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 133 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.5/5

Safety

4/5

Food

4.3/5

Budget-friendly

4/5

Kolkata, Solo travel

I felt safe. I would recommend trying the fast food. I also went shopping. Loved the people. Just avoid the dark alleys. I would recommend meeting with people and asking them about their culture. Also please avoid during peak summers.

Posted: May 2, 2025Experienced: April, 2025
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Gayathri

Gayathri

India

Delhi, Solo travel

Delhi is beautiful location. Culturally rich. Many historical spaces. But safety i still don't know. I am very much afraid to take public transport. Metro is nice and competely safe. But bus and cabs i am still afraid

Posted: May 1, 2025Experienced: April, 2025
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Kerala, Family travel

Safety - highly Things to do - visit tea plantation(Munnar), boat house stays(alappey), explore coffee museum. Go to nature visit. Restaurant recommendation - Rasa(approximately nearer to Munnar) Budget - minimal spent 20k Stay - rivulet resort, boat house(eco stay) Transport - private taxi.

Posted: April 24, 2025
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Kerala, Family travel

I traveled in parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. it was great what a weather and air. We used public transport like bus and train mostly a few time when it was difficult to find public transport we used cab which were suprisingly very expensive.like it showed fair rate on the uber apps but when they arrived they demanded more money and if we didn't agree they left.so if you are on a budget public transport is best. In a group of 5 people from start to end including everything (food, train ticket ,bus ticket,suviner,cab,hotel stay , touring, activity etc)coasted 10 thousand indian rupees for almost 10 days if I include our departing from mumbai. Foods good basically you will get south indian food only mostly rarely paas by north indian restaurant. Eat south local food only they make it delicious don't order any other food they don't make it good unless the cook is not south indian.found a rajasthani restaurant and the full staff was Rajasthani so food was good but tried paneer paratha in random place not good

Posted: April 24, 2025
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Konkan Division, Family travel

Try local house restaurants they will serve you the best food . We stayed at MIDC property which had a pvt beach access to it which was v convenient and also a cafe and caretaker the cafe good was okay okay The transport cost is a bit high so I suggest getting your own vehicle or renting one

Posted: April 24, 2025
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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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Is India safe for women?

Safety index

3.9 /5

Based on 348 local experiences

Crime index

2.5 /5

Based on 348 local experiences

Bhopal

Well Bhopal is a very peaceful place!! I'm born and brought up here and never felt any kind of discomfort!! Crime rate isn't that high or that low but I think everyone should have there safety precautions be it male or female I would also love to add that once you visit bhopal you're going to fell in love with this place and especially the people

Posted: May 8, 2025
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Nathdwara

Nathdwara is generally very safe for women, even at night. The locals are friendly and respectful, and incidents of harassment are rare. I often walk around alone at night and have never felt uncomfortable. However, like anywhere else, it's always good to stay aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts.

Posted: May 8, 2025
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Meet locals in India

Nivedita

Nivedita

About Me

Hey there! I'm someone who loves good conversations, spontaneous adventures, and finding joy in the little things. I'm always up for a coffee hangout, movie night, or just a chill walk with great company. Looking to make genuine connections and share some laughs along the way!

Speaking

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Gaurpriya

Gaurpriya

About Me

Hello and namaste! I'm Gaurpriya and i just turned 18. Im planning some trips now and I'd love to have companions. I've been a table tennis and badminton sportsperson. I'm into treks, hikes and exploring and also into some parties and trying local food. Would love to experience local experiences everywhere I travel.

Speaking

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Stay with locals in India

Nivedita

Nivedita

Bhubaneshwar

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hey there! I'm someone who loves good conversations, spontaneous adventures, and finding joy in the little things. I'm always up for a coffee hangout, movie night, or just a chill walk with great company. Looking to make genuine connections and share some laughs along the way!

Speaking

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Gaurpriya

Gaurpriya

North Goa

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hello and namaste! I'm Gaurpriya and i just turned 18. Im planning some trips now and I'd love to have companions. I've been a table tennis and badminton sportsperson. I'm into treks, hikes and exploring and also into some parties and trying local food. Would love to experience local experiences everywhere I travel.

Speaking

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Upcoming visitors to India

Preeti

Preeti

About Me

Lawyer by profession and wanderer by spirit. I love to explore art, music and food, traveling is not a luxury but my doze of sanity. I read vicariously and adrak ki chai is my saviour.

Speaking

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Fanny

Fanny

About Me

Hi ! My name is Fanny, I am french and love to meet locals while traveling ! Let's meet :)

Speaking

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Safety in India