My boyfriend and I are just interested in having a look into the slums of Delhi, just to know how it is there and want to know whether anyone has done this independently (without taking the guide along). We totally understand the our safety and we have decided not to carry camera and any valuable with us, but we are still concerned about getting lost or getting mobbed. Does anyone here have experience of this, please offer your advice and suggest the best location to do it safely. Thanks Julia and Rob
I have visited many slums in Delhi and Mumbai and it is not difficult to get lost in that maze of small and narrow lanes, but you can ask the way out from anyone and in my case people have always escorted me till the exit point in a very friendly manner. According to me safety is not a concern in slums of Delhi and nobody will try to rob you and will not even try to snatch your camera. People living in slums of Delhi are very friendly people so you will definitely find yourself followed and surrounded by the crowd but they are harmless In Delhi you can visit Balmiki colony with RK Asharam Mark which is very near to Connaught Place, a few months back Prime Minister of India started clean India mission from there only.
Can I ask why this is an interest? I have known many people who wanted to see, but do not understand the desire. I know poverty exists, and have looked at favelas in Brazil. To me, going out of the way to visit them is almost like turning poverty into a spectacle. It does not seem right to go and gawk at the poor so you can come away with a better perspective. I don't know. Maybe I am misinterpreting the intention. Perhaps, you could explain it?
If you ever make a plan of visiting delhi slums then avoid the slum areas of "Daya Basti" they are highly dangerous for tourists.... Chain snatcher, Robers etc are all common there. people carry blades, knives etc..
