Safety in India
 

My husband and I (and another couple) are going to Rajasthan in November. This is the first trip to India for all of us. The bombings in New Delhi and Jaipur have me unnerved. Any advice out there for a nervous traveler?
Thanks.

One can appreciate the misgivings of a traveller, who is travelling for the first time to India. Following the crude low intensity blasts, the government has taken firm measures to tackle the problem. Strict vigil is being kept on sensitive locations. Plain-clothes police has been pressed into service. Emails or phone calls are being monitored. In short the entire security apparatus has been pressed into service. Some bombers have actually been shot & arrested & they are singing!
You will notice a plan in this madness. All bombings have taken place on a Saturday, when the markets are busy. So do avoid very crowded places, especially those which has a temple nearby. Security is all time high & will continue to remain so for the rest of the tourist season. It needs to be, if India is not to lose $12 Billion in foreign exchange from tourism.
Imo, these are probabaly connected to polls in a few states...crude attempts to polarize the polity.
I noticed a comment by the Australian Ian Chappel this morning, who found the security arrangements very good in Jaipur.
Enjoy your holiday!

There's always a possibility of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. True of London during the IRA campaigns but people just got on with it.

If it bothers you that much then go somewhere else or stay at home (where you are, statistically, more likely to be murdered). But then better to be murdered at home than abroad, eh?

Nobody can tell you if YOU will be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The fact that you can ask the question means that you are not up for any sort of risk and should stay at home. Clearly it's all much too hard for you.

I think it all depends on how much you want to see India. I have been to several places (Egypt, Israel, India and Turkey, to name a few) where my friends thought I was crazy to go to because it was "dangerous". I went and had a great time because I love to travel and I truly wanted to see the sites in those countries. If that is how you feel about India then I would go. If not, then go to another country that you would love to see.

Alas! afterall subscribes to the old adage that if you can't say something nasty, don't say anything at all. But some of his points, while expressed badly, have some validity.

You are the only one who can decide what you are comfortable with. If you aren't comfortable, don't go. Go elsewhere, as Shelly says.

We live in a world where bad things can and do happen unpredictably - at home as well as in foreign countries. While you can and should observe normal precautions (avoid demonstations and such), nothing can guarantee your safety in India or at home.

All that said, I can only answer for myself, but I wouldn't hesitate to go to India right now. I'm soon headed for Nepal, which has also had some bombings in the last couple of months.

Good comments from all.
It's always unnerving just before you are to leave on a trip of a lifetime.
I usually just take a deep breath and forge ahead with my life.....life is full of surprises, I just hope they are good ones when it comes to travel. India is a large country and the odds of your being in a bad place at a bad time are infinitely small. India is generally a safe place to visit.
Be aware of where you are (and that applies to India as well), and don't forget to enjoy your trip.

In India, if you are out and about and you see a crowd start to form or some disturbance, leave the area quickly. It may be nothing more than a gathering of workers on strike, but it's not possible to know and a crowd can go from nothing to huge in minutes there. This is not a common occurence, just an FYI.

Similar to what Mr. Singh writes, don't knowingly join in a large crowd or an overly crowded marketplace. It's not that anything bad will happen, but it can quickly feel suffocating by our standards.

It is indeed nerve=wrecking to hear about bad news close to your travel dates. But, in reality, India is a very safe country and thus, you should just go and enjoy.
But remember to be cautious at every step and never go wherever there is a crowd.
It seems the festival time in India which is usually Sept/Oct. is a prime target time. Thus by Nov. hopefully things will be calmer.
The media is reporting that the govt. is taking extra steps to keep everyone safe. There is security even at some shopping centers and train stations etc.
As everywhere in the world today, you just have to be extra alert, keep up with the news and keep moving.
One last tip--it seems several of the bombings were done when the shoppping centers were most crowded. So if you have to be at the markets, plan to get there first thing in the morning, so there is less crowd and you can enjoy the experience or maybe do your purchases quickly.