India is a country that defies easy description. It is exciting albeit sometimes overwhelming sensory storm. As a female traveller, the idea of navigating this massive subcontinent can feel intimidating. You’ve likely read the stories online and wondered if it’s truly safe.
But let me share a bit of my own story: I have visited India seven times. Not only have I explored its colourful corners as a female traveller, but during those seven visits, I have travelled as a Mum with my young children and family, starting them in India from the age of four!
Long before becoming a mother, I also backpacked across India as a young female traveller with my sister. I still have strong memories of us taking a gruelling, far-too-long overnight bus all the way from Siliguri near Darjeeling south to Kolkata. It certainly wasn’t the usual route for young women, but we were adventurous, kept our wits about us, and stayed completely safe.
Through those extensive travels, I’ve learned that India is not a place to fear; it’s much more a place to understand. Having trusted local contacts can completely make or break your experience.
Over the years, we have built an awesome network of locals who have become like family in India. Because having someone you trust to pick you up from a chaotic train station changes everything.
10 Safety Tips for Women Traveling in India
If you are planning your trip, here are my top 10 Essential Safety Tips for Female Travellers in India, along with the contacts we can trustingly recommend in each destination.
1. Dress Appropriately
This is perhaps the best tip for any female traveller in India! Despite the glamorously portrayed but more-than-borderline skimpy Bollywood outfits from the movies, India is still largely a traditional society.
Most Indian’s favour and appreciate modest, traditional clothing and you will likely find you enjoy India more and are better received if you do too.
As a female traveller in India, dressing modestly is your first line of defence against unwanted attention. (Trust me on that one!).
Keep your shoulders and knees covered.
Loose, flowing clothing like trousers, maxi skirts, and loose t-shirts are perfect for keeping cool and respecting local customs. I always carry a lightweight scarf (dupatta) in my bag. This is to quickly cover your head or chest when entering temples and mosques, or to make a shade cloth or mask if needed on a train!
2. Use Recommend Local Contacts
Having people on the ground who look out for you is the ultimate safety net travelling in India. In the places we love most, these trusted connections are worth their weight in gold:
- Jaisalmer: For incredible desert experiences and camel safaris, reach out to Padam from Wanderlust Guesthouse. For insightful and safe tours inside the living Jaisalmer Fort, connect with Phoenix from the Desert Art Gallery.
- Varanasi: For personalised tours of this intense city, we have been using Ravi and sending friends to him for over five years. You can reach Ravi directly via WhatsApp at +91 85769 16590.
- Jaipur: Raja is fantastic for navigating the Pink City. He can tailor-make a suitable rickshaw tour to explore all that is fantastic in Jaipur! Drop him a message on WhatsApp at +91 99281 30309 or check out his Instagram page @rajarabbani96. I know it always makes me feel better to see that other travellers have happily used a recommended guide!
- Amritsar: We recommend Anil Sharma, a registered tour guide with @FeelMyCityTours (+91 97802 34705). His prices for a tour of the city, the Golden Temple, and the Langar kitchen are very reasonable, and his passion and knowledge for his city of birth are worth every cent.
3. Arrive During Daylight Hours
Whenever possible, book your flights, buses, and trains (and rickshaws) to arrive at your destination during the daytime. Stepping out of a transit hub into the chaotic energy of an Indian city at 2:00AM can feel incredibly intimidating. (It often feels intimidating in the daylight!).
If an overnight train forces a night arrival, always arrange a pre-booked pickup directly through your guesthouse or one of our contacts above.
4. Master the “Resting Bitch Face” and Firm Boundaries
Culturally, eye contact and polite smiling from a solo foreign female can sometimes be misinterpreted by local men as an invitation or flirtation. Learn to walk with absolute confidence and purpose, even if you are totally lost.
If someone approaches you aggressively, do not worry about being polite. Say a firm, loud “Nahi!” (No) or “Chalo!” (Go away) and move toward a crowded shop or family group.
- My Experience: Even on my first visit to India as a young, female traveller on my own and backpacking with my sister, I remember mastering a confident sounding “Chalo!” very early into the trip!
5. Choose Air-Conditioned Train Classes
If you are traveling by rail, pass on the unreserved or standard sleeper classes, which can get incredibly overcrowded.
Instead, book AC 2-Tier (2A) or AC 3-Tier (3A). These carriages require reservations, meaning every passenger has a designated ticketed seat, and security guards (fairly) regularly patrol the aisles.
On overnight trains, try to secure an upper berth so you can retreat to your private space whenever you like. The middle berth usually folds away during the daytime and in a two-tier bunk the bottom one is for sitting on.
- My Experience: I have solid memories as a young female traveller backpacking and taking the train in peak summer and nearly melting up the top bunk of 3A! I recommend AC 2-Tier (2A) if it’s available.
6. Get a Local SIM Card
An internet connection is your greatest tool for safety and independence. Grab a local eSIM or physical SIM card (Airtel and Jio offer excellent coverage) right at the airport.
This allows you to track your live location on Google Maps during taxi rides, book trusted Ubers, and stay in contact with your family or guesthouse hosts.
7. Avoid Wandering Alone at Night (Don’t!)
Once the sun goes down, the dynamic of many Indian towns changes. While tourist hubs and main markets remain safe and lively into the evening, avoid walking down unlit alleys, quiet residential areas, or isolated beaches by yourself after dark.
This sounds obvious as advice to a female traveller anywhere, right?
But if you want to experience the nightlife in India, don’t do it alone or even with just two of you. Do it with a group or hire a trusted driver to escort you door-to-door.
8. Be Cautious with Over-Friendliness
The hospitality in India is legendary, and the vast majority of people you meet are genuinely kind. However, be wary of overly enthusiastic strangers who approach you at monuments offering “free tours”, claiming your hotel has closed, or trying to direct you to a specific government tourist office.
These are classic commission scams designed to redirect you to high-priced souvenir shops.
9. Stay in Reputable, Well-Reviewed Guesthouses
Where you lay your head matters. Skip the absolute cheapest, unmarked hostels and choose highly rated, well reviewed, family-run guesthouses.
Places like Wanderlust Guesthouse in Jaisalmer or Jaipur Haveli have a great protective, community atmosphere where the owners will welcome you, look out for your well-being, and give honest local advice.
We have had amazing experiences getting to know the owners and families of the guesthouses we regularly stay at in India.
10. Stay Hydrated and Watch the Food
Aha. The age-old fear of getting sick in India!
But on a serious note, getting sick can leave you feeling vulnerable when you’re travelling alone. As a female traveller in India this is the last thing you need!
Protect your physical safety by drinking only sealed bottled water or verified filtered water. Eat at busy street stalls where the food is cooked piping hot right in front of you, and give your stomach a few days to adjust to the intense spices before diving into heavy local dishes.
The Best (and Worst) Places to Visit as a Female Traveller in India
Every state in India is different. Some feels like an entirely different country. They are culturally different, and I reckon that some regions are significantly easier to navigate for women than others.
| Best Places (Safe & Welcoming) | More Challenging Places |
| Jaisalmer, Udaipur & Jaipur (Rajasthan):Incredibly tourist-friendly, visually stunning, and a relaxed with a slower pace of life. | Delhi & Agra: The high density of aggressive touts, persistent scammers, and intense crowd energy can be exhausting for solo women. |
| Kerala & Goa: The laid-back beach culture and higher tourist numbers mean (somewhat) less staring. | Varanasi: This is an intense spiritual city. It is a must-visit, but the crowded alleys and raw sights can feel overwhelming. Book a trusted guide like Ravi. |
| Amritsar (Punjab): The local Punjabi culture is famously warm and respectful, and welcoming to families and solo women. | Deep Rural Bihar / Uttar Pradesh: Regions with less tourism infrastructure can lead to more intense staring for solo female travellers! |
Final Thoughts: India for Female Travellers
I love India. India is a country that rewards a keen traveller. If you go as a female traveller with common sense, modest clothing, and a few golden contacts in your phone, it will easily become one of the best adventures of your lifetime! 🙂
Read More India Inspiration
- Ultimate India Food Tour: 10 Must-Try Treats.
- India Tourist e-Visa: Our Step-By-Step Guide.
- 10 Things To Do In Kochi & Kerala.
- Best Tourist SIM Card For India.
- What To Wear In India.
- 10 Tips To Avoid Delhi Belly In India.
- 4-Day Kochi & Kerala Itinerary.
- Travelling India By Bus: Intercity, Tourist & Sleeper Buses.
- 10 Iconic Things To Do In Kolkata.
Travel Planning for India & Beyond
These are the companies we use while traveling and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia through 12Go.
- Skyscanner – Our favourite flight search engine. They can search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide – A huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for short or longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have travel insurance before planning India any further as a female traveller!
Hi! I’m Sarah. I am the self-confessed dreamer, travel-schemer and the main editor behind this blog. I love to write, and it is a dream come true to share so many experiences together and inspire others in our stories.
