Solo female travel in India: arrivals, trains, dress and help

What the UK, German and French advice says about women

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO), whose advice was updated on 7 October 2026, says there is a risk of sexual assault, including attacks on female foreign visitors in tourist areas and cities, and that female travellers often experience verbal and physical harassment by individuals or groups of men. Its advice is to avoid isolated areas, including beaches, when alone at any time of day, not only after dark.

France Diplomatie, whose security page was updated on 5 October 2026, says cases of harassment and sexual assault are regularly reported, and strongly advises against moving about, particularly alone, in isolated or little-frequented places, especially after nightfall: quiet streets, including in big cities such as Delhi, village lanes, parks, beaches and forests. The German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), whose page has been unchanged since 14 October 2026, says foreigners, especially women travelling alone or in small groups, are occasionally victims of violent and sexual assaults, also in tourist centres, sometimes after drugs or knock-out drops were put in their drinks.

The FCDO advises against all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, except within, and by air to and from, Jammu city; against all travel within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border, except for the Wagah-Attari border crossing, which is closed to travellers but where visitors can still attend the daily border retreat ceremony; and against all but essential travel to Manipur. Germany warns against travel to Jammu and Kashmir, urgently advises against travel to Manipur and advises against the immediate Pakistan border area. France formally advises against the Kashmir valley, the immediate surroundings of the Line of Control and Pakistan border including Wagah-Attari, and the road from Srinagar to Ladakh; it also advises against proximity to the Pakistan border and strongly advises against the India-Myanmar border. AsiaVela's India guides therefore send no reader to Jammu and Kashmir or Manipur, and they follow France rather than the UK at the border: the Attari-Wagah ceremony is not included, although the FCDO explicitly excepts the crossing from its border warning. This edition keeps the places it recommends at least 50 km from the Pakistan border, a wider margin than the FCDO's warning against all travel within 10 km. Our health and safety guide covers the rest of the advice.

Landing late in Delhi: cabs, prepaid taxis and the metro

The FCDO advises avoiding travelling alone and hailing taxis on the street, especially at night. It says app-based taxis such as Uber and Ola are available in all airport terminal buildings, that prepaid taxis and hotel transfers are other options, and that a hotel driver collecting you should identify himself properly before you set off. If you book in an app, use its option to share the journey details with a contact who can follow your location, and, as the FCDO suggests, pick a taxi with seatbelts.

Delhi Airport says cabs are available around the clock at all three terminals, right outside the arrival gates. At Terminal 3, where international flights land, app cabs (Uber and Ola), prepaid and fixed-rate taxis and Evera electric cabs pick up at Level 0 of the multi-level car park; Terminal 1 also has Rapido. The German advice is to order taxis through an app or agree the fare before you set off.

Delhi Airport's page, checked on 2 November 2026, gives around 25 minutes between Terminal 3 and New Delhi Railway Station on the Airport Express Line (Orange Line). It lists first departures at 04:45 from Dwarka Sector 21 and New Delhi, and last departures at 23:15 from Dwarka Sector 21 and 23:30 from New Delhi. These are departures from the named stations; check the metro's timetable for your airport-station departure. Ticket machines are in the Terminal 3 and Terminal 2 arrival halls. For an arrival after metro service ends, book a cab at the airport.

France names a scam aimed at new arrivals: travel-agency touts at Indira Gandhi airport and New Delhi railway stations, sometimes with taxi or rickshaw drivers, claim the hotel you booked is closed or unreachable and take you elsewhere. Keep to your booking and the address on it. France also advises against booking rooms in the small hotels of Paharganj and Nabi Karim, two central New Delhi districts; our Delhi guide compares the areas to stay in.

Women's coaches, berths and the night train

On the Delhi Metro, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's annual report for 2023-24 says that seats are reserved for women in each coach and that a separate ladies' coach runs. Look for the ladies' coach signs on the platform and on the coach.

On Indian Railways, a Ministry of Railways release of 17 December 2021 describes a quota of six sleeper-class berths on long-distance Mail and Express trains and six 3AC berths on Garib Rath, Rajdhani, Duronto and fully air-conditioned Express trains for female passengers of any age travelling alone or in an all-female group. It also describes a shared lower-berth quota for senior citizens, women aged 45 and over, and pregnant women: six to seven per Sleeper coach, four to five per 3AC coach and three to four per 2AC coach, depending on the train's number of coaches in that class. The same release describes the Railway Protection Force's Meri Saheli programme, launched in October 2020 with particular focus on women travelling alone, and says the railway helpline 139 works around the clock for passengers in distress who need security help.

France says thefts on trains are frequent and advises padlocking bags to the luggage racks in the compartment; the FCDO's advice on trains is not to accept food or drinks from strangers. France also strongly recommends buying train tickets at the station rather than from tourist agents, who may raise the price or claim the train is full. Our India transport guide explains the classes and the Foreign Tourist quota.

Bars, drinks and getting back at night

The FCDO warns of spiked drinks and food, with British nationals robbed or assaulted, and asks travellers to be wary of accepting drinks or food from strangers or leaving drinks unattended. France describes a pattern in Goa: foreign women, especially in night bars, are offered drinks by new acquaintances that may contain a substance causing loss of consciousness. Methanol in alcoholic drinks cannot be detected by taste or smell, the FCDO adds.

Plan the ride back before the evening starts: an app cab booked from the door, with the trip shared. The FCDO also says it is illegal to drink alcohol in public places such as parks. Our Goa guide covers the beach towns.

What to wear, at temples and on the street

France recommends long clothing and keeping your shoulders covered. The FCDO asks visitors to respect the local dress code and customs, particularly at religious sites and in rural areas, and the German Foreign Office asks for restraint and respect at religious sites, especially in what you wear and when you take photographs. Read the dress rules at each temple entrance; a long scarf covers shoulders or head where a site asks for it.

Female-only dorms and choosing a room

Some hostels sell dorm beds for women only. The Hosteller Delhi, for example, says it has dedicated female-only dormitories, that only female guests may check in to them, and that a man who books that room type is refused at check-in. Read the room type and its admission policy before booking.

For a hotel, a room on a busy street and a check-in time that falls in daylight follow the advisories' advice to avoid isolated places. Our where-to-stay guide compares the bases city by city.

If something happens: the numbers to save

The number to remember is 112 (ambulance, fire, police), which the FCDO says answers in English, Hindi and other languages; the 112 India mobile app can share your location. The FCDO lists the women's helpline as 1091 and the police helpline as 100, and the Ministry of Tourism's tourist helpline, 1800 11 1363, advises on reputable services and takes complaints about companies. On a train, call the railway helpline 139.

The FCDO advises keeping copies of your passport, visa and flight ticket apart from the originals, and telling the police at once if the passport is lost or stolen; our entry guide explains what to do if the passport is lost.