“It was overwhelming and chaotic in the beginning but then it kind of grows on you”. She replied when I asked how she liked traveling in India. I met this foreign girl during a solo trip in Rajasthan.
Her knowledge of English was very basic and she didn’t know Hindi at all but here she was doing what many other Indian females want but are scared to do- solo traveling.
Though we are seeing more and more women traveling solo all around the world, many solo female travelers are afraid of visiting India. The reason is safety issues. Not only foreigners but many Indian women are also scared of exploring this diverse country alone.
Though one has to be extra careful while traveling alone, there are many places in India that are reasonably safe for women to travel alone.
Wherever you travel, there are measures that you should take to stay safe while traveling solo, like- planning in advance and knowing the basic things about your destination.
We have curated a list of the 10 best destinations in India for solo female travelers.
Though Udaipur is a famous destination for the romantics, it has a lot more to offer. Udaipur has the ability to charm you with its beauty and laid-back vibe. I fell in love with Udaipur on my solo trip and it almost felt like home. During this trip, I met three other solo female travelers from Sweden, China, and Lithuania.
One late night we went out for a walk and ended up spending hours sitting beside a calm lake. As foreigners are a common sight in Udaipur, it’s easier to loiter around.
If you plan to visit Udaipur, I’d suggest you spend at least 3-4 days so that you can also visit some of the interesting places around Udaipur.
A quaint cantonment nestled in the mountains is an awesome place for your first solo trip. If you want to keep it simple and enjoy your company with some nature walks, Kasauli is your go-to place.
Located in Himachal Pradesh, Kasauli is a great place for a weekend trip from Delhi or NCR.
Whether you just want to unwind or to spend some quality time with your family or friends, Kasauli offers the much-needed break from the humdrum of life.
Home to the Brahma temple, Pushkar is a place where you can truly relax doing nothing (if that’s what you want)! For a slow and immersive experience of the local culture, head towards Pushkar.
If you don’t mind crowded and want some excitement, plan your Pushkar trip around Holi or Pushkar Camel Festival.
Though I visited Pushkar with my husband, it is a wonderful place to explore solo. You will find many other solo travelers in Pushkar staying there longer than they planned to.
I was surprised to see many Israelis in Puskar. Do you why there are so many Israeli people in Pushkar?
Almost every soul interested in spirituality, yoga, or adventure sports knows about Rishikesh. But that doesn’t mean you have to be in the same boat to visit this place.
I was looking for a break from the summer heat when I decided to make use of a long weekend and hopped on a train to Haridwar. It was a trip that made me fall in love with solo travel.
I opted out of the usual things that people visit Rishikesh for and booked a stay on the outskirts of the city.
Yoga, retreats, adventure or spirituality, whatever your reason is to visit Rishikesh, you will come back contented.
The Golden Temple and Wagah Border are two of the major attractions of Amritsar. I traveled to Amritsar alone and I can say that it is a very safe place to travel solo. Also, a great place to shop for Phulkaris and Punjabi Juttis. Every time I visit the Golden temple I feel engulfed in peace. A visit to the Wagah border is a must for experiencing a unique display of valor, patriotism, music, and dance.
Jaipur is one of the most favored destinations of solo female travelers because it is well-connected with other major cities, offers great food, lots of things to do, and places to visit.
Historical places, forts, museums, and the local markets attract lots of travelers to Jaipur all year around.
With a plethora of options available to stay and things to do, Jaipur should be on the top of your travel list. Jaipur is full of colorful and unique places to get those Insta-worthy pictures.
I traveled to Gangtok with a friend many years ago. It is a comparatively lesser-explored place but one that is worth a visit. You can go for adventure sports like paragliding, river rafting, and trekking. I loved going for long walks and visiting Khecheopalri lake.
Mountain roads, Buddhist temples, long treks, beautiful sunrises, and sunsets are my memories of the trip to Sikkim.
I never felt as safe anywhere else in India as I felt during this trip. If you have some extra time, do visit Pelling for its picturesque landscapes.
Plan a trip to the ‘Abode of the Clouds’ if you love rain and forests. Clear waters of river Dawki, living root bridge, U Mawrynkhang bamboo trek, and Mawlynnong (the cleanest village of India)- Meghalaya has many well-kept secrets awaiting you.
A trip to any of these places is a breath of fresh air to the tired soul waiting to reconnect to nature and mother earth. It is not only a great place for solo travel but also for a family trip.
Varanasi is also famous as the spiritual capital of India. It’s not just spirituality or religion that attracts people from all over the world to Varanasi but also its culture, history, and delicious food.
Curious minds and seekers visit it to find answers to their questions. You don’t need to have a reason to explore this ancient city but if you must, choose your pick. Just to tell you, Bhang is a must-try in Varanasi!
Love Goa? Well, who doesn’t? If you find crowds a little overwhelming, Fontainhas must be added to your travel list.
Fontainhas offers you the experience of being in some other part of the world. Walking is the best way to explore this colorful and picturesque town. Trust me, you don’t want to miss any of the brightly colored houses on the lanes.
Keep your camera ready for the hundreds of pictures you are going to click here. Another charming place for your solo adventure!
Plan ahead- Know your destination and book your transportation and stay in advance
Keep emergency contacts handy- Know the emergency numbers like local police, railway, etc.
Start with a familiar place- For your first solo travel, visit a place that you have already been to or a place where you have a friend or acquaintance that you can reach out to if needed.
Share your travel details with a friend/family- Let someone know about all of the details of your trip- where you are going and where you’d be staying, and when you are coming back.
With all these amazing destinations and tips to keep you safe, what are you waiting for? Get started with your plans! Also, keep in mind the travel restrictions (if any due to the pandemic) and travel safe!
The post THE BEST DESTINATIONS IN INDIA FOR SOLO FEMALE TRAVEL appeared first on Light Travel Action.
Her knowledge of English was very basic and she didn’t know Hindi at all but here she was doing what many other Indian females want but are scared to do- solo traveling.
Though we are seeing more and more women traveling solo all around the world, many solo female travelers are afraid of visiting India. The reason is safety issues. Not only foreigners but many Indian women are also scared of exploring this diverse country alone.
Though one has to be extra careful while traveling alone, there are many places in India that are reasonably safe for women to travel alone.
Wherever you travel, there are measures that you should take to stay safe while traveling solo, like- planning in advance and knowing the basic things about your destination.
We have curated a list of the 10 best destinations in India for solo female travelers.
Udaipur
Though Udaipur is a famous destination for the romantics, it has a lot more to offer. Udaipur has the ability to charm you with its beauty and laid-back vibe. I fell in love with Udaipur on my solo trip and it almost felt like home. During this trip, I met three other solo female travelers from Sweden, China, and Lithuania.
One late night we went out for a walk and ended up spending hours sitting beside a calm lake. As foreigners are a common sight in Udaipur, it’s easier to loiter around.
If you plan to visit Udaipur, I’d suggest you spend at least 3-4 days so that you can also visit some of the interesting places around Udaipur.
Kasauli
A quaint cantonment nestled in the mountains is an awesome place for your first solo trip. If you want to keep it simple and enjoy your company with some nature walks, Kasauli is your go-to place.
Located in Himachal Pradesh, Kasauli is a great place for a weekend trip from Delhi or NCR.
Whether you just want to unwind or to spend some quality time with your family or friends, Kasauli offers the much-needed break from the humdrum of life.
Pushkar
Home to the Brahma temple, Pushkar is a place where you can truly relax doing nothing (if that’s what you want)! For a slow and immersive experience of the local culture, head towards Pushkar.
If you don’t mind crowded and want some excitement, plan your Pushkar trip around Holi or Pushkar Camel Festival.
Though I visited Pushkar with my husband, it is a wonderful place to explore solo. You will find many other solo travelers in Pushkar staying there longer than they planned to.
I was surprised to see many Israelis in Puskar. Do you why there are so many Israeli people in Pushkar?
Rishikesh
Almost every soul interested in spirituality, yoga, or adventure sports knows about Rishikesh. But that doesn’t mean you have to be in the same boat to visit this place.
I was looking for a break from the summer heat when I decided to make use of a long weekend and hopped on a train to Haridwar. It was a trip that made me fall in love with solo travel.
I opted out of the usual things that people visit Rishikesh for and booked a stay on the outskirts of the city.
Yoga, retreats, adventure or spirituality, whatever your reason is to visit Rishikesh, you will come back contented.
Amritsar
The Golden Temple and Wagah Border are two of the major attractions of Amritsar. I traveled to Amritsar alone and I can say that it is a very safe place to travel solo. Also, a great place to shop for Phulkaris and Punjabi Juttis. Every time I visit the Golden temple I feel engulfed in peace. A visit to the Wagah border is a must for experiencing a unique display of valor, patriotism, music, and dance.
Jaipur
Jaipur is one of the most favored destinations of solo female travelers because it is well-connected with other major cities, offers great food, lots of things to do, and places to visit.
Historical places, forts, museums, and the local markets attract lots of travelers to Jaipur all year around.
With a plethora of options available to stay and things to do, Jaipur should be on the top of your travel list. Jaipur is full of colorful and unique places to get those Insta-worthy pictures.
Gangtok
I traveled to Gangtok with a friend many years ago. It is a comparatively lesser-explored place but one that is worth a visit. You can go for adventure sports like paragliding, river rafting, and trekking. I loved going for long walks and visiting Khecheopalri lake.
Mountain roads, Buddhist temples, long treks, beautiful sunrises, and sunsets are my memories of the trip to Sikkim.
I never felt as safe anywhere else in India as I felt during this trip. If you have some extra time, do visit Pelling for its picturesque landscapes.
Meghalaya
Plan a trip to the ‘Abode of the Clouds’ if you love rain and forests. Clear waters of river Dawki, living root bridge, U Mawrynkhang bamboo trek, and Mawlynnong (the cleanest village of India)- Meghalaya has many well-kept secrets awaiting you.
A trip to any of these places is a breath of fresh air to the tired soul waiting to reconnect to nature and mother earth. It is not only a great place for solo travel but also for a family trip.
Varanasi
Varanasi is also famous as the spiritual capital of India. It’s not just spirituality or religion that attracts people from all over the world to Varanasi but also its culture, history, and delicious food.
Curious minds and seekers visit it to find answers to their questions. You don’t need to have a reason to explore this ancient city but if you must, choose your pick. Just to tell you, Bhang is a must-try in Varanasi!
Fontainhas
Love Goa? Well, who doesn’t? If you find crowds a little overwhelming, Fontainhas must be added to your travel list.
Fontainhas offers you the experience of being in some other part of the world. Walking is the best way to explore this colorful and picturesque town. Trust me, you don’t want to miss any of the brightly colored houses on the lanes.
Keep your camera ready for the hundreds of pictures you are going to click here. Another charming place for your solo adventure!
Some tips for solo travel for women in India
Plan ahead- Know your destination and book your transportation and stay in advance
Keep emergency contacts handy- Know the emergency numbers like local police, railway, etc.
Start with a familiar place- For your first solo travel, visit a place that you have already been to or a place where you have a friend or acquaintance that you can reach out to if needed.
Share your travel details with a friend/family- Let someone know about all of the details of your trip- where you are going and where you’d be staying, and when you are coming back.
With all these amazing destinations and tips to keep you safe, what are you waiting for? Get started with your plans! Also, keep in mind the travel restrictions (if any due to the pandemic) and travel safe!
The post THE BEST DESTINATIONS IN INDIA FOR SOLO FEMALE TRAVEL appeared first on Light Travel Action.