My Wife went on her own last year and had several times that she was worried about her saftey.
Men would ask her were her Husband was, so she told them he had just gone somewhere to put them off.
Also was pinched quiet hard by a man while waiting to go into the golden temple, luckly she had hired a driver who dealt with this man by hitting him around the head.
Later she realised that the local paper had an artical stating that western women that are there, with out men, are prostitutes.
So from then on she was very careful where she went and who she went with.
Even with the above she enjoyed herself and meet many nice and friendly people.
Lots of fellow travelers to help you out if things get sticky.
Don't get Paranoid, but be safe. and carry a chain and lock as some of the hotels that she stayed at did not have locks on the doors.

Considering the poverty that exists there, India is a very safe and non-violent country for the tourist (very different if you're an Indian). Unfortunately, I've found that the general perception of westerners/western women is that they are highly promiscuous and will of course, jump into bed at any opportunity.

I've tried to figure this out exactly why this is so. I'd say it's a complex mix of their own cultural bias and expectations, along with how westerners (esp women!) are portrayed in the western media and worse still, in pornography.

Estebangc, sorry you had such negative experiences and I'd argue you were just unfortunate. The train journeys are one of the highlights of travelling there. In a year and a half of travelling there, I can still remember every journey.

For solo women, if you use your common sense and follow the usual precautions, then any negative attention will be more of an annoyance than a threat. There are ways to avoid negative attention. You should ask the guys at indiamike.com, there is a wealth of information there.

Cheers :)

what a stupid comment.

You state its certain that molestation will occur, and then say its a rare occurrence?

:rolleyes2::rolleyes2:

I thought it to be a cultural thing when I was asked if the woman sitting next to me was my wife (my gf). But when an old man intervened to tell the young guy to shut up and be polite and "non-your-business" I thought, well, it's not only cultural. It's not just a 1 time experience.

India is a very extreme country, where things may be just astonishingly beautiful... and terrible. That I understand. The point is that being a foreigner who is not object of violence doesn't make you inmune to what you see. I have seen hit VERY hard to a man in a bus and NOBODY cared at all except us, that was very impressive, even if we did not suffer it. With economic growth, I hope those things will change.

I'm sure I'll come back, it is too much India just to say no to it (to the South!).:)

Is it? I just understand that Twobob means that after some time it will happen (amid a big crowd, for instance, it may easily happen), but it won't be a daily thing, therefore rare, that you can overcome. It may happen in a disco in Santorini and you won't cancel your holidays. "Stupid" seems then harsh, though.

Yeah the fascinating thing about India is the minute you figured you've got it sussed, it throws something in your face that totally shatters your conclusions!

Honestly, compared to other places, not my cup of tea... but I totally agree with you. And I reckon that nowhere else you will get so much diversity in 4 square meters, just unbeatable, a whole world there:eek3:! An eden for photographers!