Mariellen at Taj Mahal, India

I often get emails from women traveling to India for the first time, and they are justifiably nervous about landing by themselves in Delhi at midnight. So, this post is for you. It is a collection of my best tips and advice. You should also check out 10 Tips for Women Traveling India , my post Planning to go to India? and Top 5 Myths about India.

1.Go with an open mind and heart

Be cautious, but don’t be nervous. Be open, but don’t be naive. Yes, India is overwhelming to the first-time visitor and most people experience culture shock (you can spot first-timers by the deer-in-the-headlights look they have on their faces.) I have said in other posts on this blog (Traveling solo in India) that India is like the cave Yoda sends Luke into: you will only find what you bring with you. So, don’t bring fear. Most Indians are the nicest, friendliest and most helpful people you will ever meet. Even when they are trying to part you from your rupees, they are mostly very nice about it. (Always remember that there are many very poor people in India who have not had the advantages, nor the opportunities, that we in the west have.)

2. Arrange for airport pick-up

Try to get someone to pick you up at the airport when you land. Many good hotels and guest houses will arrange this for you. If flying in to Delhi, you can try contacting Dianne Sharma, who has a service  for picking women up at the airport.

3. Stay in a residential neighbourhood

In Delhi, don’t stay in Pahar Ganj (the backpackers ghetto) or Connaught Place, the commercial centre of Delhi. Stay in one of the many very nice, leafy neighbourhoods of South Delhi. There are lots of mid-range small hotels and guest houses popping up nowadays. Here are two in South Delhi that I recommend: 1) Thikana is a luxurious, boutique hotel in a good neighbourhood that is much less costly than a big 5-star hotel 2) Kaori is for single female travelers only. It’s a single room in an apartment in Kailash, an upscale area that boasts great markets and the Sivananda Yoga Centre. Kaori has had good reviews on TripAdvisor.

4.Wear Indian clothes

Don’t bring very many clothes (aside from bras and underwear: read my Packing list for India). I wrote a blog post called 10 Tips for women traveling in India and my number one tip is to head straight to Fabindia after landing and buy several cotton salwar kameez sets (also known as suits). They are modest, comfortable, inexpensive and they will help you blend in a bit more. I also find that Indians tend to be more respectful of women whom they deem to be suitably dressed. Personally, I wear Indian clothes, including saris, almost all the time I am in India.

5. Find other like-minded travelers

It is easy to meet other travelers in India, especially if you use the Lonely Planet Guide (as everyone tends to go to the hotels, restaurants and attractions listed in the “bible” of travelers in India). But you can also look for other travelers on IndiaMike (there are usually monthly meet-ups in the big cities such as Delhi and Mumbai). The fantastic Journeywoman site — which caters to women travelers — has lots of resources for women going to India, including a service called Her Mail that connects women travelers with female locals. Also check out SoloTravelerBlog, a great site with lots of inspiring articles about the joys and benefits of traveling solo (personally, I think it’s the only way to go!) and Wanderlust and Lipstick for more India travel advice — even a guide book for Women Traveling to India.

6. Book a tour

There is a lot to be said for having someone guide you on your first trip to India. I tend to book all my own travel — it’s easy these days as Indian Railways and my favourite airline, Jet Airways, offer online booking — but for those who want to take a tour, take a look at the BreatheDreamGo Tours or contact Indus Travels. They specialize in small group tours and offer lots of different itineraries. Gap Adventures and Intrepid Travel also offers lots of tours to India (though they are not Indian-owned like Indus). If you decide to take the train — and you really should, it’s a great way to travel in India — check out my Resources page for links to several very helpful articles about taking the train in India.

7. Get to know your destination

Read books about India, and by Indian authors and check out my Do’s and Don’ts. India has a rich historical and cultural past and it is still largely a traditional society, in spite of all the mobile phones, Bollywood glamour and Levi jeans. Find out as much as you can about Indian society, as it will make travel easier. Many foreigners get frustrated by the way business is conducted in India — but it is futile and a waste of energy to get hot-and-bothered. Much better to try and understand, show some respect for an ancient culture (that is much wiser than the west in many ways) and go with the flow.