Go with a plan.
India’s safety score rose to 67 today, but the US, UK, and Canada all maintain a level 2 advisory. Watch for the global measles notice before you book.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about India
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go with a plan.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Sedated food offers
Strangers, particularly groups of men or couples, may offer food laced with sedatives. Decline these offers politely, even if the person offering eats from the same batch.
Temple donation pressure
Priests or guides at attractions like Kanchipuram temples may pressure tourists into large donations for religious ceremonies. Ask for the cost upfront and walk away if pressured.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Recommended:
From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •As a rule India is quite safe for foreigners, apart from instances of petty crime and theft common to any developing country, as long as certain basic precautions and common sense are observed – and women should be cautious travelling alone at night.
- •In India, the national emergency helpline number is ', which connects you to police, fire, and ambulance services.
- •While hospitality is important in India, it is not common to see people offering to share food or cookies while they eat.
- •Don't trust strangers offering assistance or services.
- •Attitudes towards the LGBT community have been changing since the 2000s.
Staying healthy
- •Going to India, you have to adapt to a different climate and food.
- •Six quick tips for avoiding the Delhi belly: Go vegetarian – At least for the first week or two.
- •Toilets can be found for free in most temples, just in case it is urgent.
- •Litter can be a problem in some cities in India.
- •If you have asthma, carry enough medication as dust, pollen or pollution may cause trouble.
- •If you venture to forests in India, you may encounter venomous snakes.…
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers agree that India requires a concrete plan and high endurance, particularly in North and Central regions where harassment and physical safety concerns are prevalent. Solo female travel in the Golden Triangle is strongly discouraged; organized tours or private transport are recommended to mitigate risks of unwanted physical contact and constant hassling. While South India, the Northeast, and mountain regions like Himachal Pradesh are considered safer with better infrastructure, travelers must remain vigilant, avoid lonely areas, and avoid nighttime travel. Street-smart strategies include ignoring touts entirely, using female-only public transport compartments, and maintaining an energy-bubble approach to avoid engagement with aggressive solicitors or crowds.
“Personally, as someone born and raised in India, I would simply never recommend solo travel in this area for woman. I would also not recommend traveling in groups of 2-3 here.
— r/travel
“I was physically assaulted (minor—butt pinching, boobs elbowed, purposefully rubbed against, a child flew a pointy paper airplane into my eye from a meter away on purpose, etc) about a half dozen times.
— r/travel
“The best thing to do is go about the day with not a bother. Don't engage, don't look, don't smile, don't shout, don't react. If you want something, you want something. Don't let others influence you into making a decision you may later regret. Be a 'Mr Bean' in the situation.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / D / M · 230V
Driving side
left
Emergency
police: 112 / ambulance: 112 / fire: 112
Zoom in
20 India cities on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (11 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-07-12
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-07-12
- ca-gac — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-07-12
- cdc-health — observed 2026-07-12
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-07-12
- reddit — observed 2026-07-12
- unodc — observed 2026-07-12
- acled-hdx — observed 2026-07-12
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-07-12