Happy and ‘gay ’

India is fast turning into a hot spot for gay travellers as it offers safety and a discrimination-free trip to the LGBT community

The world is abuzz with Uganda’s ‘Kill the Gay’ Bill. World leaders including Barack Hussein Obama, Hillary Clinton and David Cameroon are knitting their brows in anger and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community is up the creek about their entity and safety.

But the sexual minority across the world has reasons to cheer. India offers exciting tourist destination for the LGBT community members to have a hassle-free frolic. India is fast emerging as the ultimate ‘pink’ tourist destination, thanks to Indian gay-tour operators.

It may be remembered that since the high court decriminalized homosexuality in 2009, India has been getting more popular among gay travellers. According to gay travel operates, LGBT tourists want the same things as any traveller: to feel safe and welcome. Feeling welcome is not only a reference to local hospitality, but also to larger issues of governmental rights, they say.

Pink tourism agents are making a killing by catering exclusively to the LGBT community. They make gay travellers feel welcome in an unknown land and also bridge the gap between them and the locals.

Their tour packages often include gay nightlife or interactions with local gay business people. The biggest difference between normal and gay-friendly tour operators is; the latter can anticipate the requirements of gay travellers better, compared to the former.

The prime concerns of the travellers are safety and a discrimination-free trip, which the operators ensure through extensive networking. Gay-friendly tour operators say that they keep an eye on clients' movements, as they have offices all across the country and make sure all necessary information about what to wear and where to go is provided to the clients.

Some gay-friendly operators like Pink Escapes sends out advisories to their clients about the Indian scenario and also how to manage interactions with new acquaintances. They also use the services of gay or gay-friendly establishments to secure a discrimination- free trip.

The pink tourists can, during their trip to India, get a flavour of the country through multifaceted experiences tailored to meet their cultural curiosities and adventurous escapades, apart from the normal sightseeing.

They can enjoy puppet shows, music and dance based on folklore in a natural setting, cooking from scratch - from tours of spice and vegetable markets to the table - attend a dream Indian wedding ceremony or get an insight into being a gay royal, among other delights. According to experts, the lure of India as a tourist destination lies not only in its gay friendly environment but also as a golden chance to explore.

And they are not just limiting their tours to big metros, they throng smaller cities like Udaipur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Khajuraho, Varanasi and locations like back waters of Kerala, Marari Beach and foothills of Himalayas.

And if you didn’t know, Udaipur has a number of gay friendly restaurants and cafes, Jaipur has gay-friendly neighbourhoods and people, whereas down south, Kerala provides good opportunities for travellers looking for a therapeutic getaway.