This is slightly awkward query that I am posting here.
I recently did a solo backpacking trip to Thailand & Malaysia. All people I have met/known till date are of the opinion that I am the first Indian woman to go solo backpacking.
Since I don't have much data on this, I thought it'd be appropriate to ask in forum to ascertain the fact. Have you come across any other Indian solo backpacker woman?
Hi Nisha
Interesting thread! I don't recall ever coming across a solo Indian female backpacker. Is this something that is generally frowned upon within Indian culture?
I don't recall ever coming across a solo Indian female backpacker.
That was the view of so many other travellers from different countries whom I met on the way ! A fellow Canadian traveller even gave me a title of 'liberated woman'. ha ha
Is this something that is generally frowned upon within Indian culture?
In a way, yes. Generally Indian women are dependent on men in their lives. Father, husband or son. In case they have to travel alone, it'd be to or fro to their place and someone has to come to receive/see off them. Going out of comfort zone & out of country to see places alone is totally unheard of. 
Yes, a select few educated ones who live in metros do go abroad but that is either work related or on vacations with somebody.
Hey Nisha- I say GIRL POWER to you!
I was in India this past year, and I loved it, but I couldn't believe how often you only see women out and about with a man, or a group of women. Very rarely do you see women by themselves. You're right- I've never seen an Indian woman traveling on her own!
I think that's fantastic that you're an independent Indian woman, and I'm sure you've come to appreciate the vast pleasures in traveling alone- the freedom, the opportunities to make more friends, and the delicious intimate moments that you enjoy all by yourself (sitting on the beach with a nice breeze, turquoise waters, a coconut to drink and a good book- it doesn't get any better than that!) I've traveled both with friends and solo, and I prefer the latter 
I think it's so great for you to break away from the stereotype of the typical male-reliant, unadventurous South Asian woman. Many of the people I spoke to in India had never even left the country, and never planned to! So big cheers to you for being independent and exploring the world, breaking out of your comfort zone. Keep it up! 
Quoting Nisha J
This is slightly awkward query that I am posting here.
I recently did a solo backpacking trip to Thailand & Malaysia. All people I have met/known till date are of the opinion that I am the first Indian woman to go solo backpacking.
Hello Nisha, that is a gr8 achievement indeed, hats off to u !!!! But i am afraid u may not be the first Indian women to do so !! A friend of mine, who was a software professional went on a solo trip to many of the European countries many years back. In fact things have changed a lot during the last 5-6 years, I have come accross many young working girls going on a solo trip of European countries, though i am not sure abt SEA countries.
Anyway, this does not belittle ur achievement. I am proud of u and wish u all the best for ur future trips
I met a girl from Bangladesh traveling alone, and a girl from Nepal traveling alone. Then there was the nutty girl from Goa. But your still a huge minority. Good for you
Nisha, i am an Indian guy that is going travelling in June for 3 months
even i have peopel in my family and friends like OMG, ur indian, u cant go travel alone
my mate is indian, shes out travelling now and i know others, dont worry about it, enjoy it
u only live once
Good for you Nisha! More and more women Indian women are travelling independently and why not? Last year I travelled to Europe with my 2 children and my B&B landlady in Switzerland said it was the first time she had seen an Indian women travelling independently with kids in tow!!
I think good on you!
I hope you had a good time!
I have met a few Solo Indian women travelling around, not many though and this was mainly in Thailand and they were also telling me about how there wasnt many Indian women travelling around. Hopefully this is an uncoming trend for Indian women!
I have never met a solo female Indian traveller in Asia...
so yes, you can claim that tittle.
I am also quite sure, that no one in this forum has ever met A MALE traveller from the Philippines in some Youth hostel.
I meet travellers everyday and some them have been travelling for ages, but they are always surprise to know where I come from.