Destinations › India › Varanasi › Rules
Varanasi, India
4 laws, restrictions, and customs in Varanasi that travellers often break without knowing — and the fines or consequences that follow.
All places of worship in India require shoes to be removed at the entrance. This applies to temples (Hindu, Jain, Buddhist), mosques, Sikh gurudwaras, and some homes. Walking inside with shoes is considered desecration.
Cow slaughter is illegal in most Indian states including UP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. Possession or transport of beef is restricted or banned in these states. The penalties are serious and enforcement has intensified.
Photography near military facilities, in border zones (particularly Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh), and of police or government buildings without permission is restricted or illegal.
In India, the left hand is traditionally considered unclean (associated with personal hygiene). Passing food, money, or gifts with the left hand, or eating with the left hand in traditional settings, is considered impolite.
