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‘India itself is chaos’: Foreign traveller rates Indian cities by safety, calls Delhi ‘overwhelming’, Kerala ‘most respectful’

Emma’s journey took her from Delhi to Kerala, and her ratings reflected a mix of awe, discomfort, and appreciation.

The tourist admitted that Delhi was the toughest stop on her trip, scoring just -1/10

A foreign traveller’s candid take on safety across Indian cities has sparked a lively discussion online. Instagram creator @discoverwithemma_ recently shared a reel titled, “No sugar-coating, just my honest experience after weeks across 8 cities,” detailing how safe she felt while travelling solo through India from north to south.

Her journey began in Delhi and ended in Kerala, with ratings that revealed both fascination and fatigue. Delhi, she admitted, was the toughest stop on her trip, scoring just -1/10. Calling the city “overwhelming,” Emma said the constant stares, chaos, and noise made her uneasy. “I wouldn’t want to be alone there,” she added.

Agra, home to the Taj Mahal, fared only slightly better at 3/10. While she found the monument “beautiful,” she said the relentless honking and tourist scams left her drained. “Locals are used to tourists,” she noted, “but it still felt like everyone wanted something from me.”

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Things improved in Jaipur, which received 5/10. Emma described it as more manageable than Delhi and Agra, though still “very traditional.” She enjoyed visiting the forts during the day but found evenings challenging for solo travellers.

Pushkar, with its spiritual calm, brought relief. Rating it 6.5/10, Emma called it peaceful and respectful, though she cautioned that the town “gets quiet after dark,” requiring some planning for evenings.

Her next stop, Udaipur, marked a shift in tone. With scenic lakes and friendly locals, she said she felt at ease exploring alone and gave it an 8/10.

In Mumbai, Emma found a fast-paced yet relatively safe environment. She appreciated the availability of Uber and seeing “women out alone,” rating the city 6.5/10. Goa, meanwhile, struck her as free-spirited and easygoing, though she said “nighttime required more care.” It earned an 8/10.

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A post shared by Emma ✈️🌏 UGC | BANGKOK 🇹🇭 | Backpacking South East Asia✨ (@discoverwithemma_)

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The highlight of her journey was Kerala, which she described as calm, clean, and respectful. With polite locals and reliable transport, Emma said she felt safest there, giving the state 9/10 — the highest of all.

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In the comments, she clarified, “This is rating how SAFE I felt in each place not how much I liked it. Although they are closely correlated.”

The post has since gone viral, drawing both praise and discussion. One commenter wrote, “I have travelled to almost all cities of India and I realised the same as you mentioned. But please add 1 to Kerala, it should be 10/10.” Another added, “I knew that Kerala would get the highest rating even before watching the reel.”

While many lauded Emma’s balanced honesty, others chimed in with their own travel stories, turning her post into a broader conversation about how India’s diverse cities can feel vastly different, especially to solo women travellers.