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Is northeast India safe for solo women travelers?

Safest Places for Solo Women Travelers in India

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Solo travel is on the rise. It means many things to many people. For some, it may be about discovering oneself, in some others, perhaps it triggers the idea of independence. However, for some, women particularly, the appeal of solo travel may be mixed with concerns of safety. Concerns that can muddle the act of choosing travel destinations. Abhijeet Deshpande, author of Backpacking North East India: A Curious Journey, explores the context, few statistics and suggests some of the safest places for solo women travelers in India.

Is India Safe for Solo Women Travelers?

In recent times, media stories following violent crimes against women in India have captured the world’s imagination. Rightly so. While the mainstream narrative successfully evoked unprecedented public demonstrations, by both women and men, that voice of protest against rape failed to leave an indelible mark. As a result, India got portrayed as an unfriendly country for women, instead of one that takes to its streets to demand justice for women.

The fallout began soon after – Indian men got stereotyped. The line between criminal versus the obnoxious behavior (Indian men are often accused of staring at women) got blurred. Indian backpackers were, at times, refused entry to hostels and mixed-dormitories. It got worse. Indian male students were denied opportunities overseas. Case in point: Leipzig University.

Stereotyping?

So, are the unprecedented street protests an indicator of enhanced safety for women in India? Or does the media coverage mean that India is somehow more dangerous for women than most other countries? Perhaps neither. But it raises the question – why the disproportionate, almost vilifying focus on India? Why lock a universal gender issue within the confines of a political boundary? For a discussion on such points and more, here’s a recommended reading by Maria Wirth, a German, and a solo woman traveler to India.

Safest Countries in the World for Women Travelers

With a population of 1.3 billion, you might expect India to lead the statistics of crimes against women. Guess what? It does not. United States of America, with a quarter of India’s population, retains that spot.

It gets scarier in Europe. England and Wales, Germany and Sweden, considered among the most progressive societies, and with even a smaller fraction of India’s population, are some of the most dangerous places for women. This, despite the fact that men in these countries, unlike in India, are not known to stare at women. Yet, the world awaits the loudest voice of protest against rape from the streets of London, Washington, Berlin, or Stockholm to hit global headlines (Data source, except England and Wales: rape statistics by country, UNODC).

Myth Busting Data

Violence against women is a deplorable, global problem. Would you, as a solo woman traveler concerned with personal safety, stereotype their men and avoid going to Europe or The United States of America? Or would you rather follow contextual safe practices while visiting these fabulous countries? If you agree with the latter, there’s good news: you are a smart traveler who knows how to take care of herself irrespective of where you are in the world, including India.

Safest Places for Solo Women Travelers in India

Fortunately, despite the negative fallout of a sustained media campaign, solo women travelers continue to travel across the length and breadth of India. With commonsensical practices, you would be safe pretty much anywhere in the world. And though many of us may intuitively know the places in India that are considered relatively safer for women, lets look at data for top ten Indian states and union territories (in the ascending order of crime, 2001-2012).

Indian states and Union TerritoriesTotal crimes against women
Lakshadweep Islands16
D and N Haveli354
Daman and Diu423
Sikkim624
Nagaland642
Andaman and Nicobar Islands806
Manipur1752
Meghalaya1802
Mizoram1820
Arunachal Pradesh2180

Lets also consider factors like total population and sex-ratio to consider secondary data for crimes per 1000 women. The data (just as the previously cited global data) may be criticized since all cases may not be reported – let alone the convictions. So, please take it with a pinch of salt. That said, it might depict a general trend of how things stand.

Indian states and Union TerritoriesCrimes per 1000 women
Lakshadweep Islands0.262332
Nagaland0.348537
Meghalaya0.614126
Manipur0.622832
Sikkim1.148297
D and N Haveli1.330673
Goa1.650267
Arunachal Pradesh1.679590
Mizoram1.699548
Jharkhand1.704007

Do you see a pattern here? The data in some way reaffirms what we always knew – that our Islands, Goa, Daman and Diu and North East India could be termed the safest for women. That said, it is always good to follow general safety practices (irrespective of where you are). When you do so, you’d enjoy tangible and intangible benefits. Here are 7 ways traveling solo enriches you! (link broken)

Note by Scale Indigo: Unfortunately, the guest site link is not working. We will try to contact the author for a possible revision. Old link: https://doibedouin.blogspot.com/2018/09/7-ways-travelling-solo-enriches-you.html

Old Quarters of Panjim, Goa

So, try your luck to visit the best places in Goa to see the Olive Ridley turtles at Morjim beach, go hiking in Goa’s little known wildlife sanctuaries, farther still – learn scuba diving on the islands, or go for those long walks on the streets of Gangtok, Sikkim (North East India). Peace of mind in the lap of nature. Safe travels, Happy travels!

Colorful Flags, Gangtok, Sikkim
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Which are some safest places for solo women travelers in India?

Think North East India

For those who do not know what northeast India is like, it comprises of eight states – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura. The Himalayas and its waters define the region’s terrain, climate, rich biodiversity, and the peculiar indigenous lifestyles her people follow.

That North East India is bound by Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet to the north, Bangladesh to the south and west, and Myanmar to the east hints at the eclectic mix of cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity. This is where elements of Asia come together to do what they do best – cast a spell.

The region’s innate charms have remained under-explored. Travelers, who figure out how to backpack in Northeast India, find gems such as Dzükou Valley all to themselves. Importantly, the hospitable people of the region make sure that visitors take back the choicest of memories.

Meanwhile, pick up a copy of Backpacking North East India: A Curious Journey. It covers over two dozen places and attempts to answer the question – what is it like to travel in the region? Give it a read and make your own choices.

  • The first and the only nonpolitical paperback travelogue on north east India
  • Loved by the likes of Bhaichung Bhutia, L. Sarita Devi, M.C. Mary Kom, and Sanjoy Hazarika
  • Perspectives to help you understand what to expect when you get to North East India
  • Anecdotal evidence and safety tips that help you plan your own travel
  • Consistently reviewed at 4.5/5 on Amazon and Goodreads
  • Available as an eBook on Kindle
Amazon
Flipkart
Notion Press

Have you been to or live in India’s North East? Its time to share your experiences and help someone follow your footsteps! Click The Dialogue Diaries™ – Interview Line for details and to get started.

Abhijeet Deshpande
Abhijeet Deshpande

Abhijeet Deshpande is an accidental nomad. Over time, the frequency and length of his travel has steadily risen. To keep up, his choices have been changing too—from planned holidays to spontaneous ones, from fixed schedules to flexible ones, and from working full-time assignments to freelancing.

Disclaimers: (1) Maps, wherever used on this site, serve a representational purpose only. Scale Indigo does not endorse or accept the boundaries shown, names, or designations used by map providers. (2) This story/article is based on the personal experiences and / or opinions of the author. Scale Indigo is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity and it does not assume any responsibility or liability arising out of use of any information provided herein.

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