14 MUST-DO Tips for every Solo Woman Traveler in India
To travel across the country solo with nothing but a backpack is on a lot of bucket lists, men and women alike, however, it won’t be an exaggeration for me to say that it is especially difficult for women to take on such an adventure. There are certainly major concerns about safety due to India’s dubious reputation in terms of ensuring safety for women, however, there are lots of inspiring stories of those who have traveled alone and found it to be the most enriching experience of their lives. Shivya Nath left her stable corporate job to travel the world at 23, after her solo trip to Indonesia. This is the power of travel, more importantly, solo travel, it makes you get in touch with not only yourself but your surroundings. India is a beautiful country with amazing diversity in terms of people, locations, food, clothing, etc, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to explore that. Read more about Female solo travel in India in the blog written by Mariellen!! Magnificent Taj Mahal, Credits: Julian Yu Here is a complete guide for solo women travelers in India so that you can take on the trip of a lifetime. 1) Pick the right hotel– One of the most important things is to ensure that you’ve picked a reputable homestay/hotel. Try to pick one right in the middle of a market or a crowded area and stay away from isolated ones. Make sure to read the reviews and get yourself familiar with where you’re going to stay. Try to stay in residential areas that are known to be safe and steer clear of the shady, cheap hotels. This plays a very major role in ensuring your safety during travel and makes you feel comfortable with your surroundings. On the off chance that you find your homestay/hotel shady, don’t hesitate and immediately leave. This is one thing that you should readily spend on to make sure that where you’ll be staying is safe. Credits: Marcus Loke 2) Keep someone informed about your travels– It’s nice to have a travel buddy, not necessarily one that comes with you but stays updated about your travel itinerary and whereabouts. This can be anyone, from your family member to a friend, just someone whom you can inform about which places you’ll be visiting on your trip. Make sure to keep them updated of where you’re going, how you’re going and when you’ll be coming back so that they can take swift action in case of an emergency. Credits: Brooke Cagle 3) Choose the right spaces– In most public transport they have designated spaces for women, be it in buses or metros. Try to choose such spaces to steer clear of unwanted trouble. Even in restaurants, they have a ‘family section’ so head straight for that. In general, choose more spaces where you’ll find more women or families. Even in a market, don’t head out to an isolated shop in a basement/any far away area. Try to be in spaces that are women or family-friendly. Credits: Patrick Tomasso 4) It’s okay to be rude– If you don’t feel comfortable in a situation, walk away. Don’t hesitate or think that it might be rude for you to do that, nothing comes before your safety. If you feel someone is staring at you, or if someone is invading your personal space, just walk away. It’s okay to be rude when someone makes inappropriate remarks. It’s okay to be rude when your gut instinct — your intuition — tells you something is off. Social étiquette doesn’t matter when it comes to personal safety and wellbeing. Credits: Clayton Fidelis 5) Do your research – This rule applies to every traveler everywhere, do your research about wherever you’re going. This will help you a lot not only in organizing the trip in a much better manner but also knowing what to do in times of an emergency. Learn about the safer spaces you can go to in times of an emergency. Get familiar with the emergency numbers of the particular place and do remember some in case you don’t have your phone with you. This little research will go a long way in making you feel safe and comfortable. Caution, not fear, is what will make your trip much more exciting and fun. Credits: Tran-Mau Tri Tam 6) Dress accordingly– Let’s face it, there are still certain places in India where wearing dresses or shorts might not be the best idea. In certain conservative places, you might stand out if everyone is wearing a saree/suit while you wear shorts. Not to say that you have to wear traditional Indian clothes to travel solo here, but just to make sure you don’t stand out, dress according to the place you’re going to. As they say, when in Rome, do as Romans do. This will allow you to merge better with the crowd and not stick out. Credits: Janu Prasad 7) Use transportation strategies– To start, get someone to pick you up at the airport when you land. Many good hotels and guest houses will arrange this for you. When you’re leaving the hotel, ask them to arrange a good cab/local transport for you. Don’t be hesitant to ask for assistance, when leaving a bar or restaurant, get someone to walk you to an auto or taxi. Or call someone, and loudly tell them the number of the taxi, so the driver can hear. Such small things can go a long way in ensuring safety. Plan your trip so that you don’t land anywhere in the middle of the night, stay connected and keep someone informed about your whereabouts. Credits: Peter Kasprzyk 8) Consider timings while going out– It’s best to explore any location in daylight. Not only does it allow you to explore it in all its glory but it is also much safer to travel in broad daylight. Leave your hotel/homestay early
7 Places to visit when in Goa
Goa might be the smallest state of India, but, for a traveler, it is one of the grandest state considering its rich history, picturesque landscapes, and the continuous rave culture. The state tells a beautiful story from the times of ancient Hindu rulers to the Portuguese settlers. The amalgamation of different ideologies, customs, and traditions with the loving and welcoming nature of the Goan people, this is truly a heaven for all the travelers who are looking for the perfect meal of adventure, thrill, solace, and serenity. Read more about the travel experience from Goa in the blog written by Siddhartha!! 1. Dudhsagar Falls By Soumyajit Pramanick, Wikimedia Commons Literally meaning a sea of milk, this great waterfall is located in the tiny state of Goa. Cascading down the steep, vertical, and rocky mountains of the Western Ghats, it owes its name to the white foam it forms after its water gushes down, piercing, into the lake below. Standing at a spectacular height of 1017 feet, it is one of the tallest waterfalls in India, and, being surrounded by the thick and lush green forest of the Ghats adds to its breath-taking beauty and transforms it into a surreal object of aesthetic and transcendence. Although it makes for one of South India’s most popular treks throughout the year, it exhibits unrealistic allure in the monsoon season when its pulchritudinous is at its zenith. Visiting this picturesque and awe-inspiring waterfall is something that is on the bucket list of every traveler, and a trip to goa will be incomplete without experiencing its captivating beauty. If you’re looking for the best information on anything related to Dudhsagar Falls, we would recommend you check out the blog of Sandeepa and Chetan where the extensively describe everything related to Dudhsagar Falls. 2. Sahakari Spice Farm By Michele Grif, Inspirock Located amidst the lush greenery at Curty, it has, seemingly, endless rows of India’s most cherished spices including turmeric, cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon, as well as a that of fruits. The heavenly aroma emanating from the various spices in the plantation, sprawling over an impressive 130 acres of land, is divine, and, one can verily imagine savoring them in their utopian dreamland. It is a widely popular spot and one cannot hope to give this place a miss. Not only does obe learn about different spices but also get to relish some of the tastiest and luscious food from the in house restaurant located within its boundaries. You can obtain a lot of information about the culture and the overall ambiance of the farms by following the blog of Sapna, who has eloquently and beautifully written about this beautiful venture. 3. Se Cathedral By Mihir Vaidya, Wikimedia Commons Since time immemorial, Se Cathedral de Santa Catarina has been serving as a place of worship, togetherness, and love. Considered to be one of the largest catholic churches throughout Asia, this grand structure was dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. The off-white cathedral, which sits atop a sprawling garden had two towers when it was first constructed. One of the two towers, which survived, houses the Golden Bell which has the loudest ring in the whole world. The beautiful woodwork adds to the beauty of this elegant and marvelous piece of architecture and gives you a sense of the finesse of the craftsmen involved. Owing to its beautiful, intricate and grand design and the history of Portuguese triumph associated, it has been listed as a World Heritage Site. Incorporating gothic and Portugues architectural styles, this cathedral is one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring buildings which one cannot hope to miss when they are visiting goa. If you want a personal account of this beautiful structure we recommended you visit the blog of Manthal Bhansali, who has beautifully written a first-hand account of his visit to this church, and effectively established that Goa is not just about beaches. 4. Palolem Beach Palolem Beach By Mahabalaindia, Wikimedia Commons Considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole region, this relatively virgin beach is a large stretch of white sand that attracts thousands of tourists from all around the world. With a welcoming tropical climate almost throughout the year, this beach is known for several intriguing activities like the Silent Disco, which entails the people partying, wear headphones and dance. Lined with palm trees, and, the calm waters surrounding it, this place becomes a haven for all those who just want to enjoy the serene and aesthetically pleasing sunset. If you are planning to visit goa then this definitely is the place for you to enjoy, and, spend at least a minimum of two days, to settle in and absorb the aura and euphoria of this beach. If you want to, further, know more about this beautiful beach, we recommend you check out the blog of Nicole and read about her adventures in this thrilling beach. 5. Singbal’s Book House Singbal’s Bookshop By Shambhavi Karapurkar, Wikimedia Commons Located in the Church compound of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, this deceptively small blue building houses the greatest collection of books and magazines stuffed and packed into their heaving racks. A treat to the bibliophiles all around the world, this bookstore dates back to the 1930s making it one of the oldest book stores in the country. It is also known that, this store shelters some of the fabled and rare books in its tiny shelves and with some patience and a lot of browsing you could find something of real value in here. If you visit goa and even if you are not an avid reader, this place definitely warrants a visit, and without this, your travel plans are incomplete. If you thought Goa was is beaches, think again. Check out the “Goa Beyond Beaches” blog by Siddhartha Joshi where he recommends the unexplored streets and places
