How Solos supportswomen inIndia

Pink City Rickshaws: Women Driving Change in Jaipur

As the sun rises over Jaipur's rose-hued streets, you'll climb aboard a Pink City Rickshaw—but this isn't just any ride. These vibrant rickshaws are driven by women from low-income households, trained and employed through ACCESS Development Services, a pioneering initiative that empowers local women with meaningful work and financial independence.

The Give to Gain: Every rickshaw ride provides steady income for women who often serve as their family's primary breadwinners. In turn, you gain an authentic, intimate glimpse of Jaipur that few travellers experience—guided by someone who knows and loves this city deeply.

Sheroes Hangout: Courage, Community & Empowerment in Agra

After visiting the iconic Taj Mahal, we stop for lunch at Sheroes Hangout, a café that is so much more than a place to eat. This pioneering initiative is run entirely by women who have survived acid attacks, a brutal form of violence that leaves physical and emotional scars.

At Sheroes, survivors find employment, community, and a platform to reclaim their power. The café challenges societal stigmas, raises awareness about acid violence, and provides financial independence for women rebuilding their lives with extraordinary strength and resilience. As you share a meal with your fellow travellers, you'll be humbled by the stories of survival, courage, and hope that fill this space. The women of Sheroes are not defined by what happened to them—they're defining themselves through entrepreneurship, advocacy, and sisterhood.

The Give to Gain: Your lunch directly supports survivors' livelihoods and funds advocacy work to end acid violence. In return, you gain perspective, inspiration, and a reminder of the incredible strength of the human spirit.

Bishnoi Villages: Women Artisans Keeping Tradition Alive

Deep in the rural heart of Rajasthan, the Bishnoi community has lived for centuries in harmony with nature, guided by principles of environmental conservation and non-violence. On a jeep safari to the Bishnoi Villages, you'll meet the women who are the keepers of India's craft heritage—skilled artisans practising traditions passed down through generations.

What You'll Experience:

Block Printing in Kankani Village
Watch female artisans hand-print intricate floral patterns onto fabric using hand-carved wooden blocks—a painstaking art form that requires precision, patience, and an eye for beauty. Each piece of fabric tells a story, and every purchase directly supports the woman who created it. 

Weaving in Salawas
In the Weavers' Village, women craft colourful durries (woven rugs) rich in heritage and artistry. These vibrant textiles are more than home décor—they're a source of income and pride for families living in remote desert communities.

Pottery in the Potter's Village
Try your hand at shaping clay alongside local women who demonstrate traditional pottery techniques. Their skill transforms simple earth into functional art, preserving a craft that might otherwise be lost to modernisation.

Shepherds' Village
Witness women's essential roles in traditional pastoral life—caring for livestock, managing households, and sustaining their communities in one of India's harshest climates.

The Give to Gain: By visiting these villages and purchasing handcrafted goods directly from artisans, you ensure that ancient crafts survive and that the women practising them can support their families. In return, you gain one-of-a-kind treasures and a deeper understanding of rural Rajasthani life that most tourists never see.

Rajasthani Cooking Class: Hospitality & Heritage

In the evening in Jaipur, you'll be welcomed into a local home for an intimate Rajasthani cooking class—a rare opportunity to step inside everyday Indian life. Your host, often a woman who has perfected family recipes over decades, will guide you through the essential spices and flavours of Rajasthan. Together, you'll prepare a traditional meal, learning not just recipes but the stories and culture behind them. The evening ends with a shared dinner and conversation with your host's family which is a chance to connect, exchange stories, and enjoy the dishes you've helped create.

The Give to Gain: Your participation supports women sharing their culinary heritage and provides income for families opening their homes to travellers. You gain cooking skills, cultural insight, and the kind of authentic human connection that stays with you long after you've returned home.

The Ripple Effect: Give to Gain in Action

International Women's Day's theme, "Give to Gain," isn't just a slogan, it's a lived reality on this journey. When you support women-owned businesses and women-led social enterprises, the impact extends far beyond a single transaction: 

Economic Empowerment – Women gain financial independence, breaking cycles of poverty
Community Investment – Women reinvest earnings into their families' education, health, and futures
Cultural Preservation – Ancient crafts and traditions survive for the next generation
Social Change – Women's visibility and value in society increases
Inspired Travellers – You return home with stories, perspective, and a renewed sense of purpose

Every rickshaw ride, every meal, every handcrafted textile purchased—it all adds up to real change. And in the process, you gain experiences that transform the way you see the world and your place in it.

Ready to give and gain in equal measure?

Explore our Women-Only India: The Golden Triangle & Rajasthan tour and join a community of solo female travellers saying yes to adventure, empowerment, and unforgettable experiences.

This International Women's Day, travel with purpose. Support women. Empower communities. Transform yourself.