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Travel in India is one of the most listed things on people’s bucket lists. Its passion for colours, chaos, and capriciousness engages all the human senses at once and leaves the traveller enthralled for a long time. Speaking of present times, these days, more and more women are respecting their independent streak and thereby travelling to far and wide places, exploring culture, cuisines and clans. To honour the spirit of solo women travellers, in this blog, we shall discover the best places in India for solo female travellers to explore, experience and enjoy!
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1. Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir
A picturesque little town nestled in Kashmir’s bosom, Gulmarg is considered India’s heaven on Earth and is one of the safest places for solo women travellers. With snow-clad peaks, rolling landscapes, fresh crisp air and friendly natives, you are bound to have the time of your life!
The ideal time to visit & major attractions:
The snow lovers can go between October and February. On the other hand, the peak tourist season begins during the summer months of March to June. Major attractions in Gulmarg include skiing, sightseeing, natural exploration, etc.
Travel Options:
By air: You will find the nearest airport to Gulmarg in Srinagar about 56 km away. From there you can board a bus on a taxi to Gulmarg easily.
By train: You can choose to deport at Jammu railway station if you’re travelling by train, from there Srinagar is approx 300 km away.
Where to stay?
Check out the WOW club packages for solo women travelling to Gulmarg. Alternatively, you can check out every trustworthy Trip Advisor for a listing of the 10 best hotels in Gulmarg.
2. Rishikesh, Foothills of The Himalayan Ranges
Known as the “Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas” and “Yoga Capital of the World”, if you are a lone wolf and a spiritual seeker then you must visit Rishikesh, one of the best destinations for women travellers in India
Ideal visiting time for solo women backpackers:
For general tourists, September to March is the best time. However, if you plan to make the ‘Chardham Yatra’, you can go between May & October.
Major attractions:
Ganga Aarti, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Muni Ki Reti, Rishikund, Vashishtha Cave are just some of the attractions that we mentioned. The whole city is a spiritual ground of peace, faith & devotion and one of the most sacred destinations in India.
Check out: 5 Best Things to do in Rishikesh, India – A Travel Guide
Travel Options:
By Air: The nearest airport to Rishikesh is the Jolly Grant airport at Dehradun, approximately 35 km away.
By Trains: The nearest station to Rishikesh is in Haridwar which is approximately 25 kilometres away. From there, you can hire a bus or taxi to Rishikesh which will take approx 30-45 minutes.
By self-drive car: Rishikesh is well connected to major cities like Delhi via the NH 58 route. It takes around 7 hours to reach Gulmarg by road.
Where to stay?
There are plenty of good hotels that are safe for women in Rishikesh, you can also book your stay in an ashram or a meditation centre.
To get started on hotel/camps research, you can check out 16 Women Friendly Hotels in Rishikesh at ₹1111 by GoIbibo.com.
3. Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
If you’re a fan of ancient architecture, murals and fine chiselling examples, you can plan your next trip to Khajuraho. Located in the heart of India, Khajuraho temples are a group of Hindu & Jain temples situated in M.P’s Chhatarpur district, near Jhansi. Landmarked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Khajuraho temples are famous for their sculptures & murals made with intricate details, symbolism and expressiveness of ancient Indian art.
Ideal visiting time for solo women backpackers:
The best time to visit Khajuraho is between October and March. What’s more, is that Feb-March is when the famous Khajuraho Dance Festivals take place. These are the winter months where the temperature can go as low as 4 degrees celsius. You might want to pack some warm clothes and cosy socks. The off-season is between July & September AKA the monsoons.
Check out: Food To Try in Khajuraho
Major attractions in Khajuraho:
You will find there abundant evidence of a past civilisation, the architecture, the ambience, the legends. However, for specificity, you can check out
You can also go through this list of the top 10 comfort hotels in Khajuraho.
Travel Options:
By Air: Khajuraho has its own airport that connects to Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Bhopal, and Mumbai. Foreign travellers can book flights from either Delhi or Mumbai.`
By Rail & Road: The nearest railway station to Khajuraho is Mahoba, which is 63 km away. Public & private buses run daily Khajuraho to major cities like Agra, Allahabad, Bhopal, Chhatarpur, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Jhansi, Mahoba, Panna, Satna, and Varanasi.
4. Kovalam, Kerala
For beach lovers, a visit to Kovalam beaches will surely rejuvenate your mind and senses and leave them lit up like a fresh daisy. It is considered one of the best places in India for solo female travellers to explore and is safe for women.
During the daytime, the sea breeze cools the air providing utter relaxation if you come from hot-weather cities.
Ideal Visiting Time for Solo Women Backpackers:
Winter is the most ideal time. It’s when most tourists come and the weather touches the maximum of 30 degrees only. To get bumper deals, though, you can visit in the off-season from May to July (don’t forget to bring your sun shades!)
Things to do (Major Attractions):
Sea Bathing at Kovalam Beach, ayurvedic health resorts, handloom & handicraft shopping spree, the Vellayani lake, The Vizhingam Rock Cut Cave Temple and of course, the –
The Padmanabhaswamy Temple: The richest and most popular temple in India, this temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is regarded as a holy place in Hindu Puranas and Vedas. If you happen to visit it during October, you can witness the local Panguni festival.
Recommended Read: Padmanabhaswamy Temple ‘Vault B’: facts about the scary, inaccessible chamber
Travel Options:
For a beach holiday, you can consider staying in hotels, here are some of our recommendations for a solo woman backpacker:
By Air: The Trivandrum International Airport, located about 15 km is the nearest airport to Kovalam, from there you can hail a bus/taxi up to your hotel.
By Rail & Road: You can travel via bus from Bangalore, Chennai, Madurai & Nagercoil to reach Kovalam. Apart from all this, road-tripping to Kovalam is still considered one of the best ways to reach Kovalam.
5. Lahaul & Spiti
Although an isolated region, nestled away in the Himalayan ranges, Lahaul & Spiti provides one of the safest destinations in India for solo women backpackers across the planet. The locals are some of the warmest people you will meet and the sights are just majestic to behold.
Ideal visiting time for solo women travellers:
May to October: the summer season is the perfect time to visit this beautiful place. The snow is clear, the weather is nippy yet pleasant and you can actually see all the sight-seeing worthy places in perfect visibility However if you are looking forward to cutting contact from all ‘civilised’ mankind, then you may want to visit this place during the winter months when the whole region is under deep layers of snow.
Major Attractions:
Chandra Taal – high altitude lake & trek spot
Hamta Pass – scenic trek route
Key Gompa – Remote monastery with magnificent views
Travel Options:
By road is the most ideal way to reach Lahaul & Spiti through the following routes:
1st route: From Shimla to Kaza in Spiti Valley through Reckong Peo (412 km, 20 hours)
2nd route: Shimla to Keylong in Lahaul (375 km, 18 hours).
3rd route: From Manali via the Kunzum Pass and the Rohtang Pass (this route remains closed for 9 months in a year due to heavy snowfall.
So, there you go, these were some of the best places in India for solo female travellers to explore. If you’re planning to take a trip by your lonesome then this blog might help you out. Bookmark it for later use. Happy travelling!
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