Women Traveler
Women travelers are requested to take reasonable precautions & care if travelling alone. Women Travelers have certain advantages as well as certain disadvantages & discomfort also.
Women are regarded & occupy a distinct position in Indian Society. This is reflected while travelling in India. Women are given privileges & advantages. These include special coaches/ berths in Rail/ Bus Travel & additional queue for tickets/ banks etc.
At the same time, there are certain anti-social elements also. They intend to take
advantage of lonely foreign women travelers. They assume the foreigners to be more free & easy. There are certain instances where single woman has been treated in a bad manner by these kind of people.
We request proper dressing when at a public place. Women Travelers are requested to maintain proper dressing & adopt a decent dress. This not only minimizes the risk of getting involved into dangers but also is healthy for a Country like India.
Getting involved with men is also not suggested. Try to shorten the conversation. Also don`t respond to any kind of staring or undue attention to men.
When travelling alone, take help of families, elder people or Police as per the situation. Families & Elderly people are very cooperative & helpful in any kind of situations. However it is suggested to maintain distance & talk less with men.
First impressions are not always best: Don't judge India by your first impression. India's big cities- - especially Delhi and Bombay -- are just foul. Delhi's air quality is so bad that I inevitably develop a persistent, wracking cough whenever I find myself there for more than one day. The city is also full of persistent touts who would try a saint's patience. Please remember, the vast majority of Indians do not live in the big cities
Toilet re-training: In India, you never know what kind of toilet facilities you'll encounter. Do carry toilet paper and anti-bacterial handwash/wipes at all times. Often you can expect a jug of water left beside the toilet in lieu of paper. I encourage women to get used to using this method instead of toilet paper; it's healthy and environmentally friendly. However, while traveling in less-developed areas you might find that there is no water available to do your cleansing; in that case, you'll need your paper.
No smoking zone: Outside of the large cities, Indian women do not smoke in public. If you find yourself in a traditional place where tourism is less common, do avoid smoking in public. Smoking is considered a habit for "loose women" and you'll get the reaction that loose women encounter in all traditional societies.