“Visits to cities, remote areas, and non-traditional destinations highlight that public spaces are for everyone. I have often enjoyed sharing off-the-beaten-path travel experiences of local cultures and communities, as it challenges misconceptions and demonstrates how women can move freely in public spaces worldwide,” says Indrani Ghose, a former Indian Air Force veteran and travel blogger at I Share These, encapsulating the lived realities of 10 travel influencers and bloggers we spoke to.
The landscape of female travel has shifted drastically over the past few years, with 64% of travellers worldwide being women in 2022. In 2023, 42% of foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in India were women. Additionally, 30% of Indian women travellers chose to travel solo in 2022, with a 62% increase in search volume for the term ‘female solo travel’ in recent years. 86% of women report they are not afraid to travel, signalling a cultural shift as these women lead the way for others to follow in the rocky terrain of patriarchy.
Owing to the structured division of labour, public spaces have long been a man’s playground with men carpeting streets, offices, and markets. Women, on the other hand, are treated as outsiders in these same spaces, with their footprints overshadowed by a “you don’t belong” gaze. Caste and class further contribute to this marginalisation.
Historically, gender roles and practices such as the ‘purdah system’ limited women of dominant castes to the confines of their homes, while women of non-dominant castes, especially Dalit women, face double marginalisation. They are often forced to leave their homes for work, leaving them vulnerable to casteism and sexism.
While women are now beginning to assert their movement in public spaces, the shift remains slow and fraught with challenges. Touching gingerly on this deep-seated wound, a study in Cities notes that women make constant efforts to negotiate unsafe conditions in public spaces through avoidance, protection, and prevention, while internalising the process of negotiation rather than reclaiming their rights to these spaces. This practice skirts the real issue and puts the onus of her safety on the woman herself.
Amidst this complex landscape, a generation of unapologetic female travel influencers and bloggers is redefining movement in public spaces with the aid of social media. Whether trekking in the Himalayas or navigating bustling city streets, they do so by simply existing in spaces traditionally rendered unsafe or inaccessible for women, challenging the very notion of who gets to move freely.
“Traveling has given me the confidence to navigate unfamiliar terrains, both geographically and socially, and helped me find my voice as a storyteller.” -- Himadri Garg, Founder of Ghoomophiro
The resistance of these women is two-faceted: they take up more space firsthand, and then document their travels, inspiring other women to do the same–thus sparking a revolution. These solo trips, off-the-beaten-path adventures, and unapologetic storytelling serve as tools to wield this narrative on their own terms.
“Traveling solo is a powerful act of the discovery of the self. Walking a path alone celebrates independence, and reclaims the freedom to explore the world on our own terms.” -- Parnashree Devi, Travel Blogger at My Travel Diary
Travel as Defiance Against Patriarchal Control
While men enjoy the luxury of “just packing and leaving,” women must confront a labyrinth of societal rules, judgment, and safety concerns before they can even begin to book their tickets. Rachita Saxena, a travel blogger, explains, “A lot of times I’ve heard my male counterparts say that they just pack their bags and go, but that’s not the same for me. I have to research how safe the place is, book the right hotel, and make sure I’m not out alone after dark.”
This constant negotiation with safety defines much of women’s experiences. Rachita recalls convincing her mother: “My mother wouldn’t let me go alone even in Delhi. Going alone to travel was alien to her. Over the years, however, she has grown with me and now shares my adventures with pride.”
Shivya Nath, a renowned travel blogger who calls herself a “digital nomad”, states: “Traveling solo has been incredibly empowering for me—but also a reminder of the long way we still have to go to ensure that every woman in the world can claim the right to live on her own terms.” Her journey demonstrates how travel can empower not just the individual traveller but also the countless women watching and learning from these stories.
Furthermore, travelling can instil a sense of community and sisterhood in these women: “One of the biggest inspirations for documenting my travels has been the incredible women I meet along the way. Recently, I connected with Ariane Arpin-Delorme from Canada, a remarkable woman who wears many hats— she’s a journalist, a speaker, a mental health therapist, the founder of a tailor-made travel agency, and the author of eight books. But she is, for sure, an adventure seeker.
Meeting women like her shows me that travel is not only about seeing new places but also about expanding our understanding of what women are capable of. Another interesting woman is Fani Simon from Israel, who taught me that it’s never too late to follow your passion. At the age of 77, she has a childlike enthusiasm and isn’t afraid to travel alone,” reminisces Archana Singh, travel creator and blogger at Travel. See. Write.
In addition to just reclaiming public spaces, travel includes adventure and risks: terms traditionally associated with male valour. Archana elaborates how “completing the 007 bungee jump wasn’t just about adrenaline—it was about defying the idea that only men take risks.”
The Looming Threat of Harassment
No conversation about women reclaiming public spaces is complete without addressing the elephant in the room: harassment, which is not purely circumstantial but often a potential tool to silence women. Catcalling, unwanted advances, and the male gaze remain burdens that women must navigate. Thus, the refreshing air of freedom can potentially quickly fade into fear. To say that fear does not exist would be to invalidate its presence and the very narrative that excludes women from such spaces in the first place.
Kamya Buch highlights how caution goes hand-in-hand with their travel itineraries: “It’s essential for women to have the courage to travel by themselves, but at the same time, they need to do their research, be aware of potential dangers, and take precautions accordingly.”
Nivi Selvaraj reflects, “There’s always this layer of vigilance—being conscious of personal safety, cultural perceptions, and sometimes even adjusting how I dress to avoid unwanted attention.” Shoma Abhyankar, travel blogger at Astonishing India, who has been travelling since the age of 18, recounts, “Two years ago, I travelled solo in a taxi to Tawang monastery from Guwahati. My mobile service was not available in Tawang which made me feel unusually cut off. I updated everyone back home about my whereabouts as soon as I got a signal.”
Yet these women don’t let fear halt their pursuits. They continue to travel, to take up space, and through their stories, remind us that the right to move freely is not something they need to earn—it’s inherently theirs. Rachita Saxena recalls a frightening experience in Sri Lanka that made her more cautious about night travel, but she remains undeterred: “I’ve had men catcall or try to strike up conversations when I was minding my own business.”
While the road to change is tenuous, it’s not hopeless. Archana Singh, who has an audience of 200k+ on Instagram, fondly shares some memories, “When I first travelled to Central Asia, I was unsure how safe it would be for women. Yet, in places like Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, I was greeted with warmth, respect, and a strong presence of women in public life. Travel broke many myths for me and taught me to trust my instincts.”
Social Media as a Catalyst for Change
Social media has amplified these narratives, for it allows women to control their stories, and document the history of this silent revolution, as their platforms become means of protest, empowerment, and defiance.
“Our work with ghoomophiro.com has built a community that offers advice, tips, and inspiration for women to travel fearlessly.” -- Himadri Garg
For Nivi Selvaraj, social media showcases the realities of travel beyond polished, filtered versions:
“I wanted to move away from picture-perfect narratives and instead show immersive travel that highlights the beauty and real-life challenges women face on the road.”
The Power of Movement
The journeys of these women are a declaration that they have as much right to the roads, mountains, cities, and the world as anyone else. Soumya Nambiar, travel blogger at Travel, Books, and Food, who has travelled to more than 60 countries across 6 continents, encapsulates this perfectly: “Just like I have found myself through travel, I hope to inspire other Indian women to do the same.”
These women are not just mapping new territories—they are redrawing the boundaries of what it means to be a woman in the world.
Annanya Chaturvedi is a 22-year-old graduate of Lady Shri Ram College for Women, currently working in the corporate sector. She has written for Live Wire and The Times of India, and she frequently shares her opinions on social media. Views expressed by the author are their own.
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