Woman Only Swimming, Goa 2013
Is it Safe for a Woman to Travel Alone in India?
I used to think that some of the fringe benefits of being a woman traveling alone in India were not the gawking stares (of which you’ll have plenty) or the need to stay constantly covered up (no shoulders or knees should be visible in North India) but it’s the myriad of woman only conveniences. For example, there are woman only metro cars in Delhi, easily spotted by the pink flowery signs. There are woman only sections of buses; separate lines for ladies at the metros, airports , tourist venues (Taj Mahal) and even the beaches have a separate places to swim. One would think, ‘Hey, it’s great that India gives it’s ladies the 4 star treatment.” But upon closer scrutiny of any of India’s 50 + English newspapers, the woman only signs are not to flatter their gals but to protect them. India has a serious and continuous dilemma with the treatment toward woman.
In December of 2012, a young female student was brutally gang raped in South Delhi (this happened only a few days after I left the city). While this type of story usually gets sweep under the rug (any English paper lists daily cases of rape, molestation, incest and general cruelty toward woman), this instance seemed to ignite a woman’s rights powder keg in the country. The young woman had 5 attackers. She was kidnapped, raped and then beaten to an inch of her life. Anger swept the city and protests and marches ensued and soon the entire country was up in arms about this. There would be no looking the other way in the matter. The rapists were quickly detained and soon other rape cases in the country that had been languishing in the country’s no man’s land court system were fast tracked. Bollywood stars jumped into the melee to show their disgust with what happened and their dismay that the government does little to safeguard the women of its country. Sadly, the young student’s trauma was too great and she succumbed to her injuries on December 30. She had been flown to Singapore for treatment.
Is it Safe for a Woman to Travel Alone in India? As a woman first, foreigner second, I never felt unsafe being in India. Yes, the constant stares from men to the point of obnoxiousness can ware on even the strongest lady traveler but were the stares ever taken to a level I felt threatened? No, they never were. Traveling anywhere has inherent danger but so does getting in your car and driving to work. Of course, after years and year of travel, I don’t put myself in the situations that could cause a headline.
India marks my 40th country and it seemed like a good time to go. I had the time (anything less than a month here is uninspiring) felt confident about the trip and had had several other 3rd world experiences and knew what to expect (poverty, trash, aimless children, the abandoned dogs). All of that does nothing to actually prepare you for the onslaught that is India, but it does prime you for the country. Any stereotype you have every heard is 100% true here from the multi-million ruppe homes next to shacks and the cows that roam aimlessly in the large cities. India defies explanation.
All in all, India is an experience for any visitor, female or not. Did it change my life? Probably. Will I come back? Most likely. Would I tell others not to come? I don’t know.
by 
Great to see you wrote about this topic. When I travelled to India some years ago I also never felt unsafe, to the contrary actually. I often felt looked after by locals as if they wanted to protect you. I agree with you that you should take the normal precautions travelling solo as a woman. For example when travelling by train I always made sure to sit in a coupe with families or other women, never in a coupe with only male. It is just one of those things I would do in many other countries as well. It is very unfortunate how women in these societies are being treated by some men, but let’s not stigmatise. There are many friendly, supportive and helpful ones around too.