Is it safe to travel to India?

First there were floods and then the bomb blasts - so the question on lots of people minds (who were thinking of traveling to India) is whether it is safe to travel to India. Clearly the questions are very valid and the fear tangible. However India continues to be a very safe destination for tourists and we aim to answer such questions through this article.

India is a large country and incidents happening in one part of the country do not impact another. Lets start with the flood situation. The floods are localised in parts of Bihar, which is a state in north India. Bihar is not significant from tourism perspective other than places like Gaya, known for their rich Buddhist history. So far floods in Bihar have impacted the districts of Ararea, Purnea, Madhepura, Saharsha and Kursaila.

Also in late September there has been heavy rainfall in Himachal which has had some effect on normal life in Shimla and adjoining hills, but again these incidents are far and remote inbetween and effect travel during a certain timeperiod only.

The September bomb blasts in Delhi and those earlier in Gujarat have been a cause of concern for general population and the tourists alike. So far though, the impact on everyday life & business has been low. Also the investigative agencies have made progress and nabbed those behind the blasts, which surely should act as some deterrent.

Till the situation improves, it is advisable to follow safety precautions such as avoiding crowded places and bazaars, being vigilant while using busy public transport such as trains & buses, not making friends with complete strangers etc, taking good care of your personal and precious belongings etc.

Overall the situation all over India remains peacefull and conducive to travel and tourism. One way of judging the overall mood is by looking at the domestic (Indian) tourism sector -where there has been good growth & the travel traffic looks all set to increase again in the coming fall and winter travel season.