Ladies’s security is commonly a serious concern for feminine vacationers visiting India for the primary time, particularly these touring solo. Horror tales are widespread. Nonetheless, the truth is that not all of India is similar. Whereas sexual harassment is prevalent in north India, it is noticeably much less so within the south. And, in Tamil Nadu, it is virtually absent.

Tamil Nadu does not often function on the itineraries of first-time guests to India, preferring to go north and see the well-known points of interest there. Nonetheless, in case you’re a solo girl traveler who’s fearful about security and the way you will address the challenges in India, Tamil Nadu is advisable as the most effective place to start out your travels.

My Choice to Journey Round Tamil Nadu

“It is best to spend extra time touring in south India”, a lot of individuals advised me. “It is completely different there.”

I used to be no stranger to south India. In spite of everything, I would lived in Kerala for eight months whereas I used to be managing a guesthouse in Varkala. I would additionally visited fairly just a few locations in Karnataka, Chennai a few occasions, and infamously drove an auto rickshaw from Chennai to Mumbai. In Chennai, I had observed that individuals not often gave me a second look, in contrast to many different locations in India the place I used to be typically leered at and photographed by teams of males. It was refreshing.

So, on a whim, I made a decision to embark on a solo journey by way of Tamil Nadu. I needed to see among the state’s temples and my husband wasn’t taken with becoming a member of me. Plus, I needed to expertise what it could be like as a single, white, feminine touring alone there and on a funds. I would already explored most states in India, so I had lots to match it to.

Planning the Journey

I deliberate a whirlwind itinerary: six locations (Madurai, Rameshwaram, Tanjore, Chidambaram, Pondicherry, and Tiruvannamalai) in 10 days. Aside from flights there and again, I’d journey to every vacation spot by bus or practice, and keep in inns priced from 500-2,000 rupees per night time. I researched, deliberate and made all my journey preparations myself — so I actually could be alone. There would not be any tour firm or journey company taking care of me. And, I did not know one phrase of the language (Tamil), so I would not have any actual benefit over different vacationers who had been new to India.

Nonetheless, understanding that Tamil Nadu is considered one of India’s extra conservative states, I made positive I packed accordingly — Indian garments solely and all with quick sleeves (in contrast to the sleeveless kurtas I generally put on at residence in cosmopolitan Mumbai).

It was with some trepidation and the same old contact of paranoia that I arrived at Madurai airport, my first vacation spot, questioning what to anticipate. How would individuals deal with me and the way exhausting wouldn’t it be to journey round on my own?

My First Impressions

I threw myself into my journey by happening a 4 hour guided strolling tour with Madurai Inhabitants the subsequent morning. It gave me a superb introduction to town. The friendliness of individuals was rapidly obvious, together with girls. They had been outgoing and referred to as me over to take their images. As well as, girls may generally be seen in locations often dominated by males, together with sitting by the roadside consuming chai. Another locations I discovered girls had been working alongside facet males in eating places and behind the entrance desks in inns.

Inside a few days, I felt myself enjoyable and all stress dissolving. Though I used to be alone, I felt safe, secure, and assured. It was a wierd and sudden feeling. Individuals spoke good English and had been useful. I used to be simply capable of finding my approach round bus stations, which had been considered one of my greatest considerations. Individuals additionally tended to thoughts their very own enterprise. They appeared easy and dignified. I felt like I had some dignity too. I wasn’t continuously being hounded by shopkeepers or having to maintain my guard up in opposition to sexual harassment. At one vacation spot, Chidambaram, I did not see one other foreigner the entire time I used to be there. But, I wasn’t overtly stared at or bothered.

Did males strategy me throughout the journey? Sure, just a few occasions. Though, as a rule, they needed to pose for a photograph by themselves. Elsewhere in India, I am used to discovering cameras pointed at me as a substitute of the monuments. If the boys of Tamil Nadu did {photograph} me, I did not readily discover or really feel uncomfortable about it. On the entire, they had been very respectful in the direction of me.

Why is Tamil Nadu Higher for Ladies?

I carried out a little bit of analysis to attempt to uncover the rationale why Tamil Nadu appeared to be a greater place for ladies. Apparently, it may be attributed to way back to the Sangam period of Tamil literature, from round 350 BC to 300 AD. This literature championed the training of girls and their acceptance within the public sphere. They’d appreciable freedom to decide on their very own companions, and took part actively within the social life and work of the neighborhood. Though there was a decline within the standing of girls since then, clearly Tamil Nadu continues to be nicely forward of many different locations in India.

I do notice that different girls vacationers could have a special expertise of Tamil Nadu to what I did. Nonetheless, there have been a lot of different issues I actually favored concerning the state, which all contributed to me having fun with my time there immensely. On the entire, the roads are in glorious situation, and buses are a really handy and economical approach of getting round. The inns I stayed in had been clear, effectively managed, and represented good worth for cash. In comparison with some components of India, Tamil Nadu is laid again and uncrowded. The temples are magnificent as nicely, and their sprawling grounds are peaceable.

I am trying ahead returning! (The one disadvantage is that I am not a fan of south Indian breakfasts, however that is a special matter)!

The place to Go in Tamil Nadu

For the sake of comfort, most individuals fly into Chennai and begin their journey there. Then, they head down the coast to Mammallapuram and Pondicherry.

Try these 11 High Vacationer Locations in Tamil Nadu and 10 Locations to See South Indian Temples to get some concepts.

If you’re a girl who’s planning on visiting India and are not acquainted with the tradition, additionally do learn this very informative e-book on girls’s security in India.