Myth №7: “India is a dangerous place for women (especially those traveling alone)?”

This is a question we hear regularly, usually from people who are only planning their first trip to India and have already swallowed a hefty informational pill of scary stories.Let’s be clear: we don’t claim to hold the ultimate truth, but we rely on our years of living in Kerala, countless journeys across India, and statistics that are easy to find and verify.

In short: India is generally safe for tourists, including women traveling solo — provided you follow simple safety habits and understand the context.

📊 What the numbers actually say

Crimes against foreigners in India.In the latest full NCRB report (2022), there were 192 registered cases with a foreigner as a victim (this includes all categories: theft, fraud, assault, etc.). The media breakdown looks like this: 14 murders; 28 rapes; 13 cases of molestation/“insult to modesty”; 34 thefts; 21 frauds.Again: this is the entire country, all foreigners, not just tourists.

Comparison with arrivals.

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Bureau of Immigration:

- 2023: ≈ 9.5 million FTAs.

- 2024: ≈ 9.95 million FTAs.

Even a rough proportion (192 cases out of ~9.5–10 million visits) works out to ≈2 cases per 100,000 visits. Of course, some incidents never make it into the reports — that’s true everywhere — but at such scales, calling India “massively dangerous for tourists” is simply inaccurate.

Risks exist, but they are statistically tiny. What really happens is the usual big-country mix: petty theft, occasional harassment, disputes — not the “serial maniac from Narasimmanaikkanpalayam” of tabloid legends (and yes, that place does exist — it’s a suburb of Coimbatore).

Why no tourist-specific stats for Europe or Russia?Because official reports usually publish crime types (thefts, robberies, burglaries, etc.) but rarely highlight “tourist victims” separately.For context: in the EU (2023) police recorded +4.8% thefts, +2.7% robberies, +4.2% break-ins; hence the reputation of European tourist hubs as pickpocketing hotspots.

🗺️ India is not homogeneous: where it’s calmer, where to be alert

To fairly assess safety, it helps to look at the domestic crime picture — stats about crimes against locals. That gives a baseline and context.

Geography matters. According to the metric “crimes against women” (domestic, not foreign), the nationwide average is about 66 per 100,000 women (2022). Delhi is much higher, southern states are closer to average or lower. A “high” number often just means better reporting and easier access to legal aid.

Kerala. In safety indexes, cities like Trivandrum, Kochi, Kozhikode (Calicut), Thrissur often score among the highest (mid-2025, survey indexes). This matches our daily life: zero tolerance for theft or cheating is a strong social norm.For comparison: big metros — Delhi/NCR (extra caution, especially late evenings and at transit hubs); Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata — usually “middle of the road”: safe with basic discipline, but with typical city risks like pickpockets, pushy “helpers,” or deserted streets at night.

In Kerala, over three years we’ve had zero incidents (unless you count the slippers that disappeared from our porch — courtesy of the neighbor’s kids).We don’t lock the house unless we’re gone for long, the car stays open, scooter with keys inside, shoes on the porch, helmets in the scooter while we shop. This isn’t a call to carelessness — it’s just the local norm. The best alarm system here is the people who know you and count you as part of the community, even if you’re the weird ones.

🛡️ Why “tourist incidents” make headlines — and why that’s good

In India there’s one positive trait: any case involving foreigners hits the national news instantly. The result? Extra attention from authorities and police, plus visible prevention: special patrols, hotlines, dedicated help desks at stations and airports.

Safety infrastructure you can actually use: 📞

- 112 — general emergency.

- 181 (Mithra in Kerala) — women’s line;

- 1091 — women/children’s police line.

- 139/182 — railway safety helpline; Meri Saheli program.

- Pink Police Patrol (Kerala) — special “pink units” with cars, SOPs, fast response.

Airports and railway stations have visible help desks and patrols — don’t hesitate to use them.

👩‍🧳  For women and solo travel: the “safety ritual”

Main thought: In India, it is possible to travel safely.

The key is understanding context, paying attention, and small self-preservation habits.

Routes. 🧭 You can walk almost anywhere — there are no “forbidden” neighborhoods. But basics apply: stick to lit and busy streets at night, avoid dark alleys, skip places where only large groups of men hang around (street tea stalls during cricket matches, mosque gatherings). If you feel uncomfortable — change location. If your inner radar says “something’s off” — trust it. It’s smarter than you, especially after two masala dosas.

Transport. 🚇 Public transport is generally safe: cameras, crowds (witnesses), complaint hotlines. Just avoid rush hour — more about mental and physical health: classic sardine-can experience.

✈️🚆 Flights & trains: secure, with plenty of police presence; safe and predictable for security, if not always for punctuality.

🚌 Night buses: popular but less comfy. Women should book sleeper AC, choose a berth near the driver, preferably upper bunk.

🚖 Taxis & tuk-tuks: prefer apps — cheaper, route tracked, safer. In tourist zones, apps may not work — use official stands near hotels/beaches: safe but pricey. At airports — prepaid taxis are the way to go: fixed fare, receipt, no nonsense.

🏨 Accommodation: pick by reviews, comfort level, price; notify hotels if arriving late (often they’ll arrange a safe pickup).

📱 Connectivity: know 112 / 181 / 139 / 182; in Kerala, Pink Patrol and women-only help desks at Kochi metro.

👗 Dress codes: India ≠ Europe. In tourist quarters — wide tolerance; but ultra-revealing bikinis (“three strings and a dream”) or transparent swimsuits (mode: “world premiere”) draw crowds of amateur paparazzi fast. In villages, go modest to avoid confusion. In temples — no shorts or bare shoulders; some stricter. This isn’t censorship, it’s about avoiding misinterpretation.

💳 Money & docs: originals in hotel safes, carry copies/photos. Cash “for the day,” rest on card. Big wads? More likely to lose than get stolen. Wallet = not a talisman; don’t “charge it with luck.”

🔋 Phones & gadgets: theft rare, but don’t flaunt your shiny iPhone like a lighthouse. Indian streets shine bright enough already.

🙅‍♀️ Communication: respond to pushiness with polite firm “No, thanks” or “Sorry, not comfortable — have to go.” Family photo? Up to you. Group of guys? Better decline. Awkward or crude phrases? Usually clumsy English, not aggression.

Stares aren’t always threats. In India, open curiosity is normal. It’s not flirting or danger — just “wow, a guest.”Even the common “Are you alone?” often translates to “Did you come by yourself?” — meaning “Do you need help?”

Trust your instincts: if something feels wrong, move to a crowded spot, ask a vendor, guard, or patrol. Don’t engage with persistence — it has more time than you do.

Beggars & fake gurus🙏🧙‍♂️. Yes, they exist — in many forms: family begging groups, “gurus/astrologers/babas” offering blessings, threads, fortunes, “curse removal,” even “doctors” diagnosing you by glance.

Short and clear:

- Persistence ≠ danger. Most are harmless but pushy. Show weakness and they’ll call backup.

- One donation = more to come. Give once, the whole “community” appears.- Biggest risk? Fake gurus: they drain money with endless “sessions,” fake treatments, or outright scams.

What to do:

- Say a confident “No, thanks” and keep walking.

- Don’t hand over phone/wallet/jewelry for “blessings.”

- Want to help? Donate via trusted funds or temple boxes, not on the street.

- If surrounded, head straight to a crowd, guard, or vendor.

Fun fact: the ancestors of Europe’s Roma trace back to northwest India (Rajasthan). The street-economy model is familiar here — it’s a social phenomenon, not a threat. Stay calm, say “no,” and move on.

🌴 Kerala — why it feels especially safe

• 🤝 Honesty by default. A guest is sacred; envy or theft is frowned upon.

  
  

• 🛟 Services nearby. Pink patrols, hotlines, one-stop crisis centers, police who treat foreign cases with extra zeal.

  
  

• 👀 Community watch. Locals in tourist areas often step in before you can even pull out your phone.

Final chord 🧘‍♀️🩴

If you’re a woman who wants to travel solo in India, our answer is: namaste — the road is open. It’s paved with simple habits, alertness, and the ability to say a firm “no.”

This isn’t “magic,” it’s the karma of intention: where you look, that’s where the road leads. In India, what you call out comes to you, what you seek is what you’ll find. Craving adventure and attention? You’ll get it. Wishing for peace, clarity, harmony, and kind people? You’ll be surprised how quickly it arrives. Karma, as they say, loves the prepared — and dislikes chaos.