Traveling alone in India

by Amanda/Backpacking Tips Asia
(Oslo, Norway)

I just got back from a trip in India. It lasted for 7 weeks. I traveled alone for 3,5 weeks in total.

First I was skeptic about traveling alone because of all the harassment female travelers seem to face during their travels. And traveling alone in India is not exactly the same as traveling alone as female in say, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

It's totally different. I do not dare to say if it's a culture-thing or not.

Well, here's my report:

Did I experience any groping during those 7 weeks? -- No.

BUT my fellow students did experience groping several times. I don't know if it's caused by their fair appearance or not, but they got harassed.

We took the metro in Delhi. And since it was our first time taking the metro we didn't know there were own compartments for ladies, so we got stuck in a compartment full of ONLY men.

As we approached our destination, one of my friends felt that someone was touching her thighs. The hands seemed to crawl upwards towards her sacred part... Just as we were about to step out of the metro, he grabbed her down there! She freaked out and was screaming when we got out of the metro.

Another experience: Three of my fellow students were sunbathing on Alleppey beach in Kerala. One man was standing behind them for a long time, maybe 3-4 meters from where they were laying.

Suddenly he took out his penis and jerked off while they were still there! They got so shocked that they didn't know what to do. It was a VERY disgusting and disturbing situation.

Another uncomfortable thing about traveling alone (it also applies when you are not traveling alone) is Indians taking photos of you -- they are not even trying to hide it. They can stand there with a camera in their hands, right up in your face.

That's how it is -- foreigners are exotic animals abroad.

As a female traveler, you will also notice that India is dominated by men. Many of the Indians I talked to said that girls should not be on the streets when it gets dark, because some locals start drinking then. Not even Indian women go alone late at night. It's rare.

Well my opinion is that you CAN go out, but you should be very careful. In touristy places like Varkala, Kovalam, Fort Kochi, Pushkar I walked alone in the streets after 8pm.

As long as I was walking in public places, I didn't face any problems.

Traveled in India from: Feb 5 to March 27, 2011

Comments for
Traveling alone in India

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Mar 28, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Surprise
by: Anonymous

Thank you very much for your information, its very useful for me, as I'm a female backpack ~ addicted, thinking of going to India..
well, should reconsider..
Mar 30, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		...
by: Amanda/Backpacking Tips Asia

You can't miss out on India if you really want to travel there... Because it's an interesting and beautiful destination.

My point in this article is that some will experience harassment, and some will not. It's not meant to scare you off, but to prepare you :)

Read my article on travelling alone if you haven't already done that.

Just ask if there's anything else.

Amanda

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Getting Started Backpacking

These books will help you
get started with your backpacking planning:

backpacking tips asia ttsb cover Discover the backpacking basics of backpacking safety in Southeast Asia and India!

Learn how to travel safely, and avoiding scammers and con artists in the region.

Check out Ticket to Safe Backpacking -- the safety backpacking basics!

backpacking tips asia mya cover Creating an itinerary creates the adventures! :-)

Learn how to maximize your travel experiences by setting up a good backpacking itinerary for Asia.

Check out Map Your Adventure ebook!

backpacking tips asia asia planners FAQ cover ebook Solve your travel itinerary!

Get travel inspiration from fellow travelers in our FAQ-ebook. It includes real questions, answers and comments! This ebook is a supplement to Map Your Adventure.

Check out Asia Planners FAQ ebook!





Online Photo Contest

Join the photo contest on Backpacking Tips Asia.com!

Just by submitting a photo, you're getting free publicity.

backpacking tips asia online photo contest digital photo contests

Need a resource fast?