that you'll get one.) [There's a limited number of seats reserved for foreigners so you might be able to take advantage of that. Have no idea what kind of demand/availability exists for those]

There are decent bus services for most places. And tickets are more readily available. Not all bus service operators are good though some of them are like tin boxes on wheels. Find ones that operate luxury Volvo/Benz buses, will ensure you have a comfortable journey.

Re: travelling by road from Nepal, it probably depends on the political situation in Nepal. Until a few years ago, it was a bad idea to do it. But now that the rebelm maoists are in power things might be different.

triliana · 3 months

Are you an experienced traveler? India can be pretty daunting for someone who hasn't done much travel outside of US/Canada/Australia/Western Europe. My advice is to either go as part of a tour group or to stick to one or two cities. Plan your inter-city (and with Kathmandu, inter-country) transport well in advance. Depending on the time of year, everything gets booked up months before.

Everyone says Delhi is super rapey, but try to stay in populated/tourist areas and get back to your hostel before it gets dark and you should be ok. Don't go randomly wandering in the lanes; know where you are going at all times. Paharganj is the place in Delhi where a lot of the backpackers stay and people travelling around without expense accounts, but that area can also be pretty seedy so be very careful.

Book yourself a nice place in Jaipur, a three-star should be fine. I stayed at Hotel Narain Niwas and it was a very comfortable stay. I was also happy to have a bathtub for the first time in months :)

Agra will fleece you of all your money. Just accept this and you will be fine. Keep extra batteries for your camera and only buy small souvenirs in walk-in shops and/or on the roadside; don't go with anyone to their shop. People will ask. Tell them no. Again, book a hotel in advance. I'd tell you where I stayed but I wouldn't recommend it and I forgot the name anyway. Don't complain about the foreigner fee at the Taj Mahal; if you can afford to come to India, you can afford to pay less than the cost of an amusement park ticket to see one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

nidgood · 3 months

It's hard enough for a dark skinned Indian women to travel alone. Don't.

antipositron · 3 months

Quick answer: Depends on a lot of factors - how you dress, and where you decide to be at certain time of the day being the most relevant ones.

Oh, have a look at IndiaMike, if you haven't already.

theoneleggedrooster · 3 months

You will, most probably, have an upset tummy within a few days of landing in India that will take a few days to recover. Keep that in mind when planning your schedule.

A lot of airports/train stations have pre-paid taxis/auto-rickshaws. ALWAYS go for the pre-paid cabs. Not only are these safer but these are run by the government and have fixed fare so won't get ripped off.

A LOT of men will stare at you. Try to ignore them. Don't ever smile back.

Bottled water - Bisleri, Aquafina or Kinley are relatively safer options.

If you're planning to travel by train, you'll have to get your tickets days - if not weeks - in advance. If you know someone in India, ask them to recommend a decent travel agent - he'll take care of everything.

A lot of places are going to have Indian-style loos. They can be mighty uncomfortable. Also, CARRY A ROLL OF TOILET PAPER ON YOU AT ALL TIMES.

sumant_neo · 3 months

Things to do in delhi

skidd · 3 months

Try going through this blog of an Australian woman about her life in India. She has some good pointers for foreigners esp. women visiting India for the first time. This another blog is resourceful too.

Some of the comments here are very much true (unfortunately), the risk of sexual harassment, mugging, fleecing is very much there anywhere in India. If I were a lone Caucasian woman in India, I'd be worried for my life.DO NOT trust anyone, not even the cops unless its a lady. Think of it as walking in a mine field, you never know what you are going trip onto.I'm really sorry if its scary but its the truth and its for your own good.

Try to rely on technology rather than people. Keep your Embassy's helpline on your phone's speed dial, try to use Google Maps and use ClearTrip for your tickets and hotel needs rather than dodgy travel agents. Activate geo location on your social apps and upload photos regularly, maybe some with the names of the places you are in, so that friends and family who are following you will be aware of your whereabouts.

But like someone else has already said if you can find a trustworthy Indian guy or girl to travel with you then the things I said above don't really matter. Good luck.

Edited to add more content.

Joint_acct · 3 months

Look at the sidebar for info.

whatthehelpp · 3 months

Just be street smart.

14mit1010 · 3 months

Most of what others say is true, but incase you are one of the 6 foot tall muscular women, you dont really need to worry

Hostels may have idiotic rules, esp for women such as no male friends allowed inside, you have to get back before 10pm,etc

Getting a train ticket requires booking 80-90 days in advance. The previous day booking sytem called "Tatkal" is basically a lottery

desijays · 3 months

Don't bother coming if you're coming alone. Not especially for your first time. I can't stress this enough. If you do come and end up having a shitty experience, don't blame India. You have been warned. If you want to visit India, because of all the pretty things you saw in bollywood movies..then you might as well turn back before you even get on the plane. If you simply want to come because you are interested in the spiritual aspects .. then I still suggest, don't bother coming. If you're coming simply as a tourist for a visit..there are much better countries for you to visit.

If you are coming with a male friend, boyfriend, husband..whatever... then it's fine. But if you're coming alone.. please do yourself a favor and stay where ever you are at the moment..or go some place else.

energy4anarchy · 3 months

My wife and I just came back from a 40 day tour of India. She is blond, short and white. She got loads of attention, some good, some bad. PM me if you want any pointers

spaceshipherpette · 3 months

i am an indian who has travelled a lot outside. i think for foreigners, the climate and conveyance might be a hassle. for trains and buses, the routes and maps are not readily available although you will get the names and expected times of all stops. if u intend to travel by trains(non-local) do NOT use the mattresses and covers given by railway if u can help it. in fact, travel by air as much as possible. buses being the last n cheapest resorts. language should not be a problem at all. everyone normally speaks english. if u r lost and have to ask for help, teenage students would be more responsive than others. mumbai should be an adventure for u. its loud, noisy and in-your-face. diseases r not a problem. just beware of what u put in your mouth. (u absolutely must try bhel/ sev-puri) in cities, u can wear shorts/tank tops when it gets too hot. but entering some premises may require u to dress fully! and in delhi, do not go anywhere alone after sunset. its quite unsafe. kolkata, chennai, bangalore are also quite liberal. when in major cities, pay by tariff cards for taxis. if u plan to shol, u may haggle down the prices upto 50% !!! hope this helps. u can reply here for more questions :) hope u have a safe and fun trip !

deepit6431 · 3 months

Try to stay away from obviously rural/poor areas and you should do fine. Travelling alone at night anywhere other than a metropolitan city is a big no-no and even in the day should be avoided.

Trains are indeed the cheapest mode of transport, but for the love of god, buy AC tickets. Don't even dream of going in the general class, regardless of the weather.

Like any other country, India has its ups and downs. Lines are rather non-existant, some men will ogle, its a little unsafe etc. However, you can meet some truly friendly people, and see some really rare sights here. If you need anything in and around Delhi, or get in trouble, feel free to PM me :).

Enjoy your stay, and have a wonderful trip!

zebumatters · 3 months

We are not waiting for white-skinned prey at the airport as being portrayed by few here. Of course you need to be cautious of the things being mentioned but I am sure you are the not first white woman travelling to India. You have not mentioned your country but there are countries within Europe where you need to be equally cautious.

Welcome to India. I am sure your trip would be memorable one.

InternetOfficer · 3 months

I hate to be the one to give you bad news but you ARE going to get molested if you travel alone. Have a male companion with you or skip the north part of India and hit the east.

Couchsurfing is not really popular in India.

TejasaK · 3 months

If you plan to indulge in the occasional joint of pot or hash, do not go looking for it yourself on the street...if possible hang with other firangs ( foreigners) they will hook you up, do this only if you have experience with drugs and can tell the good shit from the bad, experimenting with drugs in India as a newbie all alone is a bad bad bad bad bad idea...its like walking around with a Rape/Rob Me sign stuck to your back, irrespective of whether you are a guy or a girl.

arindamchoudhury · 3 months

Never trust anybody ... There are lots of hungry poor people in India and they will always try to rob you.

Check the population of India, which reflect how much sex hungry Indian people are ... so beware

Krushanu · 3 months

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/OHRC-takes-note-of-Pipli-gangrape-case/articleshow/11432938.cms

amaatyarakshas · 3 months

Rape, mostly.

paperman1 · 3 months

Madam, Friendship please?

IshanSaluja · 3 months

Rape.

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