~Parishka Gupta
Travelling in India is like playing a game of cards. It’s wildly unpredictable. You never know when you’ll have to cancel your plans. You never know if it’ll be postcard-perfect like it was in your imagination. Locals surprise in all kinds of ways all the time. Your trip can be cut-short abruptly, just as it can be extended another two days without you realizing it.
A woman travelling solo. The very thought raises eyebrows and gasps in India. Women in India gulp and sweat in anticipation at the very thought. They never know when things will go sideways. Street evils like pick-pocketing, cat-calling and sexual assault or harassment are the reason why women hesitate to travel alone in India
With the growing and changing times, the situation and security have definitely improved. Here’s a list of 7 cities in India that are perfect for your first ever solo trip, girl. Go get ‘em, tiger!
1. Kolkata: Also known as the ‘City of Joy’, Kolkata has officially been declared the safest city in India as per the latest NCRB report. The scanty number of cases is what attracts a huge number of solo women travellers to Kolkata. The crime rate has dropped like sand in the past 7 years, and the residents are very proud. Kolkata rides past the trams with the eternal old Bengali theatrical flair, with its love for the arts and finger-licking Bengali food.
2. Mysore: Responsible for carrying and flaunting the culture of Karnataka, Mysore manages to make it to every ‘Safest Cities in India’ list. Its well-connected transport system and brightly lit areas make sure you never feel out of place. You’ll find yourself bombarded with sweets, sarees and palaces; and you’ll always want more. Also famous for yoga, Mysore can be your next getaway destination that’ll be both calm and fast-paced at once.
3. Pondicherry: With its chocolatey colonial charm with a dash of sambar masala from South India, visiting Pondicherry is like walking on the surface of a pretty cake lined with sea salt. Cycles and motorbikes are a great way of traversing through the dainty French city. You can have the perfect French breakfast with rosy strawberries in the cream and golden-brown croissants in the morning, and a spiced up south Indian thali at noon. The small city is definitely a part of every girl’s imagination!
4. Munnar: The genial people of Munnar make the city welcoming for solo female travellers. Its lush patches of green tea plantations take you back to the dance number in ‘Chennai Express’ and you wish you had a troop of background dancers too. Ladies flying solo will not find any trouble looking for a comfortable place to stay.
5. Rishikesh: A place that calls to both thrill-seekers as well as soul-searchers, Rishikesh. Thousands of solo women travellers flock to Rishikesh every year, yearning for a taste of the Indian tradition. Albeit this city is great for solo women travellers, women are advised to dress conservatively when inside or near places of worship, and be sensitive to the sacred environment. Other than that, fly free, ladies! You can jump off all the cliffs you like in Rishikesh.
6. Jaisalmer: The Golden City of Jaisalmer is every girl’s Rajputana royalty dream. The craftsmanship here keeps the streets hustling and bustling with women trying to take back a little bit of Jaisalmer at every shop. The camels are also quite pleasant in the dunes. Don’t forget to meet one before you return!
7. Hampi: This city is brimming with the rich history of the Vijayanagar Empire. Get ready to go on some very long walks, because touring Hampi requires just that. Home to majestic temples with convoluted designs and the great royal palace, Hampi makes sure history here comes to life under the scorching sun.