[I really want to go to the Taj Mahal🏰] A memo of a solo female traveler in India🇮🇳

This time, I've compiled a record of my own solo trip to India (New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur) to help those considering a trip to India in the future. ✈️New Delhi: • Location: India's capital. • Mindset: You'll be approached and solicited a lot, so be sure to have the courage to say "no" or ignore them. • Transportation & Meals: I didn't use tuk-tuks and ate only in the hotel. • Other: Restrooms are hard to find, so it's best to use them before you go out. 🏛️Museums Visited in Delhi In Delhi, I mainly visited museums because I love history. 1. Gandhi Smriti Museum • Impressions: This was Gandhi's final restroom and the site of his assassination. The museum is well-maintained, and there weren't many people there when I visited. • Address: 5, Tees January Marg, New Delhi 110011, India • Directions: Approximately a 12-minute walk from Lok Kalyan Marg Station on the Yellow Line. 2. National Museum, New Delhi • Comments: It's larger than expected, and the museum features a wide range of exhibits on Indian history and culture (Harappan artifacts, Buddhist art, weapons, decorative items, etc.), so it takes time to see everything. I recommend it to anyone interested in Indian history. I enjoyed it! • Address: Janpath Rd, Rajpath Area, Central Secretariat, New Delhi, Delhi 110011, India • Directions: Approximately a 12-minute walk from Udyog Bhawan Metro Station on the Yellow Line. 3. Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum • Comments: This museum, housed in the former residence of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, features exhibits on her life, her family history, and the site of her assassination. It has been praised for its quiet atmosphere and beautiful gardens. • Address: 1, Safdarjung Rd, Safdarjung Lane Area, Delhi Gymkhana Club, New Delhi, Delhi 110011, India • Directions: Approximately a 12-minute walk from Lok Kalyan Marg Station on the Yellow Line of the Metro. 🏰Agra: The Taj Mahal, a must-see at least once in your life 📍Taj Mahal • Address: Dharmapuri, Forest Colony, Tajganj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001, India • Access (My Experience): • I booked a tour in advance and drove from Delhi. (Approximately a 3-4 hour drive.) • I highly recommend taking a tour, as it significantly increases the safety and smoothness of your trip. • Impressions: • The majesty of the place makes you feel like you've been transported to a video game world. It truly lives up to its reputation as a "World Heritage Site that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime." • The sight of the white marble lit up by the morning sun was breathtakingly beautiful. 🏯Jaipur: An otherworldly experience in the Pink City! Jaipur was the most enjoyable part of this trip. It's a city filled with history and color, and it was incredibly photogenic. 📍Spots visited and their addresses 1. Panna Meena ka Kund • Address: Near Amer Fort, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302028, India • A geometric stepwell. 2. Amber Palace • Address: Devisinghpura, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302028, India • You can even ride an elephant inside. The magnificent architecture made me feel like I was transported to another world. 3. City Palace • Address: Jaleb Chowk, Tripolia Bazar, City Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India • The "Blue Room" was particularly impressive. 🍹A restaurant with excellent lassi • Lassiwala • Address: 312, MI Road, Jayanti Market, New Colony, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302001, India • Famous locally. My stomach was fine too! 🎁Souvenir Tips 1. Cashmere Scarf: Purchased near the palace in Jaipur. Handle carefully, but it's a much better deal than in Japan. 2. Block-Printed Dress: The warmth of the handcrafted piece makes it the perfect memento of your trip. 3. Taj Mahal Tea • Where to buy: Supermarkets in Jaipur • The packaging features an illustration of the Taj Mahal, and the tea bags make a perfect souvenir. ✈️ Flight Information and In-Flight Experience For this trip, I flew with Vistara. • Impressions: Personally, I thought the in-flight meal was delicious. The seat felt smaller than I expected. I was the only Japanese person in the room, so it was a little lonely, but the Indian person sitting next to me was very friendly and taught me a lot about India during the flight. [Attitude and Safety Measures: Life is the Most Important Thing] To be honest, I recommend traveling with a group of people. (It's especially reassuring to have a man with experience traveling with you.) However, if you are "perfectly thorough" in your security awareness, it's possible to enjoy your trip safely! To do so, thorough research beforehand is essential. Knowing information about fraud groups will help protect you. ⚠️ Real-Life Crime Stories I heard real stories of scams I experienced while traveling in India from people I met on the road. • Example: I was approached in the street, and while chatting at a cafe, I suddenly lost consciousness. • Result: All my money and passport were taken. (Sleeping pills had been put in my bag.) 💁♀️ Precautions and Specific Strategies from a Woman's Perspective My basic travel philosophy is "safety first." I recommend my other article, "Real Strategies for Solo Female Travel Abroad," for reference, but this time I'll focus specifically on my trip to India. 1. Don't Trust Anyone Scammers often appeal to your emotions, but as a non-local, I can't judge. So I basically didn't trust anyone and responded firmly. 2. Only paid for and booked transportation in advance. I used Uber and hotel-arranged cars, avoiding taxis and tuk-tuks. 3. Eat all your meals at the hotel and avoid going out at night. For hygiene reasons, I avoided food stalls to avoid stomach aches. I also avoided going out after 6 PM. Going out at night is especially dangerous. Be careful of your flight arrival time. Money is priceless. 4. Pay attention to restroom conditions • Restrooms are hard to find in the city, so it's recommended to use them before going out to avoid the risk of stomach aches. [Health Management: Stomach Aches & Dengue Fever Prevention] ☺️ Stomach Aches Prevention (Successful!) • Avoid raw vegetables and fruit (eat cooked food). • Use bottled water even when brushing your teeth. • Don't trust free water at hotels; drink water from unopened bottles. (Always check that the lid is closed before purchasing. Open bottles are sometimes sold.) • Avoid gargling while showering and getting water in your eyes. (Due to the risk of conjunctivitis and dysentery.) 🦟 Dengue Fever Prevention (with some regrets) I was bitten by mosquitoes three times. 😭 • I should have used insect repellent more frequently. (Once a day wasn't enough. 😢) • I should have worn light-colored clothing (especially white). Black and gray clothing attract mosquitoes, so be careful. • If you're prone to mosquito bites, it's best to avoid dengue fever season. 📝Finally: For those considering a trip to India India is an exciting and fascinating country with many historical heritage sites, but my honest opinion is that it's "for experienced travelers." Especially when traveling alone as a woman, thorough security, health, and hygiene measures are extremely important. But the rewards, such as the beauty of the Taj Mahal and the colorful scenery of Jaipur, are truly incredible. I hope this memo will help you have a safe and enjoyable trip. #IndiaTrip #SoloTravelIndia #SoloFemaleTravel #TajMahal #NewDelhi #Jaipur #Agra #IndiaSafetyPrecautions #InternationalTravel #PinkCity #WorldHeritageSite #IndianFood #IndianSouvenirs #IndianTourism #DengueFeverPrevention #Lassiwala #GandhiSmallMuseum