“The more I travelled alone, the more I realized how much I could rely on myself.” – Andrew McCarthy
I have experienced this hands-on while travelling alone to at least 10 destinations. They were Pondicherry, Goa, Dwarka, Somnath, Grishneshwar, Mallikarjuna, Omkareshwar, Bhimashankar, McLeod Ganj, and Trivandrum. Some of them have been secular trips while a majority have been pilgrimages to the Jyotirlingas. I have covered ten of them and two remain though I will have company in those. Each one taught me something new, but a common thread ran through all. I would love to share that with my friends.
Many women find solo travelling to be a distant dream, if not downright intimidating. Their social setup, family backgrounds, lack of financial independence, family responsibilities and so on hinder them from travelling alone. On top of it all are the safety concerns, especially given a country like India where women are assaulted at the rate of 80 per second.
However, with a little tweaking of the system and a little extra precaution, it is possible to have the best of both worlds, travelling solo and travelling in groups. I prefer travelling solo due to the lack of a marital partner and no family responsibilities of a spouse or children.
To begin with, let us have a look at the precautions we need to take as women in order to travel safely and wisely.
It would do well to make that extra effort to prepare a detailed travel itinerary which gives the names, addresses and contact numbers of hotels you will put up in, and the flight / train/ bus tickets. Verify hotels, cabs, and drivers before booking. All such reviews are easily available online. Book through a trusted website like MakeMyTrip or Savaari. Do share the itinerary with a trusted person or people. The same goes with sharing the live location.
Keep emergency contacts easily accessible. In the world of smartphones, it is imperative to maintain a small pocket telephone diary with the numbers handwritten just in case the smartphone develops a last-minute glitch or is lost. From your end, keep the phone charged and keep a power bank.
I wish I could tell you that India is a safe enough place for a woman to venture out alone to deserted places at night, but unfortunately it is not true. So, avoid isolated or poorly lit areas, especially at night.
Carry essential documents (ID, tickets) safely but within reach. Again, I am being old-school here, but keep a printed copy of all important documents just in case something is amiss.
While we tend to depend on digital payment methods like GPay, Paytm, etc. it is always a good idea to keep some cash. You never know where you may need it.
We should follow the simple rule we were taught as children by our parents – avoid oversharing personal details with strangers. Trust your instincts in unfamiliar situations. Gut feelings are more often than not, right.
Last but not least, keep a medicine box with extra supply of essential daily medication and some other basic health essentials handy. If you use an inhaler, keep it in your cabin luggage, not in the check-in luggage.
The Benefits of Solo Travelling
The perks of solo travelling are galore. To begin with, there is complete freedom to plan your itinerary according to your preferences. You need not visit a museum if you are into adventure sports and vice-versa.
At the same time there is also the flexibility to change plans without needing approval or coordination. I remember not going for scuba diving in Dwarka because I had cold feet at the last minute.
According to Alexandra Elle, “When you take the road alone, you begin to trust yourself in ways you never thought possible.” This is true for me and for any solo traveller. Solo travelling helps to garner greater self-reliance and confidence in handling situations alone. I did not enter the Dwarkadhish temple because it was Purnima and the temple was choking with devotees. Being claustrophobic, I took a call which may seem to be inauspicious to many. Thus, there are enhanced decision-making skills in unfamiliar situations. At the same time, there is every opportunity to step out of your comfort zone in terms of adventure and experiences.
One learns to manage time better because there is no waiting for others or adjusting schedules. On a lazy day, you can choose to remain in bed till late. On the contrary, when the adrenaline runs high, you can explore your surroundings. In other words, there is freedom to choose your pace – fast or slow. For a moody person like me, this is a huge advantage.
There is deeper engagement with the place you are visiting, as you can meet new people and interact with the locals. Just don’t get too carried away.
There is a sense of independence and personal empowerment once one learns to travel alone. Now I am confident that I can reach new destinations within the country on my own. There is a stronger sense of accomplishment after completing a trip.
Whether I travel abroad alone or not is a broader question that I have not considered yet. But who knows what the future may hold? I agree with Susan Sontag when she says, “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”
By Richa Verma
Richa is an online English teacher, independent blogger, voracious reader, movie buff who is smitten with wanderlust, and a homemaker. She can be contacted through her email address richavermamh@gmail.com
