Not Bengaluru or Mumbai, but this city is India's safest place, says French designer: 'Never felt safer...'

Which is the safest city in India? According to Julia Chaigneau, it’s none other than Ahmedabad. Talking to X, the 23-year-old designer, who is building her business, confessed she had never felt as safe anywhere else. . She spent a year in the city and emphasized that her time there left her with a strong sense of comfort and protection. While her phrasing sparked a minor correction from another user regarding her English, she acknowledged the slip warmly and moved on to share more about her experience.

"I lived in Ahmedabad, Gujarat (India) for a year and honestly, I never felt safer..." she wrote.

Julia explained that, like many women, safety is a constant concern for her. Friends and family initially worried when she decided to move to India, but her perspective shifted once she settled into life in Gujarat. She highlighted that living in a dry state played an important role in how safe she felt, showing her how city-level policies and cultural practices can influence the environment.

Her residence in a gated community, where both locals and international residents live together, also contributed to her feeling of security. She was careful to note that India is a diverse country where safety levels vary across cities and states, but she reiterated that her personal experience in Ahmedabad has been overwhelmingly positive. To accompany her reflections, she posted two images offering glimpses into her life in Gujarat.

Social media users responded warmly to her account. One longtime resident of Ahmedabad remarked that the charm and safety of the city often reveal themselves more clearly to those who live there for an extended period. Another highlighted that Ahmedabad holds the distinction of being India’s first heritage city and expressed hope that Julia had experienced its historic walking tours, to which she enthusiastically replied that she had joined one the previous winter and found it wonderful. Others chimed in, affirming that much of Gujarat feels secure, with one commenter stating that they had never felt safer anywhere else. Many thanked Julia for shedding light on her positive experience and for portraying their city in such a thoughtful manner.

As for Julia herself, her X profile introduces her as a French designer who has been living in India for two years. She shares her life with a cat named Divine, who has accompanied her across countries from France to Denmark and now India. Alongside her co-founder Prachi, she is working on building her business while embracing her journey in Gujarat.