Russian tourist’s video rating Indian cities sparks online discussion

Many foreigners who visit India are amazed by the varied and unique experiences that await them. There are also those who say they weren't prepared for the challenges the country threw at them. It's a trend now for many such travellers to post videos rating the cities they visited, alongside explaining the reasons for their ratings. Recently, a video shared by Alyssa, a Russian traveller, rating various Indian cities by safety has been going viral on social media. The video titled ‘How safe I felt in different Indian cities as a Russian woman’ has sparked online discussion.

Delhi gets the lowest rating
Delhi scores the lowest in Alyssa’s safety scorecard. She gives just two out of ten for safety in Delhi. Though the capital of the city, Delhi, has been suffering from many titles like 'rape capital of the world' to 'most polluted capital,' for a long time. Meanwhile, Agra, the home of the Taj Mahal, didn’t fare well on the ratings either. Alyssa gave Agra just 3/10, mainly due to the problems that she faced while travelling. 

Manali and Rishikesh are the best
Manali in Himachal Pradesh and Rishikesh in Uttarakhand received 9/10, the highest rating on Alyssa’s scorecard. Many solo female travellers and international tourists have also rated these destinations quite safe in the past. Alyssa gave Jaipur, a Rajasthani city, 8/10 and Jodhpur 7/10. Meanwhile, Goa, considered one of India's best tourist destinations, received 8/10. Alyssa describes these cities as generally safe and offering the best tourist experience. 

Indians support Alyssa
Many Indians supported Alyssa and said that her rating was accurate, after her scorecard became viral on social media. Many opined that the lack of safety in Delhi has troubled not only foreigners but locals, too. Meanwhile, some mocked Delhi, saying that Alyssa has been generous by giving 2/10 to the capital city. One of them commented that Delhi was not safe even for men. “Don’t spread lies. 2/10 for Delhi is too much,” one comment said, in jest. 

To the North East
Meanwhile, others point out that the idea of safety is defined by each person's personal experiences, the place and time of the visit, and the sensibilities of the people, too, and that these factors play a crucial role in ensuring safe spaces. One user urged Alyssa to visit the northeastern states, such as Sikkim, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh, next.

What's the most women-friendly cities in India?
Earlier this year, a safety report by the consulting firm Avtar ranked Bengaluru the most women-friendly city in India for 2025. It was followed by Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai,  Gurugram, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, according to Numbeo's mid-2025 Safety Index, the safest Indian city is Mangalore, followed by Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Surat, Jaipur, Navi Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Pune, and Chandigarh.