India – June 22, 2025 – The United States State Department has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for India, urging American citizens to "exercise increased caution" due to risks of crime and terrorism. In a particularly strong warning, the advisory explicitly advises American women "Do not travel alone, especially if you are a woman," citing "rape" as one of the "fastest growing crimes in India."
The updated advisory, which was reissued on June 16, 2025, after a periodic review, highlights a range of safety concerns across the country. It states that "violent crimes, including sexual assault, happen at tourist sites and other locations."
Key Concerns Highlighted in the Advisory:
- Crime: The advisory notes that "rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India." It also warns that violent crimes, including sexual assault, can occur at tourist sites, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and other public locations.
- Terrorism: The State Department cautions that "terrorists may attack with little or no warning." Potential targets include tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and government facilities. The recent Pahalgam terror attack on April 2, which killed 26 tourists, has been cited as a contributing factor to the heightened warning.
- Limited US Government Assistance: The advisory states that the U.S. government has "limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in rural areas," particularly across regions stretching from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal, where Maoist extremist groups (Naxalites) are active.
- Specific High-Risk Regions: The advisory designates several areas with heightened risks, advising Americans to "Do not travel" or "Reconsider travel" to:
- Jammu and Kashmir: "Do not travel to this area (except for visits to the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest." It specifically mentions violence in tourist spots like Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam.
- India-Pakistan Border: "Do not travel due to risk of armed conflict."
- Manipur: "Do not travel due to ethnic-based violence and targeted attacks on Indian government personnel."
- Parts of Central and Eastern India: "Do not travel due to terrorist activity by Naxalite groups," especially in rural areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha.
- Northeastern States: Reconsider travel due to terrorist threats and ethnic insurgent attacks.
- Travel Restrictions for US Government Employees: Due to these risks, U.S. government employees working in India must obtain special authorization to travel to several states unless they are visiting only the capital cities. These include Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Odisha, as well as eastern Maharashtra and eastern Madhya Pradesh.
- Legal Warnings: The advisory also reminds travelers that possessing a satellite phone or a GPS device is illegal in India and may result in a penalty of $200,000 or jail time of up to three years. It also warns against crossing the India-Nepal border by land due to risks of immigration-related detentions and fines.
The advisory has drawn criticism from some quarters in India, with the opposition Congress party seizing on it to attack the central government, calling it a "shock" and an "embarrassment" for the administration and questioning the "safe India" narrative.
American citizens planning travel to India are urged to review the full advisory on the U.S. State Department website, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), and maintain a high level of personal security awareness.
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