Varanasi Travel Safety Guide — India

Safety Score: 6.5/10 · Value: 8.5/10 · Beauty: 8.2/10

Varanasi (also known as Benares or Kashi) is the oldest continuously inhabited city on Earth and the holiest city in Hinduism, Shiva himself is said to preside here. The ghats (stone steps leading to the river) stretch for 7km along the Ganges, each with a different ritual purpose: bathing pilgrims, cremation fires at Manikarnika Ghat, flower offerings, yoga at dawn. The evening Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat, fire, bells, incense, prayer, is one of the most extraordinary human spectacles on the planet. Sarnath, 10km away, is where Buddha gave his first sermon.

Tripvey Score — estimated from travel advisories and publicly available data. Not official safety advice.