Solo female traveler in India -- how to deal with inappropriate men?

I have no qualms admitting that people treat me differently because I'm foreign, although that treatment isn't always as positive as you might expect.

I am simply--and humbly--speaking from my own experience. I have found that most male travelers I've met--be they Indian, American, or otherwise--hold similar sentiments.

Obviously "staying safe" involves taking location-specific precautions, which could be influenced by the individual traveler's appearance, nationality, and lifestyle preferences. As a foreigner, I cannot travel as freely or safely in some parts of Chhattisgarh as my Chhattisgarhi friends. Similarly, I would not recommend that a gay man be open about his sexuality in rural Bihar.

However, I try to mitigate security- and dacoity-related risks by acting in a manner appropriate for my surroundings.

Again, I am sharing my personal experience of having traveled extensively inside India. I have seen the "never travel solo in India" sentiment shared many times on this board, especially in relation to foreign travelers, whether male or female. I do not believe this is an accurate risk assessment, at least regarding safety for foreign tourists (the subject of this thread).

However, regarding the subject of this thread--a prospective female foreign tourist--I did not and will not suggest that India is comparably safe for female foreign tourists. My wife is Indian, and she faces occasional harassment in her own neighborhood. When you're visibly different from most people, you attract attention of all kinds, both good and bad.

/r/india Thread Parent