Is India Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

India, although a country with a rich cultural heritage and numerous tourist attractions, poses some safety concerns for solo female travelers. It's essential to take extra precautions, like dressing modestly, avoiding late-night travels, and never sharing personal details with strangers. Instances of harassment can occur, more so in crowded places. It is advisable to hire reliable tour guides and avoid remote locations while traveling alone. Although many tourists have had incident-free travels, It's a good idea to research and stay updated about the areas you plan to visit. It's also recommended to stay at trusted accommodations with positive user reviews.

Safety rating

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How safe is India?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Unsafe

India is a beautiful destination with a rich history and vibrant culture. However, it can be a little challenging for solo women travelers especially during the night. It largely depends on the region you're in and the city areas, some are safer than others. While you could find well-lit and populated areas, there are also locations that can be deserted and poorly lit during the night. It is advised not to walk alone at night and always take reliable forms of transportation. Petty thefts and street harassments are mot uncommon. However, staying cautious and following security measures can aid in ensuring safety.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Moderate

Public transportation in India can be unpredictable and crowded, which may pose issues for solo female travelers. Buses and trains are commonly used by locals but can be overly packed during peak hours. Auto-rickshaws and taxis are considered safer, provided they are booked from a legitimate service. All-night bus journeys moreso on less reputable services could be problematic. Though cases of harassment are not uncommon, most travelers have an uneventful experience. It's advisable to exercise caution, avoid traveling at night and always be aware of your belongings.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:High

As a solo female traveler in India, you might experience noticeable levels of street harassment. It may not be all pervasive or universally the case, however, there is a possibility of receiving unsolicited attention or comments, particularly in crowded places. Often this is more discomforting than specifically dangerous, yet it does contribute to a significant part of the travel experience. To mitigate this, it is recommended to dress conservatively, refraining from solo outings after dark and maintaining a confident demeanor. It's important to get information beforehand about the specific regions you plan on visiting as the level of street harassment can vary.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Moderate

India has a moderate risk of petty crimes such as pickpocketing, bag snatching, and theft, particularly in crowded places like markets, railway stations, and public buses. Always maintain vigilance, keep your belongings secure, and avoid displaying expensive items in public. However, most locals are friendly and willing to help. It's also worth mentioning that the risk varies significantly from one city or state to another, so it's essential to research and prepare accordingly.

Is India worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.5 /5

based on 128 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.5/5

Safety

4/5

Food

4.4/5

Budget-friendly

4/5

Puducherry, Group travel

Me and two of my friends went on a spontaneous trip to Pondicherry. We got on the morning bus and reached Pondy around 1 am. We rested for a bit and then went to Rock Beach. We visited French town and ate the famous alcohol ice cream.

Posted: April 21, 2025Experienced: March, 2024
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Yelagiri, Group travel

Me and 4 of my girlfriends went on this trip. We are college students. We stayed at a beautiful villa and went on boating trips. We felt safe there and the climate was also good. We went for a two days trip.

Posted: April 21, 2025Experienced: January, 2025
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Dharamshala, Group travel

My Stay Experience in Dharamshala I stayed in Baxu, McLeodGanj at The Hosteller in a 6-bed dorm with my group of six. We stayed for three days, and the entire experience was heartwarming. The people were extra sweet, the food was delicious and reasonably priced, and we rented scooties at fair rates, which made exploring super fun and flexible. One of the highlights was doing the Triund Trek—absolutely stunning views and a soulful experience. The city felt safe, beautiful, and very welcoming. I’d highly recommend Dharamshala to anyone looking for a peaceful and scenic getaway!

Posted: April 21, 2025Experienced: June, 2024
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Vidhi

Vidhi

India

Rishikesh, Group travel

Rishikesh is a spiritual place. If you're into spirituality, gods, and related experiences, you should definitely visit Rishikesh. In addition to its spiritual side, it also offers a variety of adventurous activities like river rafting, bungee jumping, paragliding, go-karting, and many more. I highly recommend visiting Rishikesh—it's incredibly peaceful.

Posted: April 17, 2025
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Anoushka

Anoushka

India

Ladakh, Family travel

Hi, I’m Anoushka, I went to Ladakh in the month of June for around 12 days, it was an amazing experience. Safety: it was moderately safe, some of the the mountain roads were thin and prone to rock sliding, but overall it was a very clean and and scenic view. Things to do: You can visit the heritage sites, Buddhist monastery’s etc Food: The food was good, I learned they eat Tin Bok a local cuisine, must try. Budget: The trip was Budget friendly (Must Visit!!) For more information on the stay and accommodation dm me

Posted: April 17, 2025
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Nagpur, Group travel

I went with a group I found on Facebook that have become my friends now! We had tiger safari, and we roamed around the jungle in the jeep for hours! Super fun, great food, amazing service and great memories we had 😌

Posted: April 16, 2025Experienced: February, 2025
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Bangalore, Group travel

Actually, India is not the safest space especially for girls. - Because of the culture it is not so common for a girl to wear a short dress (don’t open shoulders and knees) - Also, it has awful traffic and it is dangerous to cross the road sometimes so do it carefully - The food is spicy so take some pills with you if you don’t used to spicy food

Posted: April 16, 2025Experienced: April, 2025
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Sai

Sai

India

Puducherry, Group travel

Our hotel receptionist himself said "French town is safe." when we asked him if Pondicherry was safe. I travelled with 2 friends and spent 3 days and 2 nights there. Had amazing food, especially at Sola in French town and the street food in that area was also good (that opened at night). One evening we were clicking pictures on the beach and a guy comes very close to us and asks us if he can click our pictures. On his phone. He proceeds to tell a bs story justifying why and that creeped is out A LOT. We were so disappointed at that and sat on the sands ranting about it amongst us and then went quiet for sometime. Thankfully, what distracted us was the moonrise at the beach. It was BEAUTIFUL. Check out the water activities at Chunnambar boathouse. Sunday markets give rise to a string of shops that sell inexpensive thrifted clothes.

Posted: April 14, 2025
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Yelagiri, Couple travel

Yelagiri was such a peaceful escape. I loved the bird park—got to feed some exotic cuties! The food was simple but good, and late-night coffee runs with mountain air? Perfect vibe. Quiet, cozy, and just what I needed.

Posted: April 13, 2025
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Aneesa

Aneesa

India

Ramakkalmedu, Group travel

So we stayed in a resort called Crowd hills, pretty neat, decent and affordable place with good food. Should probably skip hiking if you are physically week to treking... Wonderful experience which I cherish to be worthwhile

Posted: March 16, 2025Experienced: January, 2025
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Is India safe for women?

Safety index

3.9 /5

Based on 322 local experiences

Crime index

2.5 /5

Based on 322 local experiences

Ruchi

Ruchi

Mumbai

Mumbai is a fairly safe City especially compared to the rest of the country. It's easy to use public transportation as well as go out in the night wearing your choices of clothes. As it's known as a city that never sleeps, you will always find streets to be crowded

Posted: April 23, 2025
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Mumbai

I feel safe a lot living in Mumbai. I've been living almost my whole life now in Mumbai and i also use the public transport quite a lot and I've found it to be pretty safe. I love like how i don't have to worry all the time that this will happen or that will happen. I love mumbai a lot.

Posted: April 22, 2025
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Meet locals in India

Nitumoni

Nitumoni

About Me

From Guwahati, Assam, India, currently pursuing my Masters in Economics from New Delhi. Looking to travel more this year as my postgrad comes to a good end.

Speaking

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Rutuja

Rutuja

About Me

When I am not working you can find me petting cats and dogs or dreaming about my next adventure. I enjoy trying new cuisine and learning about different cultures. I am here to explore the world of solo travelling. I would like to travel internationally more, while Tango-ing wherever I can and connect with like minded people.

Speaking

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Stay with locals in India

Rutuja

Rutuja

Hyderabad

Can host for:

3 days

About me

When I am not working you can find me petting cats and dogs or dreaming about my next adventure. I enjoy trying new cuisine and learning about different cultures. I am here to explore the world of solo travelling. I would like to travel internationally more, while Tango-ing wherever I can and connect with like minded people.

Speaking

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Rishmitha

Rishmitha

Hyderabad

Can host for:

2 days

About me

Instagram: @rishmithak In a love affair with the city of Hyderabad!

Speaking

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Upcoming visitors to India

Nitumoni

Nitumoni

About Me

From Guwahati, Assam, India, currently pursuing my Masters in Economics from New Delhi. Looking to travel more this year as my postgrad comes to a good end.

Speaking

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Nitumoni

Nitumoni

About Me

From Guwahati, Assam, India, currently pursuing my Masters in Economics from New Delhi. Looking to travel more this year as my postgrad comes to a good end.

Speaking

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Safety in India