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Safety & Security

 

TRAFFIC
 Indian traffic flows on the left side, opposite from our own streets. Traffic patterns can be very chaotic so be very careful when crossing the street.

When riding in an open auto-ricksaw, you will be dodging all kinds of unusual vehicles as well as cows, goats, etc. so hang on tight. Truck and bus exhaust pipes will belch their smoke in your face so some people like to cover their nose and mouth with a cloth.

THEFT
India is generally quite safe for foreigners, but you should be aware of certain protocols to avoid inviting pick-pockets or thieves.

Money & Travel Documents
Do not carry money or valuable in your luggage; if you lose your luggage, all is lost.

Do not leave your valuable documents or travelers checks in your hotel room. If the hotel is a reputable one, you should use the hotel safe.

Do not carry money in a shoulder bag or knapsack. The safest place for your money and your passport is either in the hotel safe or next to your skin, either in a money belt around your waist or in a pouch under your shirt or in internal pockets.


Luggage and Possessions
In public places such as airports, railway stations, bus stations, never ever let your luggage leave contact with your body. If you put your luggage down, make sure you have direct contact with it: hold onto the strap, straddle your luggage with your legs, or sit on it. Conversely, you can ask one of the group members to watch your luggage for you but if they do, they should follow the same procedures.

Departure time, when the confusion and crowds are at their worst, is the time to be most careful. Just as the train is about to leave, you can be deliberately distracted by someone while their accomplice is stealing your bag from by your feet.

With taxis, remove all items and remain in contact with them before you pay the driver. Drivers have been known to drive away with people’s luggage and thieves have been known to steal your luggage after you put it down to pay the driver.

When luggage is being unloaded from vans or taxis for transport into a hotel, keep your eye on your luggage and follow it to its destination. I remember a time in Varanasi where we hired a rickshaw to carry just our luggage from our hotel to the train station. The rickshaw driver was very fast and we could hardly keep up with him. I had visions of him driving merrily away with all our luggage. So keep in close proximity of your possessions!

Even inside the ashram and temples, there are visiting 'professionals' watching for opportunities. When visiting temples, check to see if there is a “sandal wallah” to check and watch your sandals or shoes. Pay them a few rupees when you get your shoes.

Make sure you lock all doors and windows in your hotel room and put expensive possessions out of sight or better, locked in your suitcase. If the hotel has a safe deposit box, put valuable items and extra cash there. I made the mistake in one hotel of leaving the window leading to my balcony open thinking no one could climb up to my balcony. What I hadn't anticipated, was that the gentlemen in the room next to me could crawl over the balcony and gain access through my unlocked window. That mistake cost me my camera and cell phone.

This all said and done, most Indians are honest and will go out of their way for you. See the story, Jaddou Unknown, which is about a young woman who lost her wallet.

 

SPECIAL CONCERNS FOR WOMEN
You will meet all sorts of men, most very courteous and helpful, and a few downright nasty. To be fair, most Indian men are very decent and will treat you with the respect you deserve. However be prepared for a few bad eggs who have been known to "accidentally" brush against you or cop a feel. Being a westerner will bring them out faster than anything else. In Indian culture women are regarded with great respect, but there are many, many, many rules, and too often some frustrated man will decide to dump it all anyway. So be prepared.

Some tips:

  • The best suggestion to avoid this problem is to do as the Indian women do: dress modestly and do not expose skin. India has a different values system than we do; for example it is not an accepted practice for Indian women to show skin above knees, a large portion of their backs (from shoulders to hips), or the area between neck and breasts . Clothes the be avoided are shorts, a thin t-shirt, mini skirts, and not wearing a bra. Also clothes which are slightly translucent (which show bra or outline of panties) are not acceptable. So dress modestly. Cover your upper arms (do not go sleeveless) and cover your calves. Jeans are fine as long as they’re not too tight. Men and women should avoid shorts.

  • In situations in which you anticipate unwanted attention, cover your hair with a scarf or light shawl. This is a sign of modesty used by many Indian women; in fact, very traditional Indian women will sometimes cover their faces as well when in the presence of male strangers. The clueless sort of man who believes the usual myths about western women may be tuned in to this bit of Indian body language and leave you alone.
  • Avoid looking and smiling at Indian men. If you are hassled by them, tell them to get lost. I know of a woman who got so fed up that she started carrying a stick to hit offending men.

 

 

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