Travel Tips to Remember on Your Solo Trip in India
Source: Real travels The idea of traveling alone for the first time in life is both thrilling and terrifying. It is a completely different experience that is both eye-opening and unique in its own way. It offers one an opportunity for self-reflection and growth with the joy of boundless freedom looming on for the first time. It can also feel daunting, especially if you’ve never traveled alone before. As you travel the length and breadth of the country of India, you are greeted by diverse nuances of cuisines, faiths, arts, crafts, music, nature, lands, tribes, history, adventure sports, and countless other encounters. India has a mesmerizing combination of both the old and the new. The tips and tricks on this list are broad and thus, it will help you when you’re traveling alone for the first time in India no matter where you go or how long you travel. Pack lightly Packing light can seem like a huge challenge. If you’re the kind of person who’s always at the receiving end of being the one dragging your luggage, then you must reconsider that on your trip to India. The narrow but long stretches of roads in India aren’t very kind to huge and heavy luggage and while traveling alone, if your baggage becomes too heavy to carry, assistance in any form will be extremely limited. Pack your travel documents, cash & cards carefully Theft is a serious issue that has always plagued tourists in India so it is always advisable to keep your belongings as secure as possible at all times. You must always safeguard your travel documents, cards, and cash and this should be an important aspect of your packing. Never pack or store all of your cash and credit cards in the same bag. Split cash and cards and keep them in separate compartments of your bag and backups separately. Also, make copies of all your important documents lest you fall prey to theft or pickpocketing, and keep the business card of your hotel in your bag or wallet. Safety first and foremost Learn about your particular destination and its safe surroundings where you can avail yourself of assistance. Check and know if there are any areas you should avoid. Learn the safest routes to take and the best forms of public transportation. Understanding more about the area you’re visiting can help you choose lodgings with good safety ratings. When solo traveling in India, always be wary about going out by yourself at night, depending on where you are. Research your destination Every part of India has something to offer to anyone willing to visit but, picking the right destination can make all the difference, with some places more suited to solo travel than others. Make sure to be well-versed and acquainted with your destination before you venture out on your solo trip to any part of India. Do the required research, search through the internet, read blogs, find out people who have been to the place before, and talk to them. Getting enough information about the place beforehand is an absolute must. Shared or communal housing While on a solo trip in India, choosing a hostel or homestay where you are surrounded by people will likely increase your chances of meeting more like-minded people or fellow solo travelers. Not only this but staying in a hostel can also open you up to many interesting opportunities that one may miss while going solo. Also, it is considerably and comparatively safer than being in a hotel room all alone and having no one to socialize with. Dress a Little More Reservedly As with traveling anywhere in India where cultural customs are valued and honored, it is important to research and find out what the local dressing standards of the region are, and adhere to them. Indians can be quite reserved in this regard and dressing in provocative clothing can be seen as disrespectful to their beliefs and culture. In India’s case, modesty is of utmost importance, and for the women, keeping their shoulders and knees covered is a sign of respect to the elders. Take a scarf or a shawl when you’re in India since you are expected to cover up at religious sites and temples. Talk to the locals An unforgettable and unique solo travel experience in India would be getting to meet and observe the local community in all the different parts of India. Locals in all the corners of India love it when tourists make effort to learn the language hence you will get to experience the love and hospitality of Indians and you might not feel so alone as you make friends along the way. Choose public transport While you solo travel in India, make sure to use public transportation or shared taxis for commuting from one place to another. It will give you two advantages: first, let go of the fear of hiring a rental taxi and go alone to wander the place. Second, it’s much easier to meet people if you use public transportation or a shared taxi. It is not only safe and pocket-friendly but also gives you more opportunities to meet new people. Don’t be offended by Stares or Questions It is very normal to get curious stares when you’re traveling around in a new country since you naturally happen to look very different from the locals. Don’t let these curious stares scare you and hinder your experience in India. In a few instances, some locals might even approach you and ask for a photo with you. If the situation makes you uncomfortable or you are not a picture person, you can politely decline and walk away. The curiosity may even be in the form of inquiries and Indians do this by way of asking a multitude of questions, some of them can be quite personal. A piece of advice would be that you do not get offended, as these are
