SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR SOLO GIRL TRAVELER – DELHI EDITION

Speaking about my parents they have always been curious to know the following (Yes, there are a bundle of questions!):

1. Where am I going?
2. Solo, With Friends, or Groups?
3. Itinerary

These are the major ones, the rest are decided and dependent upon the answers i provide them to the above questions. I would never claim myself to be a solo traveler, but an enthusiastic traveler at heart – who lives and breaths travel.

So, ironically when I told my parents – I want to go to Delhi, they readily agreed. Woah? Seriously? You send me to Delhi alone and ask me questions when I go trek to mountains?
There is a bunch of questions rolling on the internet that foreign travelers (Specially) ask:

– Is it safe to travel to India?
– Is Delhi a safe city for solo girl travelers?
– What are the kinds of clothes taken while traveling in India?
– Scams to avoid in Delhi

The above are the most asked questions of Quora and, let me tell you people have asked me such questions as well, So, coming back to my parents agreeing to let me go to Delhi solo – for them “protection” and “safety” have limitations to “you have relatives living there”. *Slow Claps*

Anyways – I packed my bags as they knew I would not travel with anyone but solo, all they wanted me to do was to call them twice – in the morning and at night – while I am home, also in the middle (if any emergency). This was the drill almost in every trip.

Unaware of the genuine issues that a solo girl traveler has to come across, especially when it is the first time in The National Capital – Delhi, let me share with you my experiences and let you know the tricks and tips that you can make note of when in Delhi, India.

First things first, when it comes to commuting from the airport to your hotel, you must not fall prey of the pre-paid taxis and the cab services available near or inside the airport. Yes, there are a lot of scams that you might fall prey of. A few of them being – “I am unable to find your hotel, I guess it is closed” and then in their talks they would take you to a hotel where they have commissions or sometimes even worse. Therefore, you must prefer Sakha Cabs, powered by Women on Wheels, which offers easy and safe commute to lady travelers by women driven taxis. If not available, do not opt for Uber but OLA cabs.

Secondly, If you like to travel safe, secured, cheap, and quick – Delhi Metro is the most suitable and preferred commune for travelers. It has a ladies compartment in the front, so a Yay! for solo ladies. For short distance traveling, opt for Auto Rickshaws also known as “Tuktuks” or pedal rickshaws (But only in the daylight, and not in the night) for traveling.