{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/india/varanasi","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T01:29:16.011Z","place":{"city":"Varanasi","country":"India","countryCode":"IN","lat":25.31668,"lon":83.01041},"safety":{"score":69,"level":"SAFE","answer":"Yes — generally safe","saferThanPctOfCountries":71,"confidence":0.79,"caps":[],"databaseScore":70,"travellerSentiment":{"score":63,"label":"Mixed","summary":"Recent traveler reports on forums and travel‑safety sites describe feeling generally secure during daylight but uneasy after dark, with many citing aggressive touts and scams as the primary safety concerns.","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":66,"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":74,"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/tsg_aem/us/en/home/international-travel/travel-advisories/destination.ind.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":4,"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":"2026-07-13T11:19:39.2642671-04:00","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":"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":84,"display":"US AQI 84 · Moderate","year":null,"score":74,"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":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":36,"display":"July: highs ~36°C · high heat, heavy rain / flooding","year":null,"score":62,"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":72,"source":"US State Dept · Canada"}],"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 and respect local customs.","summary":"Varanasi scores 71/100 overall safety, with low violent crime but elevated petty‑theft and scam risks in crowded tourist zones; nighttime walking carries higher risk, and travelers should avoid isolated alleys after dark.","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":["Assi Ghat","Sarnath","Bharat Mata Mandir area","Mishrauli","Madanpura"],"avoidAreas":["Lahori Ghat (known for boat scams and aggressive touts)","Ravidas Ghat (crowded, donation scams)"],"scams":["Boat‑ride price‑inflation and fake‑donation scams at Manikarnika Ghat","Rickshaw and taxi commission scams that steer tourists to commission‑paying hotels or shops","Silk‑shop and souvenir overcharging with false authenticity claims"],"zones":[{"name":"Assi Ghat","level":"safe","note":"Tourist hub with regular patrols, low petty crime, but watch for pickpockets in crowds"},{"name":"Mishrauli","level":"caution","note":"Residential area with occasional petty theft; avoid walking alone after dark"},{"name":"Sarnath","level":"safe","note":"Well‑patrolled archaeological zone; safe during daylight, stay alert at night"},{"name":"Kotwali","level":"caution","note":"Central market district; high tout activity and scams, especially after dark"},{"name":"Bharat Mata Mandir area","level":"safe","note":"Popular with visitors, good lighting, but keep valuables secure in crowds"},{"name":"Lahori Ghat","level":"avoid","note":"Known for boat scams and aggressive touts; stay clear after sunset"},{"name":"Madanpura","level":"caution","note":"Quiet neighborhood with occasional petty crime; use trusted transport"},{"name":"Ravidas Ghat","level":"caution","note":"Religious site with dense crowds; beware of donation scams and pickpockets"}]}}