Page 68 - 101+ Tips for Solo Women Travelers

What to Eat in India

There’s more to Indian cuisine than curry. As a starter, order bhaji, fried
onion fritters that you dip in mango chutney. The popular rice dish called
biryani has many variants, but most o en is made with marinated lamb

or chicken, sa ron, and spices like cardamon, coriander, and nutmeg.
For a tasty snack, try chaat: fried bread or potatoes smothered in chili,
yogurt, chickpeas, tamarind sauce, ginger, and spices. Can’t make up
your mind? Order a thaili, a set meal platter of from six to 20 dishes such
as rice, papadum, curd, chapati, dal, meat or vegetable curries, sambar,
pickles, and sweets. For dessert try kulfi, a popsicle-like sweet made from
thickened milk and flavorings like mango, pistachio, rose, or cardamom.

11 100 is the number to know in India.

Traveling as a solo woman in India you will likely be an object of curiosity.
But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. . . . Other women may feel protective
towards you, and take you under their wing. If you are feeling uncomfortable in
a public place, find a group of local women, hover near them, and they will likely
be engaging and helpful. Most people will be respectful, but you might encounter
what Indians call “Eve-teasing,” that is, catcalls or verbal harassment. If you feel
threatened, dial 100—the emergency number for police that works all over India.

What our travelers say:
12 Check out the Fab India stores.

Fab India stores are all over the place. They use Indian fabrics
and accessories geared for the more modern lifestyle along with a western
influence. They have everything: clothes, jewelry, and household items.
I have bought their all-cotton hand-embroidered long kurtas to use as

nightgowns. They are beautiful and very so . Branches are all over
(even at the airports), and my favorite ones are: 1. Khan Market Central
Hall, Above Shop no. 20 and 21, New Delhi 110003; 2. Connaught Place
Block A-1, Hamilton House, New Delhi 110001; 3. Greater Kailash (Main store)
14, N-Block Market, New Delhi 110048.

—Esther Perica, 21-time traveler, Arlington Heights, IL

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