Atithi devo bhava vs. constant vigilance: Five travellers on what ‘safety’ really means to them | Destination-of-the-week News

Elsewhere, New Zealand–based mostly creator Mols shared her ordeal of being harassed by a person whereas travelling in Sri Lanka. But, in the identical breath, she cautioned in opposition to collapsing a complete nation into one incident. “Sri Lanka is an unimaginable place, and I felt secure for my whole month on the highway,” she mentioned, stressing that one man’s behaviour shouldn’t outline a tradition—or solo feminine journey itself.

These tales underline a vital reality: security whereas travelling isn’t black and white. It’s formed by folks, techniques, preparation, and notion. To know this complexity higher, indianexpress.com spoke to 5 travellers—men and women, whose experiences throughout India and overseas provide a layered image of what safety really means on the road.

‘It’s not the nation, it’s the folks’

Advertising and marketing skilled Mithi Singh believes that labelling any nation as completely unsafe is deceptive. Having travelled solo throughout India to locations like Jibhi, Bir and Mussoorie, she recollects experiences that had been heat and welcoming. “Folks had been sort, useful, and made me really feel at house,” she says.

But, her journey by way of interior Rajasthan, significantly Jaisalmer and Bikaner, felt markedly completely different. “There was extreme staring, a way of being judged, and even folks leaping onto our automobile to promote motels. It felt scary and intrusive,” she admits.

Her worldwide experiences bolstered a key perception. Whereas in Bangkok, two males on a scooter shouted a crude comment at her in Hindi—an incident that shook her. “That’s once I realised it’s not geography that makes you uncomfortable, it’s folks,” she says. Thailand, she provides, largely felt secure, permitting her freedom of motion and gown. Satirically, among the most uncomfortable moments got here from fellow Indian vacationers. “Staring, sitting too shut, invading private area—it made issues uneasy.”

For Singh, security is much less about borders and extra about civic sense and mindset. “Whether or not it’s India or overseas, security will depend on the folks you encounter,” she says.

The system issues

Freelance journey author Manjulika Pramod takes a extra crucial view of home journey. She prefers travelling overseas, citing security and infrastructure as decisive components. “For those who’re staying in a five-star lodge or with a tour agent in India, it’s fantastic. However the second you attempt to journey independently, it turns into tough to even discover secure conveyance in some locations,” she explains.

For Pramod, logistics are a significant deterrent. “We’re overly depending on taxis. There’s a scarcity of correct guides, info and clear infrastructure. Solo journey right here is much tougher than it must be,” she says, including that even cleanliness stays a persistent concern.

Whereas she acknowledges India’s wealthy tradition and heritage, she feels the nation usually fails to supply a clean, inspiring journey expertise—particularly for solo travellers navigating on their own.

The psychological burden of being alert

PR skilled Divya Bhatia describes travelling in India as an train in fixed calculation. “I wouldn’t say India is unsafe, however it calls for a a lot increased degree of warning—particularly for ladies,” she says. From choosing the proper lodge to planning transport and timings, each resolution carries weight.

What stands out in her account is the emotional toll. “There’s an underlying sense of worry. When you stand out, there’s undesirable consideration. You’re continuously alert, operating ‘what if’ situations in your head,” she explains.

In distinction, her experiences overseas felt lighter—not as a result of incidents don’t happen there, however as a result of techniques encourage confidence. “Strict legal guidelines, seen enforcement, and the peace of mind that assistance will arrive if one thing goes improper—that makes an enormous distinction,” she says. Whereas she has confronted uncomfortable moments overseas, too, the idea that authorities would act allowed her to handle conditions extra successfully.

Bhatia is cautious to keep away from absolutes. “No nation is completely secure or unsafe. India has areas that really feel extremely safe due to native tradition and governance. It’s about context and preparedness.”

Gender modifications all the pieces

Journey content material creator Prateek Singh is candid concerning the gendered actuality of journey in India. “Travelling as a male isn’t that difficult, however the identical can’t be mentioned for ladies or foreigners,” he says. Regardless of India’s cultural satisfaction, he argues that security for feminine travellers stays a severe concern.

Singh factors out a telling hole: “You’ll discover many male creators travelling solo throughout India, however only a few ladies doing the identical.” For him, the answer lies in infrastructure and governance—from vacationer police to raised security mechanisms.

On the similar time, he resists sweeping generalisations. India is big. One incident can’t outline a rustic of 1.25 billion folks,” he says, naming states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Mizoram and Kerala as comparatively secure and sustainable locations.

Change, he believes, might be sluggish however mandatory. “Sensitisation round tourism and girls’s security gained’t occur in a single day, however now we have to begin someplace.”

Hospitality nonetheless exists

Advertising and marketing skilled Ankit Sharma gives a extra balanced counterpoint, highlighting India’s enduring hospitality. “Security is a blended bag, however being conscious and street-smart goes a great distance,” he says, recalling moments when strangers welcomed him into their properties underneath the spirit of Atithi Devo Bhava.

His travels overseas echo the identical theme. In Tokyo, when he received misplaced within the subway, a neighborhood not solely guided him but in addition purchased him espresso. “Hospitality is aware of no borders,” Sharma says.

He agrees that India is commonly stereotyped. “Folks concentrate on negatives and miss numerous tales of kindness,” he notes, stressing that respect, cultural consciousness, and openness usually form how travellers are handled.

Past stereotypes

Taken collectively, these voices reveal a shared understanding: security will not be a singular expertise. It shifts with gender, geography, infrastructure and social behaviour. India is neither uniquely unsafe nor unfairly flawless. It’s layered, contradictory and deeply human.

As Mols, the New Zealand–based mostly creator, reminded her viewers after her expertise in Sri Lanka: “Ladies ought to be capable to journey—anyplace—with out worry. And we shouldn’t must justify that.”

So, how secure is India for solo travellers?

Journey creator Inder Raj Ahluwalia, who has been travelling solo for the previous 46 years, believes journey security can’t be seen in extremes. “We are able to’t evaluate India with different international locations straight. Our tradition, inhabitants and social realities are very completely different,” Ahluwalia says.

Nonetheless, in the case of ladies’s security, he agrees that India will not be fully secure for ladies travellers. “Out of 10 folks, 9 could also be good, however one particular person with the improper intentions is sufficient to create worry. The way in which some folks view ladies, it’s not completely risk-free,” he says.

For male travellers, Ahluwalia says the challenges are completely different. Language obstacles, communication gaps and the exhaustion of continually transferring from one place to a different could make solo journey tough, particularly with age.

“Even in locations like Thailand, I’ve struggled after lacking flights as a result of folks both don’t perceive the language or don’t need to assist,” recollects the 72-year-old.

Based on Ahluwalia, solo travellers ought to preserve 4 issues in thoughts:

• Safety: “Regardless of the place you journey on the planet, security is at all times a priority to some extent,” he says.
• Costing: Ahluwalia believes solo journey can rapidly develop into costly. “Generally much less is extra,” he provides, stressing the significance of planning realistically.
• Getting misplaced: “It’s very straightforward to lose your manner due to communication gaps and language obstacles,” he says.
• Emotional preparedness: Ahluwalia notes that whereas many individuals start solo journeys with pleasure, feelings can shift halfway. “Folks usually begin in a really constructive temper, however later start feeling lonely or homesick,” he says, including that many travellers reduce journeys quick as a result of they wrestle emotionally.