India can be challenging for women travellers. Here are three easy ways to make your arrival in India safer and slightly more comfortable.
Use Pre-Paid Taxis and Rickshaws at the Airport
Exploring a Temple in Belur, Karnataka
Most Indian airports and railway stations have a pre-paid taxi counter. You give your destination’s address at the counter, pay a small fee (usually one or two rupees, so make sure you have some coins; getting change from a Rs500 note can be a major hassle) and get a receipt that states your destination and the cost of the trip. Keep the receipt and pay your driver when you arrive safely in the destination.
Pre-paid taxis are generally safer than the random drivers who try to pull you into their vehicles as soon as you walk out of the baggage reclaim area.
Pre-Book Your First Night’s Accommodation
Even if you’re planning to travel independently, book your first night’s accommodation in advance. Many international flights to India arrive in the middle of the night, and looking for a place to stay in an Indian city tired and jetlagged is a bad idea. Book a comfortable hotel for a night or two, and ask if it provides an airport pick-up service. Alternatively, use the pre-paid taxi services.
How to Dress in India
A majority of Indian women wear either a sari or a salwar kameez, although t-shirts and jeans, or jeans with a kurta top, are becoming a popular combination especially in cities.
A sari consists of a blouse (choli), an underskirt and a minimum of five metres of fabric that must be wrapped around your body using a specific technique few Westerners can master. If you decide to wear a sari, ask someone local to do the wrapping part. Walking gracefully in a sari is another skill that seems to come naturally for Indian ladies, but is extremely difficult for most Western women (myself included). You may want to practice in front of a mirror before heading out to public places.
A salwar kameez consists of a long tunic, loose ankle-length trouser and a scarf (dupatta) that can be wrapped around the neck and the shoulders, or used to cover your head if necessary. The salwar is easier to wear and can be very comfortable especially when travelling, visiting temples or official buildings etc. Loose cotton salwars can also be very comfortable to wear in hot weather. I look pretty bad in a salwar, and cannot walk gracefully at all in a sari, so for everyday wear I tend to go for t-shirts or long-sleeved shirts, and jeans or long trousers/skirts.
For more women travel safety tips, check the Journeywoman online magazine. It is an excellent source of information and tips for female travellers, written by travelling women from around the world.
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