Women Power: Special Tours for the Women
What empowers a woman? Rather, what empowers you as a woman? After reading at least one or two crimes against women in India, it almost feels as if the country is not safe for women. Amidst all of this how can you, as a woman, empower yourself?
The answer lies within this very country. Obviously, you can take up the usual ways – read a motivational book, cook some great deserts for friends and family, watch Eat, Pray, Love back to back through the weekends; but here is a thing about all the solutions you read up there – they are temporary. And there is a thing about all that is temporary, at some point in the very near time, it will all vanish. How can you then call it empowerment?
Empowerment truly lies in finding your true self. Finding all that makes you happy and embracing it. Finding everything that scares you inside and facing it. Exploring the unexplored, going for the unthinkable, shutting the mouths of those who say ‘it’s impossible’ – that is where you get empowerment. So, what should you do as a woman who wants to empower herself in India? Join an NGO, go for rallies? Yes, for sure, in the long run. But before you do any of that, you need to find that power within your core so that you can help other find it within themselves. How does one do it you ask? By going places.
Women believe travelling in this country is not safe. You couldn’t get more distant from the truth. No matter what happens, India will always have places for travellers to go and immerse themselves into, irrespective of their sex, caste or religion. That is the beauty of this country. And that is why sometimes to find what is inside, you have to go outside.
There are many companies in the tours and travelling business which arrange special interest tour for women throughout the year. There are many destinations and many things to do, to find that hidden power within you. Here are a few, if you are looking for best destination for women:
- Biking to Ladakh. Nothing will empower you more than doing things that break the image of the quintessential traditional Indian woman. For many ages, the patriarchy has prohibited the women to go out an explore themselves and their surroundings. Guess what, biking your way to Ladakh is exactly the opposite! Many of your ‘well-wishers’ from your friends and family will proscribe you from going on this trip. Listen to what your heart says. Riding through the roads as the dust kisses the air, the sun shines up but the winter has its own flair, the leather jacket covering you and the long road ahead and nothing to scare – that is what all biking your way to Ladakh is all about! With right preparation and guide, the trip can be comfortable and empowering at the same time. The best way to go for it will be by going as a group of women, ought to conquer the way to Ladakh!
- Mountaineering in the North Indian mountain ranges. Mountaineering has long been thought to be a tough adventure sport. Getting all the gear, practicing, maintaining the physical and mental fitness, staying disciplined – it can actually be a tough one for many. That said, the tougher the challenge, the more joy it brings once you conquer it. The mountains can be painstaking for many people but the end results are always worth it. Many people who went for mountaineering and trekking returned as different people. After all, how can something scare you in life if you have managed to climb your way up to a 15,000 ft. mountain? And as they say, the world always looks beautiful from the top. It does, indeed. North India has plenty of peaks to empower you with trekking and mountaineering experiences – Singalila Kunchenjunga, Zanskar Frozen River Trek, Gomukh Tapovan Trek, Kuari Pass Trek and many others.
- River rafting to Gangotri. Gangotri holds great religious significance to the Hindus in India. The Yamunotri and Gangotri treks are probably some of the best ones in the country. On one hand they can bring you to places of great religious beliefs and on the other hand they can help you connect with your true self when you are rowing your way down to the magnanimous Ganges!
The power resides within you. All you have to do is – find it. North India and is numerous adventure trips can do exactly that for you.