This is a wide ranging monitor lizard found in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, southern China  (Daudin 1802, Zhao and Adler 1993), Myanmar, Viet Nam (Nguyen et al. 2009, Das 2010), Lao PDR (Duckworth et al. 1999), southeastern Iran, and as far as Java and the Anambas Islands in Indonesia. In Lao PDR, it has been reported from Nakai Plateau and is considered to have been locally extirpated in recent years in one area of Phou Louey NBCA (Stuart 1998c, Duckworth et al. 1999). In China, it is only known from the Wanding Valley, in Yunnan Province (Zhao and Adler 1993). It has an upper elevation limit of 2,150 m asl (though has been reported up to 2,600 m asl. in Afghanistan - Clark 1990). Varanus bengalensis nebulosus is present in Myanmar, Lao PDR, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Viet Nam, and various islands in the South China Sea between Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra and Borneo (Gray 1831, Nguyen et al. 2009, Das 2010, Grismer 2011, Chan-ard et al. 2015). In Viet Nam, it has been recorded from the provinces of Quang Tri (Dak Rong, Dong Tam Ve, Huong Hoa), Thua Thien-Hue (A Luoi, Loc Hai), Da Nang (Son Tra), Quang Nam (Nam Giang, Tay Giang), Kon Tum (Kon Plong, Bo Y), Gia Lai (K Bang), Dak Lak (Chu Yang Sin, Dak Phoi, Yok Don), Lam Dong (Lang Bian Plateau), Binh Phuoc (Nghia Trung), Dong Nai (Cat Tien), Ba Ria–Vung Tau (Con Dao) and Kien Giang (Phu Quoc) (Nguyen et al. 2009). In Indonesia, it has been recorded from Java and its occurrence on Sumatra has been suggested (Gray 1831, De Lisle 1996, Smith 1935, Das 2010). Although there are some old specimens purportedly from Sumatra, no recent records seem to exist from the mainland (e.g. Auffenberg 1994), but it has been recorded on at least three islands in the Riau Archipelago close to the coast of Sumatra (E. Arida pers. comm. 2019, Arida et al. 2015). Javan records are from the west and east, but the only recent records are photographs of a dead and a live animal from Baluran National Park and from Meru Betiri National Park (Auliya and Koch 2020), both taken in East Java two or three years ago (E. Arida pers. comm. 2019). Captive animals have been seen in West Java (D.T. Iskandar pers. comm. 2019).

In Malaysia, it is known from the states of Perlis (Wang Kelian), Kedah (Ulu Muda, Pulau Langkawi), Terengganu (Jertih, Hutan Lipur Sekayu, Tasik Kenyir, Perhentian Besar, Gunung Tebu), Perak (Batang Padang and Beruas, Selangor (Kepong), Negeri Sembilan (Pasoh), Endau-Rompin (Kampung Relau, Johor (Gunung Panti, Pulau Aur), Penang (Pulau Jerejak) and Pahang (Pulau Tioman, Krau Wildlife Reserve), and the foot of Gunung Lawit in Sungai Padang and Batang Padang (Cantor 1847, Boulenger 1903, Hendrickson 1966, Dring 1979, Sharma et al. 2001, Grismer et al. 2001, Norsham and Ong 2001, Daicus and Hashim 2004, Norsham et al. 2005, Ibrahim et al. 2006, Chan et al. 2009, 2010, Grismer 2011, Nurulhuda et al. 2014, Sumarli et al. 2015). In Thailand, it is present in forested areas throughout the country, although rare in the northeast (Chan-ard et al. 2015). In Cambodia, it has been found in the northern Cardamom Mountains (Daltry and Chheang 2000, Swan and Daltry 2002). In Lao PDR, the species is sometimes referred as V. nebulosus, which has been reported from Nakai Plateau and considered as locally extirpated in recent years in one area of Phou Louey NBCA (Stuart 1998c, Duckworth et al. 1999). It ranges up to 350 m asl (Grismer 2011). The species is naturally absent from the Chao Phraya River Central Flood Plain in Thailand, a historically swampy area unsuitable for this typically dry forest species. It may be absent from naturally swampy areas in the Mekong Delta, but there are too few records for Myanmar to clarify its occurrence in this area (G. Wogan pers. comm. 2017). In China this species is distributed in Ruili River watershed in western Yunnan (Yang and Li 1987, as Varanus irrawadicus). The highest elevational record is 3,000 m asl (Singh et al. 2020).

This species occurs in many protected areas across its extensive range and it is protected in a number of countries by national legislation because it is currently listed on Appendix I of CITES which prohibits legal export. While there are reports of some cross-border illegal trade - including the hatha jodi trade from India - this listing is likely to be effective in limiting exploitation for the international leather industry (M. Cota pers. comm. 2017). Nevertheless, penalties for violating the Indian Wildlife Protection Act are not required to be strict, local hunting in rural areas is rarely reported (M. Auliya pers. comm. 2020), and skins of Appendix I listed monitor skins have been sold openly in the Philippines as recently as March 2020 (TNN 2020). Further research into the harvest levels of this species is needed. The establishment and management of new protected areas where it is illegal to hunt this species should be carried out to provide a refuge from persecution (Papenfuss et al. 2010). According to Duckworth et al. (1999), it is considered as Potentially At Risk in Lao PDR. In China, this species is under National First Level Protection. It is a protected species in Indonesia under the name Varanus nebulosus. Research is recommended to clarify whether this species occurs on the Sumatran mainland (Arida et al. 2015). Awareness workshops should be regularly conducted across the species' range (see Bhattacharya et al. 2019).