Is India Safe to Travel in?

By Alap Parikh.

It's a question on everyone's mind these days, so we asked our Facebook fans and they shared the 'other side' to India's safety story.

Photo by Anurag Agnihotri.

The news in India hasn't been very encouraging of late, particularly the significant bits about how dangerous it is for women both Indian and foreign to move around, the bits which now make every woman look over her shoulder with suspicion and trepidation every so often, only as a precaution. Being a citizen of Mumbai, I had always been proud about how the situation was still so much better here than in a lot of other places in the country. This was until a malicious rape occurred not more than ten minutes from where I live, and in a very frequented and popular area, Lower Parel. This is an area where one of the most popular malls in Mumbai is, along with offices and upscale gig venues and cafes (including Hard Rock Cafe, Mumbai). Everything suddenly seemed much more real. This could have been anyone; a friend, a relative, an eminent person of the city or country.

The sad part is that most people who have travelled in India know that a majority of the country has the friendliest and most hospitable, loving people. A few incidents caused by a handful of hooligans have devoured a major share of the news in all media forms, and planted horrific images in millions of heads. Adding to the already bad scenario was the article on CNN written by Michaela Cross that went viral on the internet (at the time that I write this it has over a million views and 104k shares). Sitting in my chair watching all these articles spring up one after the other, I wondered how anyone could possibly muster up the courage to travel and explore the countless beautiful pockets of this country.

As much as the situation needs to improve for women to feel secure, we felt that the many positive stories suppressed underneath the horrible ones in the news needed to come out somehow, and that with certain amounts of precaution, there were magical experiences waiting to unfold out there. So in addition to the optimistic and patriotic responses that have been cropping up on the internet to educate people about the other side of the story, we decided to do our own bit, and asked people to share any uplifting and heartwarming experiences they had had on the road in India on our Facebook page. There were definitely a couple of gems in there! Have a look :)

Post by India Untravelled: Offbeat travel getaways in rural India.

We'd love to hear your comments if you've had any positive experiences! We hope it will give hope to the dejected and ashamed Indians out there, and affords someone who has only heard only one side the opportunity to make a more balanced decision, and perhaps have a revised opinion.

Photo Credits: All photos under Flickr Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0. 

For more ideas on offbeat and responsible destinations in India, visit www.indiauntravelled.com or join India Untravelled on Facebook and Twitter. To contribute guest posts / photo essays to this blog, please see our contribution guidelines and send your story ideas to blog@indiauntravelled.com.

41 Places to Volunteer Travel Across India.

By Shubodeep Pal.

"Your life is your message to the world; make sure it's inspiring."

Photo by Christian Haugen.

Wouldn't you love to live in the shadow of the mountains, and wake up each morning to the sight of snow on far-off peaks? Wouldn't it be even better if you could see these while giving back to the surrounding communities as a teacher?

Or, perhaps, you prefer the bustle of life and would love to witness the colours of the desert? How about immersing yourself in an art, craft and textile hub and designing jewellery?

Or, perhaps your heart soars at the thought of the sea and the coast? How about wading into coastal communities, exploring and serving them at the same time by helping conserve marine animals?

From the lush mountains of Kashmir, to the spare beauty of north-eastern India, to the rich coasts of Maharashtra and Gujarat, to the rich cultural and natural beauty of southern India, opportunities abound. Consider just a few: teaching, photography, research, conservation work, ecological tourism support, rural development, healthcare, organic farming, rehabilitation of women and children. And, of course, there are many more.

Which of these volunteer travel opportunities are you up for?

41 Places to Volunteer Travel in India from India Untravelled

For more ideas on offbeat and responsible destinations in India, visit www.indiauntravelled.com or join India Untravelled on Facebook and Twitter. To contribute guest posts / photo essays to this blog, please send your story ideas to blog@indiauntravelled.com. 

The Green Sojourn: A Day Trip From Bangalore.

By Sangeetha KB.

I stepped in doubtfully, and the screeching noise form the gate made her look up towards me. She smiled and said she knew I was coming. She offered a share of her lunch, some ragi mudde and rasam. A dozen crows surrounded her to share her lunch. She smiled and sheepishly mentioned that this sharing was a daily affair. At that moment, I knew that my two hour ho-ho (hop on hop off) bus journey was worth it. I was with Salumarada Thimakka this morning, and I’m glad I spent some time with her.

Salumarada Thimakka

Thimakka's trees

Thimakka is an octogenarian; she lives in Hulikal Taluk (about 70 kilometers from Bangalore) and is a mother to over 800 banyan trees. Yes! Over 800 of them. A number she refuses to mention because she does not appreciate the logic of counting her actions. Frail and friendly, Thimakka and her late husband took up this epic task of planting Banyan trees to get over the fact that they didn’t have children. They’d walk many kilometers every day to tend to the saplings and water them. As expected, people laughed at their insanity. But Thimakka never gave up, she knew what others didn’t. She found her calling in being the ‘Green Champion’.

Thimakka’s awards

Our conversations continued and she spoke at length about her village, the people, the changes in climate, state politics and everything you could expect from your grandma :) Though she complained of physical illness and about her fractured leg, she always ended her statements with a deep sense of peace. Her house is adorned with plaques and awards in recognition of her commitment towards the trees. She modestly admits that it was a joint effort with her husband, and cannot take full credit for her actions.

Her next plan is very clear. She insists on having a primary health center in Hulikal and is fighting head on with the state to release the funds. She knows it will take time and isn’t sure if she’d be alive to see it happen. But there is no bitterness in her tone. She has faith and knows it will happen. Simple and practical.

Thimakka had a great aura around her. She spoke not with pride but with humility, as if she wasn’t responsible for all this but it was bestowed upon her by some magic. As I was leaving, she handed me a bag full of beans grown locally, because she believed that people who visit her, shouldn’t go empty handed.

The Green Tunnel

She wanted to walk with me and introduce me to her trees, like a curator would walk you through a piece of art. She was too frail to walk, and so I promised her I would see every one of her trees before I head back to the city. Her beaming smile kept me smiling for the next 4 kilometers that I walked in the canopy.

Salu Mara

In Kannada, salu means line and mara and trees, which gives you Salumarada Thimakka. As I walked the stretch, on both sides of the road were gigantic banyan trees aligned and spaced beautifully. 70 years and still growing strong, these trees formed a coveted green tunnel. A walk in the hot afternoon was a walk in the park, literally! At the end of the tunnel, I knew what Thimakka and her husband planned when they began tending to banyan saplings. They did it, not for themselves, but for generations to come. If you thought grandmas could only narrate stories, I happened to meet one grandma who created the story. I took a leaf from her life & several leaves from her trees.

Practical Information

Salumarada Thimakka can be visited as a day trip from Bangalore.

How to reach: Take one of the buses that go towards Kunigal, Bangalore. Get down at Marur Housing Post (I have no idea why it is called a Housing Post). Take an auto / bus to reach Kudur bus stop, which is 10 kms away. 6 kilometers from Kudur is Hulikal, and there are many buses that would drop you at Hulikal. One can drive down the same route. The roads are good.

Kudur Bus Stop

Thimakka’s House

What to expect: Typical village scene, every house will have goats and cows. Coconut and mango trees adorn both sides. The local people people are polite and more than happy to help. Don't miss the coffee and vada at Thimakka’s house, reserved for every guest.

Author Bio: The author is from Bangalore. She travels to get a life and works as a business analyst for a living. She believes that every journey has something new to offer, the idea is to remain disconnected from the noise and connect to the place, and you’ll pick up a lot more than just souvenirs. She can be reached at sangeethakb@gmail.com.

For more ideas on offbeat and responsible destinations in India, visit www.indiauntravelled.com or join India Untravelled on Facebook and Twitter. To contribute guest posts / photo essays to this blog, please send your story ideas to shivya@indiauntravelled.com.