At the age of 25, Arunima is traveling through her 29th country, and she’s doing it solo. Arunima, a well-known backpacker on social media, is enjoying life by hitchhiking and traveling alone. At a young age, she has seen much of the world. Her videos often go viral, and she serves as an inspiration for travel enthusiasts.
In India, however, the concept of a woman traveling alone is still difficult for many to accept. Yet, Arunima has journeyed solo through 29 countries, facing countless challenges along the way. She has overcome them all with mental strength and determination.
Arunima often encounters moral policing, both on social media and in public spaces. She has been criticized for her clothing choices and for traveling alone. But none of this has stopped her from exploring the world. Among all her journeys, Arunima describes Angola as the most frightening country she has traveled to. She recounts that violence and robberies are quite common there.
During her travels through Angola, she even heard gunshots in the city and saw bullet scars on the arms and legs of some Malayalis there, which deeply disturbed her. Home invasions were reportedly widespread, she says. Arunima also shared a disturbing incident that happened during her time in Angola.
While hitchhiking, a Portuguese man on a bike offered her a lift but later inappropriately touched her. “I immediately turned on my video camera and demanded he stop the vehicle. It was an off-road area surrounded by forest, with no one around to help. I quickly unfastened my bag from the bike and shouted at him to leave. Thankfully, he left, and I managed to find my way back to a road with vehicles,” Arunima recalls.
To ensure her safety, Arunima carries pepper spray, a taser, and a pocket knife. She says, “It’s disheartening to admit that I’ve used pepper spray more frequently in India than during my dangerous travels in Angola. There were times I had to jump out of vehicles I had hitched rides in. Traveling in India is terrifying, and solo female travelers often face these challenges.”
Arunima also speaks about the shame she feels when hearing about foreign women’s solo travel experiences in India. Their stories highlight safety concerns, leaving her embarrassed for the country.
Regarding Kerala, Arunima reveals that she has avoided traveling at night there for the past four years. She states, “In Kerala, women traveling at night are often perceived as sex workers. This perception is disheartening.” Arunima adds that personal choices regarding clothing and sexuality are individual matters and should not be interfered with—a mindset she feels many in the region have yet to understand.
