Women Travelers
in India – Are They Safe?
An enthralling
cultural cocktail for traveler, Incredible India - There’s
simply no other phrase that captures the enigma that is India. With an ability
to amaze, frustrate, thrill and inspire all at once, holiday in India presents an
extraordinary variety of encounters for any traveler. Some of these can be challenging, particularly
for the first-time visitor, and especially if it’s a woman.
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| Thats the effect the Taj Mahal has - a woman enjoying the grandeur and beauty of the monument. |
Don't rule
out travelling solo. Inconveniences and annoyances are more frequently
encountered than criminal behavior and many travelers don’t have any trouble
at all. If a disturbing situation does arise, remember two things: firstly, if
you think something weird just happened, it probably did; and secondly, make
sure you speak up! Creating a fuss, especially on public transportation,
will shame the creepy guy and will likely gather your fellow passengers for
your help. In situations that are just uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to find a
new spot on the bus, or take a different train/ bus/ sidewalk/ hotel room any altogether.
Some Practical Tips for Solo Female Travellers
in India:
Clothing
Dressing
modestly is considered respectful in India for both men and women, so avoid
sleeveless tops, shorts, miniskirts (ankle-length skirts are best) and anything
skimpy, see-through or tight. A long scarf (dupatta) can be worn over T-shirts — or anything, really — and
helps deflect attention. The salwar
kameez is regarded as respectable attire and wearing it will reflect
your respect for local dress etiquette. The flowing outfit is also surprisingly
cool in the hot weather, and the dupatta (long scarf) worn
with it is very handy if you visit a shrine that requires your head to be
covered. Baggy clothing that hides the contours of your body is the way to go.
Beachwear and parties
In some areas, such as Goa, there’s generally a more liberal attitude towards dress. Beachwear is
normally fine on the beach and party clothes are OK for nightclubs, but when away
from these areas, take your cues from local women. Most Indian women wear salwar kameez, or long skirts/ shorts and a T-shirt whenever swimming in public view.
When returning from the beach, use a sarong to avoid stares on the way back to
your hotel.
While there’s no need to be paranoid, you should be aware that your
behaviour and dress code is under scrutiny, and that local men may have a
misguided opinion of how foreign women behave. Getting constantly stared at is
something you’ll have to get used to. Just be thick-skinned and try to ignore
it. It’s best to abstain from returning male stares, as this may be considered
a come-on; Wearing dark glasses can help.
Ultimately,
there are no sure-fire ways of protecting yourself from harassment, even if you
do everything ‘right’ – use your own judgement and instincts. These warnings
may seem a little intimidating, but most men are not out to bother you and
thousands of female travelers rise above these challenges every year.
Travelling on train
When
travelling by overnight train, choose an upper berth to avoid prospective
gropers and have more privacy.
Be confident
If
you are a first time traveller, be confident. If anyone asks if this your first
trip to India, say you’ve been here several times, as this is usually a trick
to measure your vulnerability. Act like you know what you are doing and where
you are going at all times. Do not give away that you are travelling for the
first time. Check things out yourself. Be very sceptical of phrases like ‘my
brother’s shop’ and ‘special deal at my friend’s place’. Keep your head high
and voice firm.
Call the police
Don’t be afraid
of speaking out. In situations that have become dangerous, call 100 for police.
At most of the touristic places in India you would find tourism police to keep
a check on bad people.
Do
not borrow anything from anyone.
Do not
accept anything that is given by a stranger. If the person offers you cookies
or fruits, politely decline and retreat to your seat.
Do not be alone
When you
feel you are in one corner of the train/bus with only men, go to an area where
there are women around. If you are uncomfortable with the person sitting next
to you, request for a seat change or negotiate with other passengers.
Keep an eye on your belongings
Be close to
your belongings. Don't let your luggage out of sight. Always have an eye on
them.
Love your wallet
Keep your
money close to you at all times. Also, place money in different places like
your back pocket or the sides of your bag. In case of an unfortunate incident,
you will have some money to get out of the situation.
Travel light
Do not carry
lots of luggage. You will need to handle these things alone. So make sure you
travel light, probably with a backpack and one trolley bag. Do not carry a lot
of jewellery and cash.
Pre-book your tour and have everything planned
It is always
advisable to pre-book your tour with a renowned Governmentof India Approved tour operator who can assist you in providing vehicles with chauffeur’s
of good character for interstate or intrastate road trips. That way you can be
sure that you are in the right hands. Also while choosing your tour operator
check for emergency/helpline numbers which can be a single point of contact for
all your travels concerns while in the tour. Some travel companies like AshokaHolidays Pvt. Ltd., also
provide ATC (All Time Contact) numbers or the company has a 24 x 7 helpline
number.
As Candace
Rose Rardon (a travel writer who spent 10 months in India) writes,
“Because if there’s anything I
feel really helped me connect with the men I met in India – and possibly even
kept me safe in certain situations – it was a smile. It was looking them in the
eye. It was taking the time to say hello and ask their name.
There
were times when I would board a train, find my seat in the sleeper class, and
realize that all seven of my fellow passengers in that compartment were men.
There would be a moment as I sat down – normally out of breath, my scarf no
doubt tangled in the straps of my backpack – when we’d all sort of stare at
each other, silent, the wall between us high and wide. This moment never ceased
to intimidate me. How were seven Indian men and a tall, blond, fair-skinned
foreign female going to pass the next 20, 30, 40 hours to wherever we were
heading?
But
that’s when I would smile. I would try to break the stares and meet one of
their gazes, maybe waggle
my head to one side,
and say, “Namaste . Aap kaise hain ?” I would do whatever I could to
take down the wall between us, one brick at a time. ”
And as I am
writing this article (after going through many articles on the same subject), I
realise that India isn’t as bad and dangerous as it is perceived by others
living outside her territory. Reading these articles and write-ups can only instil
fear in a female traveller’s mind, the more you read, the more cautious you
become and as a result tend to be over stressed and over react in an otherwise
normal situation. So Women – be
smart, be sensible, be safe, be at ease but
please do not stop going to India.
Enjoy a journey to the beautiful India that will linger in your mind long after
you’ve left her shores.
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