Safety Tips For the Solo Women Travelers Exploring India by Train

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I would never recommend that females stop exploring India by train, and I would spend 1,000 more hours on them to take in such a bewildering and beautiful country. The following tips and advisories are for female travelers especially, but also for the male solo traveler, to ensure healthy and incident-free travel aboard the Indian railways: Unlike many other destinations, in India if you are a solo traveler you will often be the only Westerner on a train.

•         Ask for the upper berth (it will say "UB" on your ticket stub) when buying your ticket - it has a far greater degree of privacy and you can stretch out any time, even in the middle of the day.

•         Avoid the lower berth or middle berth; you will not be able to stretch out until everyone decides to go to sleep.

•         Purchase all tickets as far in advance as possible. It is a good idea to purchase a few legs of your journey all at once while you are at one major station so you are assured a seat on the date that you want.

•         Do not make prolonged eye contact with any males; it can be seen as sexual invitation.

•         Although you will be asked for your sex at the ticket office, this will not generally mean that you will share your berth with other females.

•         Sleep and ride with any bags that fit right on your berth - use them as footrest and pillows. All travel documents should be in contact with your body at all times.

•         Study all the passengers around you after the train leaves the station. Do not shy away from pleasant conversation because you are afraid for your safety, but do not feel a false sense of ease because you feel like you know them.

•         Do not plan to change your clothes while on the train. An ankle-length cotton skirt, dark colored t-shirt with sleeves, and a long cotton scarf is ideal.

•         Pre-arrange all hotel information at your intended destination before boarding your train, especially if you will be arriving after 5 p.m.

•         Do not get off the train to stretch, even at prolonged stops at major stations. Stay within eye contact of your berth at all times.

•         If you feel uncomfortable in any situation on a train, do not hesitate to change your seat immediately, with or without first asking the conductor. If you sense trouble, move first, ask later.

•         If you find yourself the victim of a crime, report the situation to the conductor and request to speak to a police officer. Gather the names and addresses of any witnesses.

•         If you are the victim of a sexual assault in India, report it to the authorities immediately and don't give up or be surprised if the men in charge to not take you seriously. Place a call to the nearest embassy of your country of origin as soon as you can, and don't be shy about telling the authorities that you are doing so; it gets them to act. You will be asked by the police to write a full report of the incident and, if possible, identify the perpetrator at the station.

•         Don't shy away from independent female travel - just be careful!

For complete timetables, names of trains, and planning ahead, visit www.trainenquiries.com

About the Author

Jessica Tuerk is a freelance writer and high school teacher. She travels the world as much as she can and encourages everyone she knows to do the same.

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