City in Uttar Pradesh, India
Can you drink tap water in Varanasi?
Can you drink the tap water in Varanasi?
Don't drink the tap water. Drink bottled or RO-filtered water only. Do not drink or bathe in Ganges water; avoid ice and raw salads.
Key facts
- In Varanasi: Drink bottled or RO-filtered water only. Do not drink or bathe in Ganges water; avoid ice and raw salads.
- Across India: Drink bottled or RO-filtered water; many hotels and cafés offer refills. Avoid ice and raw salads at cheap places.
- Safely managed drinking water: 76% of people in India (2024, WHO/UNICEF JMP).
Tap water across India
| Place | Tap water |
|---|---|
| Delhi | No, drink bottled |
| Goa | No, drink bottled |
| Mumbai | No, drink bottled |
| Jaipur | No, drink bottled |
| Agra | No, drink bottled |
| Varanasi | No, drink bottled |
| Rishikesh | No, drink bottled |
| Bangalore | No, drink bottled |
| Udaipur | No, drink bottled |
| Kochi | No, drink bottled |
| Kolkata | No, drink bottled |
| Hyderabad | No, drink bottled |
| Manali | No, drink bottled |
| Dharamshala | No, drink bottled |
| Leh | No, drink bottled |
| Chennai | No, drink bottled |
| Pondicherry | No, drink bottled |
| Varkala | No, drink bottled |
| Hampi | No, drink bottled |
| Amritsar | No, drink bottled |
| Jodhpur | No, drink bottled |
| Jaisalmer | No, drink bottled |
| Pushkar | No, drink bottled |
| Palolem | No, drink bottled |
| Anjuna | No, drink bottled |
| Darjeeling | No, drink bottled |
| Munnar | No, drink bottled |
| Alleppey | No, drink bottled |
| Andaman Islands | No, drink bottled |
| Shimla | No, drink bottled |
Quick answers
Is tap water safe to drink in Varanasi?
Don't drink the tap water. Drink bottled or RO-filtered water only. Do not drink or bathe in Ganges water; avoid ice and raw salads.
Can you drink tap water in India?
Drink bottled or RO-filtered water; many hotels and cafés offer refills. Avoid ice and raw salads at cheap places.
More about Varanasi
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Sources
- World Bank: safely managed drinking water (WHO/UNICEF)
- CDC: food and water safety for travelers
- Uttar Pradesh Tourism
- Indian Railways (IRCTC)
- Varanasi Airport (Airports Authority of India)
Verdicts reflect official utility statements and what locals actually do. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.