Ranjit Powar
With an upward trend in per capita income, the last couple of decades have shown dynamic changes in the way Indians travel. A greater number travel for pleasure, and travel more often. Their travel destinations include far-flung national and international places of tourist interest, beyond the earlier family visits to the odd relative in Shimla or an army friend posted in Pune. Another interesting development is that the expected scenario of a man leading his saree-clad wife, firmly holding on to two restless brats at airports and railway stations, is no longer the norm. Women have shown an upward mobility in terms of education and income, giving themselves a taste of newfound freedom and self-confidence. So, we’ve a new brigade of intrepid women travellers who are out to seek new experiences and adventures without looking to be chaperoned by male family members. In fact, given that single women roughly constitute 21% of India’s female population, they are not the only girls on the go. Solo women travellers include a large number of married women and stay-at-home moms too.
Reasons for married women wanting to travel solo shouldn’t be hard to guess. A welcome break from picking up wet towels and empty tea cups, from listening in to stale jokes and soul-stirring snores, from losing absurd arguments out of sheer exhaustion and, most of all, navigating one’s own way for a change.
If you are a woman teetering on the edge of taking a plunge to travel solo, be inspired by sister trailblazers and go for it. Hark to some helpful tips from veteran vagabonds for safe and mindful travel.
Travel tips
For international travel, do read up and educate yourself about the destination you are visiting in terms of weather, currency, availability of ATMs and the languages spoken.
In spite of all pre arrangements, there will be things beyond your control; travel plans can and will go awry many a time. Remember that travel is meant to be an adventure and adventures are never all predictable. The moment you take that first step out of your house, you are opening yourself to myriad possibilities of wondrous revelations, scenarios of bewitching natural beauty and awesome live knowledge about history and unknown cultures.
On the flip side, there may also be some slip-ups like delayed flights, lost luggage, bouts of diarrhoea, disappointing lodgings and annoying male attention. Be mentally prepared to tackle such eventualities confidently and without being rattled. It is small price to pay for the exhilarating feel of flying out to reach out and touch new horizons.
On your own
A short survey brought out the following reasons why women look to travel solo:
Women’s take
I travel alone because I can do whatever I want and it’s a break from taking care of everyone. Travelling alone is an escape from my real life. — Kimberley Anderson
Women see it as a new freedom. Men love to be taken care of and travelling alone is not a benefit for them. —Bernadet Bijsterbosch
The freedom to do whatever we want and not take care of others is a big one, but it goes further. Women escape thinking and worrying about what others want to do and get freedom to decide for themselves, which was mostly done by others. — La Abrams
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