Holiday to India- help

[holidayquestionhelp]

Hi,

hoping someone can help here. My BF and I were thinking of going to India on holidays. We haven’t really decided where yet, we’re both just really keen to go. I’m just worried about safety- I know that might sound silly but I’m just worried that it might be unsafe after seeing various things on the news, or that I could get into trouble for sharing a hotel room with my unmarried boyfriend? I know that realistically bad things could happen anywhere but I’m just slightly worried.

im also worried about the smog as I’m severely asthmatic.

just wondered if anyone could advice or speak from personal experience? Thanks so much. We’re really keen to go if possible x

Can't really comment on safety as I was with a guided tour but the smog in Delhi was awful. I lost my voice and coughed horrendously after 3 days there so I'd avoid any length of time there. You can see the smog over the city.

Read the Foreign Office travel advice. It's a massive country so hard to generalise but it's a great place to visit, like anywhere you need to be sensible. I went with my partner and young children and no issues in terms of safety or being unmarried.

My parents are currently in India, their holiday was arranged through Trailfinders so everything was arranged for them including transfers. They have done the Golden Triangle.

I've been 3 times all over. It's a, huge and diverse country. I've never felt unsafe, use your common sense like anywhere. We went before we were married, no one cares. Delhi is pretty grubby and Varansi can be smoky with all the cremations, but lots of places are 'clean' like Jaipur, Cochin and Munnar.

Same, did everything through Trailfimders, we were driven by a specific guide/driver through whole time apart from one overnight train journey. We would never have done it alone though.

DD and I have done two tours in India and felt completely safe because we were looked after by a tour manager. Main piece of advice - use hand sanitizer every time you touch the money.

I’ve been many times and never felt unsafe

But the pollution is awful in the main cities, especially Delhi

There has been the high-profile gang rape case in the last couple of days - based on that, the consensus appears that places like Goa and Kerela are generally a bit safer than the north of India.
That being said, the couple that were attacked were in a tent which I presume you would not be contemplating.

What part of India were you thinking?
I am of Indian origin and have been many times to visit family etc. I've also done the tourist bit and visited Goa, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur etc.. the latter I did with my also female friend. We had an amazing time!

You won't need a tour guide, I can recommend a car and driver company based in Delhi if that's where you were considering. I used TripAdvisor lots to plan etc...

Avoid the major cities and large towns full of smog, especially this period of the year
Look up vlogs on YouTube people touring Indian, costs, hotels etc

India is a vast country, all depends on what you want out of it, for how long, and type of travel.

I used to live in China and air quality is often not great, but Delhi was on another level. Jaipur, by comparison, was pretty clean.
we organised the trip ourselves and booked guides for specific trips eg Taj Mahal. I didn’t feel unsafe, but didn’t feel as comfortable as in China, Cambodia, Vietnam, etc.

Join a meetup group that organises travel to india. Its safer and organisers ate knowledgeable

I’m not too sure. This woman was gang raped. Her HUSBAND was given £10k compensation as though his property was damaged. The ‘suspects’ have bags on their faces so it’s probably not even them. Doesn’t sound too safe to me.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13160261/amp/Five-suspects-arrested-gang-rape-Spanish-influencer-India-paraded-bags-heads.html

That story above sounds bloody awful.

The police seemed dodgy to me, always taking bribes, or just catching people for misdemeanors to extort some cash on the spot.

The stray dogs were my nemesis in rural areas. Always barking at me down quiet roads, the locals advised me to take a stick.

The people were fine but I would cover up away from the beaches otherwise blokes will just openly stare and stare with no self consciousness about doing so. Just dress conservatively.

My husband and I went on a self guided tour a few years ago. We started in Mumbai, flew down to Cochin in Kerala, went on an overnight houseboat to Allepppey and then the overnight train to Goa. Loved it, didn't feel unsafe at all. Though I think if we ever visited the north of India such as Delhi or the areas near the Nepalese border then we would go on an guided tour.

This place is way off the beaten track and not somewhere tourists go.
It's somewhere where locals would think twice /thrice before driving at night - let alone pitching a tent.

Don't let that put you off the entire country - but do you research. South is better than north. Stick to places catering for tourists. If going off the beaten track, then do that where people DO go off piste - e.g. home stays in Himalayan villages.

I have been about 8 times (Goa), my sister goes
most years (North India), my nephew & his girlfriend are currently travelling round … all without incident.

If they arrested people for sharing a hotel room with someone they weren’t married to, most of Goa would be under lock & key

I found the air quality far worse in Hong Kong than India. I felt much safer in India than in China.

India is a vast and vibrant place. I would not hesitate to go back.

My DS has recently come back after traveling round India with his partner for six weeks. He had a fabulous time and can't wait to go back.

The smog in Delhi is awful and keeps getting worse every year. Avoid Delhi altogether between October to February. I would if my parents didn’t live there!

It’s a vast country and, despite having grown up there, I have not travelled much around India. However, I do love the Himalayas and Rajasthan. Haven’t been to the south at all so can’t speak to Goa, Kerala etc.

I do think it is better to spend more money and stay in nice hotels, book private cars and drivers etc than trying to navigate it on a tight budget — there are just too many pitfalls for the unwary.

My OH is Indian, from Bombay, so we go a lot. I absolutely love it.

Everyone should go to India at least once.

Do your research and you'll be fine. What happened to the Spanish couple was horrific, but the area they were in is notoriously unsafe, and they were in a tent.

If your asthma is at all triggered by mould, mildew, damp or strong chemicals such as cleaning products, think twice. I got into trouble in Almora after a night in a slightly musty guesthouse and thought I might need medical attention.

I traveled India as a solo female and felt safe. I wasn't on an organised tour, just travelling independently. If you stick to the tourist trail and take the same reasonable precautions that you would anywhere then you are fine. No problem for you to share a room (they wouldn't even know if you are married or not!).
Smog, yes, awful in Delhi. To be honest I would suggest skipping Delhi anyway, I didn't really rate it as a tourist destination.

I travelled with friends and that was fine. However, as soon as I walked out of the hotel in Mumbai by myself, men would be following me it was really uncomfortable. Also a taxi driver dropped me off at a tourist shop which I didn't want to go to. I paid him and tried to find another taxi. A large group of men were looking at me and approaching. There were a number of incidents which were very uncomfortable. I was dressed conservatively so as not to draw attention to myself.

Got back from India end of January, wonderful trip! Never felt unsafe. Did Northern India, organised trip.

I'd go back in a heartbeat.

If you're not good in heat, choose your visit time carefully.