I am from India and I consider myself quite well travelled. My country, India can have an intimidating reputation of being unsafe. I won’t deny, some places can be a bit unsafe so it is partially true. However, India is HUGE – in terms of area, population, cultures, cuisine, and whatnot. So, to say that the whole of India is unsafe is unfair.

India is beautiful. It is so rich with some of the best food in the world. Every state is completely different and there is just so much to see. There are the mighty Himalayas in the North with snow-packed peaks and pristine rivers and the great Indian Ocean in the south with beautiful and untouched beaches. In the west, there is the Thar desert with extravagant palaces and colourful culture and in the east, we have the natural wonder, the Sundarbans. It also has a rich biodiversity, being the only country with both lions and tigers in the wild. I feel like India has something to offer for all types of travellers.

Here, I will recommend the top 5 destinations for solo female travellers to travel within India. These places are not only safe but are also frequented by other solo female travellers!

1. Rishikesh

I had the wonderful opportunity of visiting Rishikesh in 2018 after I graduated from college. Rishikesh is a small town in the north of India. It lies on the foothills of the Himalayas. It is famous for having the Beatles Ashram where the members of the Beatles learned meditation. I feel like the city is still authentically very Indian with tons of noise, colours, and cows owning the streets but it is so popular among tourists that it is very accommodating and kind. You’ll meet other travellers and make friends! If you like adventure, you can do some river rafting in the Ganges, one of the holiest rivers of India, rappelling and what not! If you like yoga, it is the yoga capital of the world with some of the best yoga institutions in the world. If you like culture, you’re in for a treat, it is one of the holiest cities of India and you’ll discover little temples in the middle of a busy street. It is also HEAVEN for vegetarians and vegans. I had one of the best, and might I add, the cheapest meal of my life here!

(The residents of the cities who are actually very calm and well mannered)

(Geetanjali enjoying the view)

2. Goa

Goa is a small state on the western coastline of India. It was ruled by the Portuguese so it has a mix of Portuguese and Indian culture which is visible in its architecture, cuisine, and even language. Goa seems to have a reputation as the party capital of India. It often talked about for its parties by the beach with dirt-cheap alcohol. However, I feel that it is a lot more than that. There are so many unexplored little beaches to find. It is also quite relaxed with hippie vibes. There are so many flea markets to explore as well. Just don’t forget one thing, BARGAIN!

(Small beaches with adventure sports)

(Small trekking routes overlooking the sea)

3. Kerala

I personally feel that Kerala is a wonderful introduction to India, it is a lot chiller and hassle-free than the rest of the country. Kerala has the highest literacy rate in India and here, the women are highly educated. Kochi, the largest city is crammed full of amazing history with its origins on the original Spice Route and cultural heritage from Portuguese, Chinese, Arab, Jewish, Dutch, British and Indian cultures. There are the wonderful backwaters with houseboats to get lost in at Allepy. You can even head to tea gardens in Munnar, which is a hill station. Also, since it is a coastal state, there are many beaches to explore.

(Houseboats and the backwaters)

(Tea Gardens in Munnar)

4. Mumbai

Alright, if you want a big chaotic Indian city experience, I highly recommend Mumbai. I have lived in this city for 7 years and I know it pretty well and according to me, it is the safest and the most liberal city in India. I am a big fan. Alright, there is the beach with the best and cheapest street food in the world, tons of museums to explore, beautiful British era architecture, so many places to shop and the best nightlife in the country. Moreover, the public transport system is very efficient and you’ll find a tuk-tuk/rikshaw even at 3 am in the night. The local trains, which are essentially the lifeline of the city are actually an adventure. The city is however filled with stark inequality, towering skyscrapers are neighbours to huge slum settlements. However, no matter what, everybody is so happy and very accommodating here. It also happens to be the Bollywood city. My favourite neighbourhood in the entire world, Colaba is here with trendy cafes, the gateway of India, the Taj hotel and the most colourful flea market.

(The resident of the city being pleased with the good weather and the sea)

(Skyline overlooking the Arabian sea at Marine Drive)

5. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

These islands caught the attention of the world when an American missionary was attacked by an uncontacted tribe in these islands. However, trust me, that is not why the islands should be famous. They are quite far from mainland India but are well connected through flights from Kolkata and Chennai. The capital city, Port Blair, is the quintessential Indian city – traffic, tons of people, and noise. However, just a small ferry ride away is the beautiful Havelock Island. The island is still quite untouched from the exploitation brought on by tourism even though it is now becoming a popular destination. It has the Radhanagar beach, white sand and blue waters, which was actually ranked as the 7th best beach in the world. There is an elephant beach where a swimming elephant Rajan used to live and swim of course! The locals are very kind and you’ll often see them waving and smiling at you while you travel around the small island. There are tons of bungalows by the beach where you can literally wake up to the sound of the ocean and the rainforest. On top of all this, it is incredibly cheap. However, the biggest plus for me, which could be a drawback for others, the internet connectivity here is incredibly poor. For me, it served as a digital detox.

(Small unexplored beach)

(Radhanagar Beach)

I do hope that you give India a chance. Trust me, it will become one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Please feel free to reach out to me for any recommendations or help in planning.