To be desperate to go to India?

[malificent7]

I went to Nepal as a teen and was besotted and so am used to the culture/ poverty.
I am now 43 and am desperate to travel to India. We gave 2 teen girls...13/14 and i would love to take them too.
This is more of s tell me your stories of travelling round India but posting here for traffic. Post pandemic...is it safe atm?

@tiktokontheclock

As an Indian, I'm seriously insulted.

Yes, I apologise on the PP's behalf for her suggesting that your country has extreme levels of poverty.

All the data which verifies this is wrong; she should in fact expect to see something more akin to the UAE.

I do like full on but will definitely do my research.

I would leave it for a while - the visa procedure at the moment has changed - you have to go to a visa centre in person, they send you the passport later and it is limited to 30 days tourist which starts on the day of issue.

I was wearing a sari and a mala at the time. Still got stared at

To be fair, that was probably WHY you got stared at @Undecicive

You may be right but that was a fairly standard outfit for me at the time. There are plenty of Hare Krishna people visiting India all the time... admittedly not with threir boyfriends.

@HaveringWavering - I knew when I said Hindi that someone would be along to remind me of all the other languages like Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam etc. etc. that are spoken widely outside Northern India.

Top tip for you - it is possible for people to have different experiences of the same country. I said personally I wouldn't do it. Not that it wasn't possible. Maybe if you speak English with an RP accent it's fine. I have a strong regional accent and found it difficult to be understood no matter how slowly or clearly I tried to speak.

Thanks for the lesson anyway 🙂

I’m Scottish so that blows your RP accent theory out of the water. I also said at the end of my post that I guessed you had probably had a very specific experience due to being with an Indian. Not sure what more I could have said?

I’ve travelled around India a lot over the years (for work mainly). No way would I recommend women visit it. Two things I find sickening: one, the disparity between rich and poor and the knowledge they the government ‘could’ do something about it if they wished (or at least provide clean drinking water to everyone.) And two, the rape culture there, which is beyond horrific and, again, could be fixed if they wished. I boycott the country now.

@CockingASnook

I’ve travelled around India a lot over the years (for work mainly). No way would I recommend women visit it. Two things I find sickening: one, the disparity between rich and poor and the knowledge they the government ‘could’ do something about it if they wished (or at least provide clean drinking water to everyone.) And two, the rape culture there, which is beyond horrific and, again, could be fixed if they wished. I boycott the country now.

Very similar to Egypt. Both horrific and dangerous places to visit as a woman.

@CockingASnook

I’ve travelled around India a lot over the years (for work mainly). No way would I recommend women visit it. Two things I find sickening: one, the disparity between rich and poor and the knowledge they the government ‘could’ do something about it if they wished (or at least provide clean drinking water to everyone.) And two, the rape culture there, which is beyond horrific and, again, could be fixed if they wished. I boycott the country now.

Well, someone had to say it....

I wouldn't be rushing to book a trip there just because of everything mentioned in your post.

@tiktokontheclock

As an Indian, I'm seriously insulted.

Why are you insulted? As an Indian, I don't feel insulted at all. Why should I feel insulted by crude, criminal behaviour of men? Being groped, sexually assaulted is a lived reality for all women in India. Please don't pretend it doesn't happen.

@malificent7

I never meant to insult Indian people or India . Perhaps it's time to knock this thread on the head. I think it's one thing being a western traveller and quite another being a local.

You're not insulting Indian people. I'm Indian and am not at all insulted. Behaviour towards women is truly revolting in India unless you live in a gilded cage. It's high time the law and order situation in India improves. It won't if women don't speak about how horrific their daily lives are. It should not be acceptable to be groped and molested while you go about your daily life. But if no one talks about it, the situation will never improve.

I've travelled there alone many times.I have been groped(an older Sikh man came to my aid), wrong change given and again someone came to my aid.People are kind and helpful and there is safety in numbers.Take precautions like you would anywhere and you will be fine.
In Delhi the metro has a pink carriage just for women.
I would advise a first trip to South India as it is less in your face so a trip to tea plantations and beaches of Ketala or a combined Mumbai Goa trip.
My daughter is younger than yours and this was 'our planned'year to visit.It would have been Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Mumbai and Goa.It will probably be 2024 before we go now.

Just re-read that you would wear a sari.There is no need.Wear a long top and trousers or a long skirt.Kurta's(long tops) can be purchased at local markets or in more expensive shops like Fabindia or Anokhi.

FWIW I found Sri Lanka to be an enjoyable alternative to India, with fewer of its issues.

I agree with Sri Lanka.It's possible to visit there at the moment although I found the food was not as exciting as Indian food.

I've been to Kerala which, now I've been to Rajasthan I'd say was India Lite. Kerala had amazing food, beautiful scenery, was friendly, easy to get round and I'd go back like a shot and happily take teenagers there.

Rajasthan, stayed in a small village which was eyeopening. Also toured round the big sites, I wouldn't have wanted to do that independently unless I had lots of time and had got used to the whole experience again by having had a bit of a gentle run in rather than full on into Agra or Jaipur.

With the comments on Egypt above, travelled in Cairo independently, and had no issues at all. I was careful and used ubers rather than public transport.

Also someone saying be prepared for constant sexual harassment, well, um, no. But I was in late 40s when I went to India and wore trousers and long sleeved tops and wore a head scarf when it seemed appropriate.

@Rua13

Just re-read that you would wear a sari.There is no need.Wear a long top and trousers or a long skirt.Kurta's(long tops) can be purchased at local markets or in more expensive shops like Fabindia or Anokhi.

I love Fabindia clothes and another brilliant shop is Nicobar both in store and online. Their Kurtas and trousers are brilliant and I always come home with a few extra clothes from there, a little bit more expensive than Fabindia. nicobar.com

I travelled alone in north India in my 20's and I can honestly say that although the country is very beautiful, I couldn't wait to leave because of the constant hassle from men. I've travelled in more than 40 countries and India was the worst for this. Sikkim was fine though and my colleague said that Kerala was OK. No way would I go to the north with teenage girls.

Go to Kerala. Check out the beach resorts. You and your girls will be safe and will have great food, great weather, amazing activities and a lovely time. No PCR on arrival or quarantine required right now.

@JustJam4Tea

Also someone saying be prepared for constant sexual harassment, well, um, no. But I was in late 40s when I went to India and wore trousers and long sleeved tops and wore a head scarf when it seemed appropriate.

I notice that you referred to my comment rather than the one by someone from India who'd commented below it, quote:

"You're not insulting Indian people. I'm Indian and am not at all insulted.
Behaviour towards women is truly revolting in India unless you live in a gilded cage.
It's high time the law and order situation in India improves. It won't if women don't speak about how horrific their daily lives are. It should not be acceptable to be groped and molested while you go about your daily life. But if no one talks about it, the situation will never improve."

I dare say she is better placed to comment than perhaps even you.

@Yeahthat - sexual harassment of women in India is appalling, the sexual abuse rate is horrific - I'm not saying it isn't. But equally if someone wants to travel to India they can travel there for want of a better way of putting it 'in a gilded cage' and not experience that. I'm not sure someone should be put of the experience of going there by thinking that they'll be constantly sexually harassed.

I travelled on trains in India and used women only carriages.

I’ve spent over a year and a half in India, admittedly a while ago. As a single female I felt very safe, no hassle really apart from once at a Festival but amazingly all the women around me took off their shoes and started hitting the perpetrator! Disagree with needing to know Hindi, everyone can speak at least a bit of English. Even the poorest of people, found that a bit shameful really as we are rubbish at trying to speak other languages, but if you can learn a bit it will be very appreciated. I found it a definite assault on the senses and like anywhere could be dangerous but being sensible about where you go, dressing appropriately and using the women only carriages on trains etc will help. It’s an amazing place and there is nowhere else like it.