Check regional travel advisories before booking
India cannot be described as uniformly safe or unsafe. Crime, harassment, traffic, weather and regional security conditions can affect a trip. A popular destination or a confirmed booking is not a safety guarantee.
Read your own government's current advice for every region on your itinerary before booking and again before departure. This guide is not a live advisory.
Solo female travel and personal safety
Official advisories warn about sexual assault and other serious crime, including in tourist areas. Take unwanted attention seriously; you do not have to accept photographs, conversation or physical contact.
The U.S. Department of State advises women against travelling alone in India. Check your own government's current advice, and avoid isolated areas when alone, including beaches.
Choose accommodation you can contact directly, plan your arrival transport and share your itinerary with someone you trust. Clothing and other precautions do not guarantee safety or make a victim responsible for an offence.
Airport transfers and taxi safety
Confirm the driver and vehicle against your booking. Choose a vehicle with working seatbelts and wear one. Share the journey details with a trusted contact.
Keep your arrival address, accommodation contact and an alternative transport plan available offline. Allow enough time to avoid making pressured decisions at a station or airport.
A first-arrival safety checklist
- Save the full accommodation address and booking confirmation offline.
- Agree a pickup point and a backup way to contact your accommodation.
- Keep essential documents and medication accessible during the journey.
- Arrange a check-in message with someone you trust.
Roads, crowds and day-to-day precautions
Take care crossing roads even at marked crossings. Use a helmet and suitable footwear on a motorbike; check licence and insurance requirements before renting.
Avoid demonstrations and move away from crowds that become difficult to leave. Follow local closures and weather warnings; keep flexibility for disrupted journeys.
Keep control of your drinks and avoid accepting food or drinks from strangers. If you feel unwell or unsafe, seek help from staff or emergency services.
Health precautions and travel insurance
Discuss your itinerary, health conditions, vaccines and medicines with a travel-health clinician before travel. Requirements differ by traveller and destination.
Check that your insurance covers the activities and regions you plan to visit. Keep medication information and your insurer's assistance number accessible.
Do not touch or feed unfamiliar animals. After an animal bite or scratch, wash the wound immediately with soap and clean water and seek medical care urgently; do not wait for symptoms.
Getting help in an emergency
For an immediate police, fire or medical emergency in India, call 112. Give your location and explain what help is needed. Contact your embassy or consulate for nationality-specific support after immediate safety needs are addressed.
BEFORE YOU GO
Common questions
Find helpful answers and plan your next journey with confidence.
Safety varies by region, journey and personal circumstances. Check your government’s current advice for each stop, including areas it advises against visiting. Arrange accommodation, arrival transport and a way to get help before departure.
The U.S. Department of State advises women against travelling alone in India. Read your own government’s current personal safety and regional advice. Avoid isolated areas when alone, plan transport and share your itinerary; precautions cannot guarantee safety.
Confirm that the driver and vehicle match your booking, choose working seatbelts and wear one, and share journey details with someone you trust. Keep your destination address and accommodation contact available offline.
Use your own government’s current regional travel advisory for each destination and transit route. Check again before departure and during your trip if conditions change. A popular attraction or confirmed booking does not override official advice.
Call 112 for police, fire or medical emergency assistance. Give your location and explain what happened. Contact your embassy or consulate for nationality-specific help after immediate safety needs are addressed.