{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/india/varanasi","updatedAt":"2026-09-30T12:14:41.935Z","place":{"city":"Varanasi","country":"India","countryCode":"IN","lat":25.31668,"lon":83.01041},"safety":{"score":68,"level":"SAFE","answer":"Yes — generally safe","saferThanPctOfCountries":69,"confidence":0.66,"caps":[],"databaseScore":69,"travellerSentiment":{"score":63,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Visitors generally report feeling safe during the day due to the city's religious and community-oriented nature, but express caution after dark and in crowded areas due to scams, poor lighting, and occasional aggressive touts.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":68,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":58,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":65,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":63,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":61,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":71,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":2,"label":"Exercise Increased Caution","updated":"Mon, 16 Jun 2025","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/india-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":3,"label":"Advises against all travel to parts of the country","updated":"2026-07-09T13:54:18Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-09-24T08:53:34.2574299-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/india"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":2.81530423021647,"display":"2.8 / 100k","year":"2022","score":79,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":1.1,"display":"1.1%","year":"2014","score":98,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0.09222158572250003,"display":"0.09 / million","year":"2021","score":92,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":14.6,"display":"14.6 / 100k","year":"2021","score":54,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":52.4723123,"display":"52/100","year":"2024","score":52,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":56.2895569,"display":"56/100","year":"2024","score":56,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":41.8767696,"display":"42/100","year":"2024","score":42,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":59.2076282,"display":"59/100","year":"2024","score":59,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":53.3476378,"display":"53/100","year":"2024","score":53,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":55.4677802,"display":"55/100","year":"2024","score":55,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":1164404,"display":"1.2M residents","year":null,"score":66,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":44.2,"display":"44.2 / 100","year":null,"score":61,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.42,"display":"0.42 / 100k","year":"2023","score":86,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":39,"display":"39.0%","year":"2020","score":28,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":113,"display":"US AQI 113 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups","year":null,"score":60,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":15.947148815,"display":"16 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2021","score":65,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":34,"display":"September: highs ~34°C · high heat","year":null,"score":80,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · low seismicity","year":null,"score":100,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution · 2 govts","year":null,"score":50,"source":"CA / US"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Varanasi is generally safe for visitors who stay alert, though petty crime and scams are common in crowded areas.","summary":"Varanasi has a moderate overall safety profile with low violent crime against tourists but elevated risks of pickpocketing and scams, particularly in ghats, markets, and near transport hubs. Visitors report feeling mostly safe during the day but express caution after dark due to poor lighting and isolated alleys. Recent incidents include a tourist fatality following a scuffle with security at Namo Ghat in May 2026 and ongoing protests over civic issues in September 2026.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Mugging and armed robbery are uncommon but can occur in poorly lit, isolated alleys near the railway station after midnight"},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"High","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are frequent in crowded ghats, markets, and during evening Aarti ceremonies, especially on Assi Ghat and near the main train station"},"safeAreas":["Cantt Area","Bhelupur"],"avoidAreas":["Manikarnika Ghat (due to donation scams), Rajghat (unsanitary, unsafe after dark)"],"scams":["Boat scam: overcharging or fake tours on the Ganges","Manikarnika Ghat 'donation' scam: touts posing as cremators asking for money for wood","Fake silk shops: commission-driven overpricing","Unofficial transport touts: drivers claiming hotels are closed to redirect to commission-paying hotels"],"zones":[{"name":"Assi Ghat","level":"caution","note":"Popular with tourists; pickpocketing frequent during evening Aarti and crowded ghats"},{"name":"Dashashwamedh Ghat","level":"caution","note":"Main ceremonial ghat; high scam risk from fake guides and touts, especially during rituals"},{"name":"Manikarnika Ghat","level":"avoid","note":"Active cremation site; touts posing as volunteers scam tourists for 'donations' under emotional pretext"},{"name":"Godowlia Market","level":"caution","note":"Dense market and transport hub; frequent pickpocketing and bag-snatching, especially near railway station"},{"name":"Cantt Area (Varanasi Cantonment)","level":"safe","note":"Well-patrolled, cleaner infrastructure; preferred for hotels and safer night movement"},{"name":"Bhelupur","level":"safe","note":"Residential zone with good lighting and lower scam density; suitable for accommodation"},{"name":"Luxa","level":"caution","note":"Central commercial zone; moderate petty theft risk in crowded lanes and silk shop areas"},{"name":"Rajghat","level":"avoid","note":"Poor infrastructure, unsanitary conditions, and minimal tourist presence; avoid especially after dark"}]}}