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Why do I compulsively seek to travel? My easiest answer is to experience the addictive adrenaline rush that comes with it! For me, traveling triggers my brain into thinking I am appreciating myself!
Are you a narcissist like my brain, who is only focused on how pleasurable it feels to experience a new place? But where does solo travel come in? The first thing that comes to mind when you plan to travel as a solo female is safety.
I travel solo to places and come back with experiences that include handling my mood swings, temper tantrums, happy moments, and luggage! These experiences make me want to take that risk again, I guess it is called self-destructive disorder guys!
In 2025, solo travel is considered one of the key pillars in the tourism industry and trends. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1% is propagated from 2023 to 2030 by the solo travel service market. Solo travel is therefore considered in high demand in the coming year!
In this blog, I want to share with you some of the best places to travel solo female in India! Additionally, I promise to not just show off my experience but also highlight the place, its culture, food, people and the vibe. After all, it is all about the vibe!
Solo Travel in India as a Woman!
I am generally not a reckless person and mostly responsible enough to take care of myself. So, when I hear people say it is not safe for women alone out in the world, I do not take kindly to that line.
Having said that, I would also ask everyone, men and women to take safety precautions wherever they go! Furthermore, bravery can only take you so far. Being aware of my surroundings, appropriately and comfortably dressing and showing kindness with a dose of confidence are some of my goals when traveling solo!
In my experience, solo travel for women in India is safe. Yes, there are antisocial elements around us, not just in India but all over the world. However, India has some of the best places to travel solo female, be it for pleasure or adventure.
1. Goa
I traveled to Goa in 2019, yes pre-COVID era it was! A party hub, Goa in India is beautiful and one of the best places to travel solo female. Along with basic precautions, you will have the time of your life as a solo female traveling and meeting new people.
Apart from the activities you can do at the beach, visiting the flea market will make your day if you are a shopaholic. How can I forget the Goan chicken curry with sourdough bread and wedges, one of the most delicious memorable foods!
You should carry less clothing for your solo travel and buy beautiful color blocks, print fabrics, sarongs and crochet one piece. Additionally, get some of the most beautiful camera captures with the wide ocean behind your back!
Places | Charge | What to Do |
Aguada Fort | Rs. 250/- per adult | • Open from 8:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. • You can enjoy beautiful ocean views and see an abandoned lighthouse • It is a Portuguese era fort which is well preserved |
Calangute Beach | Entry is free | • Open 24 hours • Clean beach • The view from the beach is beautiful • Water sports are available |
Baga Beach | Entry is free | • Open 24 hours • Nighttime activities are at an all-time high • Festive environment • Best eateries and bars • Water sports are available |
Anjuna Flea Market | Depends on your bargaining skills | • Open from 8 A.M. to 6 P.M. • Operational from October to May • You will get spices, artifacts, trinkets, jewelry, clothes, decor items and much more • (pro tip – visit in the late afternoon to get the best stuff and with the best deals) |
2. Shimla
I visited Shimla with a lot of planning and a detailed list of things to do! Simultaneously, I ended up waking up every day and deciding to do something completely different than what was planned.
It is one of the best solo travel destinations in India. It was the weather, playing with my plans but I am not someone to sit on my ass!
I took the day as it came, starting from Kali Bari temple so that the Mother Goddess bless me with my travel plans. Funny but I almost got my beanie stolen by a monkey and had the most delicious street golgappe chaat on the way back. I also had the most delicious soft cream ice cream, which marked me for life.
Furthermore, visiting Jakhu was something of an enigma for me, standing in front of a 108 feet Hanuman statue, you feel tiny. It kind of gives you a reality check, of how inconsequential you are in this world. Therefore, this is one of the best solo travel destinations for me!
The ropeway is another experience that you must have if you visit Shimla and met a retired English teacher seeking blessings from Hanuman ji before he heads off to Canada! Henceforth, it made me realize how traveling alone can sometimes attract the coolest, kindest and amazing beings to you.
Places | Charge | What to Do |
Shree Hanuman Temple, Jakhu | Entry is freeRs. 500/- to and fro ropeway to reach the templeRs. 20/- and above to buy prasad to offer at the temple | • Open from 5 A.M. to 9 P.M. • It will not cost you anything if you can walk your way, a sloping path has been made from the mall to the templeRestrooms available • Water facilities and Shoe keeping facilities I also got free food, a Langar being shared with all visitors |
Kali Bari Temple | Entry is free | • Open from 6 A.M. to 7 P.M. • You visit the reincarnation of Goddess Kali, Shyamala Goddess in this temple • A bit of a hike from the scandal point, it takes about 10 minutes from the Mall road • You will get veg and non-veg food at the canteen • Be careful of the monkeys, they are quite notorious, they take away phones, sunglasses and anything handy! |
Christ Church | Entry is free | • Open from 10:30 A.M. to 1 P.M. to 2:15 P.M. to 5:30 P.M.Sundays are closed • The interior is beautiful with its high ceiling, stained glass, and wooden seatings, the dais boasts of neo-gothic style |
The Mall | Entry is free | Check out the Ridge from the Mall as it is covered with snow in the winter month You can also check out the complete city below There are regular exhibitions and shows in the mall It is a place for shopping for the popular Shimla handicrafts, metalwork, pullovers, shawls, Tibetan carpets and jams It has delicious street food namely hot dogs, chaat, scotch eggs, pies, |
3. Dharamshala
I went on a solo trip to Dharamshala for 10 days and did not want to come back! Yes, it sounds very dramatic, but you will feel the same if you go. Known as the winter capital, Dharamshala is spiritual for the soul and freeing for the mind! Additionally, it is one of the best places to travel solo female in India!
Staying in a small homestay, I took long walks across forest trails after a heavy breakfast in a small cafe overlooking the town. Enjoy the Bhagsu cake while you are there and trek to Truind to watch the Dhauldhar range! This trip helped me lose a lot of my common fears about adventure travel.
How can I forget the McleoudGunj market with its huge collection of keychains, windchimes, jewelry, traditional clothing, winter clothing, home decor, wooden artifacts, bags, accessories and other such things.
Places | Charge | What to Do |
Dalai Lama TempleDalai Lama Musuem | Entry is freeMusuem fee – Rs. 5/- | • Open from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. • Open from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. • A peaceful and learning experience, open to all! |
Church of St. JohnGraveyard behind the Church | Entry is free | • Open from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. • The place is spooky, but it is the experience of a lifetime! You can feel time stop when you enter the place, keeping the outside world at bay |
Triund | Starting from Rs. 1000/- if you are already living in McleoudGunj or Dharamshala | • Various groups and organizers take people camping • I visited with a group of solo travelers and camped for 2 days out in the wilderness! |
Naddi viewpoint | Free of cost | • Walk across the forest trail • Visit the river NaddiExperience the forest quite • There is literally one shack where you can get tea and Maggi |
Gyuto Tantric Monastery Temple | Entry is freeYou can take a guided tour if you are looking for a detailed experience for which you need to pay | Open from 5 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. and 6:30 P.M. to 8 P.M. • Did you know the first disciple of Dalai Lama, Jetsun Kunga Dhondup established this temple? • You will experience the power of medication here! |
The Tibet Museum | Rs. 20/- for adultsFree for children | • Open from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M. • Tibetan history and culture through exhibitions, artifacts, photographs, and paintings |
4. Bangalore
I visited Bangalore on a whim, a sudden plan to fulfill my heart’s desire! A lot of you might not know but the place is actually a secret place to fall in love with nature! It might be known as the working capital of India, but the parks and flower exhibitions will steal your heart.
With the help of a friend, I explored some of the best places in Bangalore and probably left a part of my heart there! Starting from royal palaces, to parks, the nightlife is also something to be boasted about. People there know how to let their hair down!
I visited one such pub at night, Skyye on the 16th floor of the shopping center. You get a beautiful view from the rooftop especially if you go just before sunset! The Food and the drinks are sumptuous, yes expensive!
You get the complete view of the Bangalore stadium from this rooftop, a definite option for a romantic night out or a friends’ reunion! Bangalore can also be a perfect place for family travel with so much to see and do.
Places | Charge | What to Do |
Bengaluru Palace, between Sadashivnagar and Jayamahal | Rs. 230/- for Indian TouristsRs. 460/ for Foreign National | • Open from 10 A.M. to 5:30 P.M • .Cameras are not allowed • They even ask you not to take any pictures on your mobile • The rooms, furniture, chandeliers, decor and artifacts will take your breath away |
Cubbon Park, Vittal Mallya Rd | Entry is free | • Open from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. • Closed on the Mondays • Closed on the second Tuesday of every month |
Bannerghatta Biological Park, 22 km away from the main city of Bangalore | Rs. 400/- per foreign nationals (zoo entry only)Rs. 200/- per foreign nationals Children (zoo entry only)Rs. 80/- per adults (zoo entry only)Rs. 40/- per children (zoo entry only)Rs. 3500/- for AC Jeep (Safari, zoo, butterfly park and camera use)Rs. 500/- per adult for AC bus safariRs. 300/- per child for non-AC bus safariRs. 280/- per adult for non-AC bus safariRs. 140/- per child for non-AC bus safariRs. 60/- per person for boating | • Zoo (9:30 A.M. to 5 P.M.)Safari – 10 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. • Butterfly Park (9:30 A.M. to 5 P.M.) • Trekking – (9:30 A.M. to 4: 30 P.M.) • Bird Watching – (9:30 A.M. to 5 P.M.) • Boating – 10 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. (30 minutes each ride) |
UB city, Lavelle Road | Price Range for shopping from Rs. 4000/-Price Range for food from Rs 2200/- for 2 (without alcohol) | • A luxurious destination for shopping, it is India’s first luxury shopping destination • Upscale environment with diverse range of stores • Amazing restaurants, pubs and fine dining visited a 4-star pub on the 16th floor, Skyye |
5. Varanasi
I visited Varanasi and what a joy it was! Starting from making an itinerary to visit every temple in the right order, I took boat rides every day I was there. What can I say, I just couldn’t get enough it the experience.
Don’t even get me started on the street food of Varanasi, because I will blabber it all out anyway. Let me tell you some of the things that you must do while in Varanasi and it will prove why it is one of the best places to travel solo female in India!
Places | Charges | What to Do |
Assi Ghat and Dashashwamedh Ghat | Rs. 300 per person for 45 minutes to one hour (during evening Aarti time)Rs. 1050 for private motorboatsRs. 1750 for big private motorboats | • You can go for evening Aarti at the two ghats, Dashashwamedh and Assi Ghat • The private tour includes taking you across all the ghats, roughly taking 45 minutes • You can also take boats to visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple via the water way • You can sit on the steps on the ghats to see Aarti, no fees |
Kashi Viswanath Temple | Rs. 250/500/750 for prasad that we offer to the deity, MahadevRs. 2450 for VIP entry inside the Garvagriha of the temple | • There is no entry fee inside the temple! • People stand in queue and then offer prasad, milk and flower |
Sarnath Temple | Rs. 500 for a to and fro trip to Sarnath | • There is a temple, several exhibits along the temple and an ancient stupa. • The exhibits are beautiful with several huge statues of Buddha, Ashok chakra and other such artifacts • You must walk or take the auto to go to the Stupa, which is approximately 10 minutess away from the temple • Further you can buy original Benarasi silk sarees from the artisans exhibiting their work just opposite the temple |
Local Market | Starting from Rs. 100 up to Rs. 5000/- | • You must visit Thatheri Bazar and Vishwanath LaneBuy Gulabi Meenakari, Benaras is popular for those. • Benarasi Saree and Bhadohi carpets are some other specialties of the city |
Street Food | Rs. 60/ from the Kashi Chat BhandarRs. 50/- from any local sweets shopRs. 30/- for 4 Kachori and SabziRs. 40/- from Vishwanath Chaat BhandaarRs. 120/- lassi from Blue Lassi Shop | • Tamatar Chaat • Malaaiyo • Kachori Sabzi • Dahi Chutney Golgappe • Dry Fruit Lassi |
Tips to Select the Next Destination as Solo Female!
I do a bit of research when I am planning to visit a place, be it solo or with company! But when it comes to tips from a solo female traveler to choose your next destination, I have some goodies up my sleeve that will make your life much easier if you are a first-time solo female traveler!
Decide on what type of place you want to visit, beach, mountain, or forest!
Read about the place on social media platforms. In recent times, you get to learn a lot from Google reviews!
Create your purpose. Why do you want to visit, is it a specific location, the beautiful landscape, the food or something else?
Choose the locations of the place that has grabbed your attention and do a virtual recce of the directions, transportation, and accommodations available.
Calculate your expenses and make an approximate evaluation of the necessary budget.
If you have someone living there or have visited previously, you do a question-answer session with them to get more clarity.
Finally, you start planning your trip and create an itinerary for the best places to travel as solo female!
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