Is it safe to travel to india as a tourist?

Show all answers

blaster 2

Stay away from Mumbai and you should be alright.If you worry about terrorist attacks you'll never go anywhere.

LillyB

I would go. You could get knocked down by a car the next time you cross the street but it doesn't stop you crossing. Just stay away from places where there are large amounts of people (especially euorpean tourists) and get out of places like train stations quickly.

CatalanGuiri

It is a wonderful (and very big, lets not forget!) country. Delhi is good fun, Agra is not up to much really apart from the Taj of course, so maybe take in another city or smaller town (Pushkar is great) in Rajdasthan instead of spending much time in Agra.

All countries are at risk in this day and age, but by living in fear we are letting the terrorists win. If I were you I would go... you'll have a wonderful adventure that will be funny, exciting, and maybe scary some times, but you'll regret not going.

Of course you should keep informed both before you go and while you are there by consulting the news and the foreign office advice site (someone has already posted it in a response here) and if necessary make changes to your itinerary, but otherwise I would say go ahead!

Leo

the link has the update advice

velvet_space_time

Hey hey,

First off; all of the comments above are from people who apparently live in a cave.

I am going to India with a friend on the 12th of December. So here is an answer which might actually help you.

International terrorism is on a grand scale. It's true. I live in St Albans which is about a 15 minute train journey from London - when the London bombings happened did I feel scared? No. I

Have you seen where Jaipur and Agra are on a map in comparison to Mumbai? India is a small continent, but a continent none the less. You can literally float into Mumbai on a boat of C4 explosive - it is probably the easiest place to 'terrorise' in India. My heart goes out to all the victims. But these are victims of consequence. The targets (apart from the railway station) were all very high class up market and expensive places to visit - I can't afford these sorts of places, and I assume you can't - therefor we're not very much a target. "Oh but you're western, bla bla -" Yes, I am, but I'm not going to be caught up in an area when that becomes an issue.

Now I may seem slightly naive in what I'm saying - I have researched on the British embassy for a time line chain of terrorist activity and there has been an event every month apart from July and August, from June (one incident in May being in Jaipur, in which 40 were killed.)

But Jaipur has been safe since, and this is the only reported incident recently (it is also where I'm staying) - and with beefed up security from all international governments it is unlikely that any event will happen in December towards late January - Indian security has never been put into question like this before so things are really getting busy to the East.

Having said that, there is new information that New Delhi (where we're landing, sadly) may be under threat by IED's (or three-wheeled taxi's) being used as explosives by the same people who pulled off the guerrilla massacre of Mumbai. This information however has been compromised and made public and security is high. To try and achieve this attack now would simply be ridiculous - achieving nothing. Two attacks so close together by a group who have already lost many men is not going to do well for their latest recruitment VHS tape. No, I believe that this particular group are going to revel in their success and will not be active in the killing of anyone for a little while now. Especially not within the tourist ring of Jaipur, Agra and Udaipur etc.

But more importantly, people live in these places their entire lives without fear. In Kashmir (do not go to Kashmir) there is an attack almost every day, yet people live their lives as if normal.

I'm going for a month - and frankly I'm honoured to live a life that isn't coated in candy and chocolate, if for a little while.

I'm scared - a tad, I admit. But only because my friend and I are going to make a documentary with broadcast quality equipment. We aren't exactly laying low. But to be honest, you're safe - just as the people who live and work in Jaipur are safe.

There is literally more chance being killed crossing the road in Delhi, then being involved in a terrorist attack.

If you're not convinced by my first hand experience and unbias informed opinion, read this thread on VT:http://forum.virtualtourist.com/discussion-451174-1-1-Travel-0-0-New_Delhi-discussion.html

A guy asked the same question as you and I, and the response from people who actually live in Mumbai and surrounding areas is astounding.

The world is a scary place - but if you go somewhere prepared and informed, it's a lot less scary. I'm well aware that something may happen in India whilst I'm there - but India is a huge place, and I'm a tiny person.

I leave you with one more eye-opening statistic from the British embassy.

Over 734,000 British tourists visit India every year (source: Bureau of Immigration). Most of these visits are trouble-free. 1,506 British nationals required consular assistance in India in the period 01 April 2006 â€“ 31 March 2007.

We all know that watching the news isn't exactly the best way to live an untroubled life.

a m

you should be safe, just dont visit mombai, my friends are in india and having a great time

Mo!

One thing that I am going to tell you is that every country has its short comings,crime and if we would look at that we wouldn't go anywere.Am not saying go or dont go but listen to what you in stings tell you and you will never go wrong.i can only give an advice but wont tell you what to do.If you decide to go take the necessary precautions that wont put you life in danger.

Teja

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ali83lO8SQ8ST.IxmWJr7HvT5gt.;_ylv=3?qid=20081129175037AAursmR

Andi C

I am going to India in december and have no undue concerns. The reality is that I live and work in London where we are all at some degree of risk from terrorism, but we get on with our lives regardless.
Go and enjoy your trip.

rags56008

stay away from public places,malls or anything of that sort
and be on your guard at all times in urban areas but i would wait if i were you..esp if you're american/british

Don't worry. India is a wonderful country and things like that happen rarely. So go ahead.

PS. You should try going to Goa as well =D

*****Lasy*****

jamesdean2002uk

im not so sure its the best idea at the moment

KMFDM

Stay home, honey. There's no place like home, anyways.

John M

Google the US State Department travel warnings. It should tell you what area(s) to avoid in most countries.

Leave this place, run

The equation should include all about you and your abilities + all about the region + the current situation + who you are going with.

salus

Try watching the news once in a while.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: