A visit to Delhi on the heels of Diwali often leads to the onset of a cough. This is because the capital reports the worst air quality index — AQI — at this time, with city-goers bursting crackers late into the night. This past year, however, saw Mumbai superseding even Delhi in terms of poor AQI during certain months. In October, for instance, Mumbai’s AQI breached the 200-mark, a level which is considered ‘poor’ and causes severe health hazards.
Come winter, the AQI across several Indian cities went from ‘good’ to ‘moderate’ and ‘moderate’ to ‘poor’. The AQI becomes worse in the cold season because the PM2.5 (particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter) pollution levels tend to rise 10 times more than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual limit. This is because the dense, cold air traps the pollutants and keeps them away instead of whisking them away.
According to the Central Control Room for Air Quality Management, a city with an AQI of between 0-50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 is ‘satisfactory’, 101-150 is ‘moderately polluted’, 151-200 is ‘poor’, 201-300 is ‘very poor’ and 301-500 is ‘severe’.
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With Delhi (313), Mumbai (231), Kolkata (344), Patna (274) and Jaipur (271) currently falling in the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories, travel to these cities comes with a chance of respiratory illnesses. Instead, give your lungs a breather by visiting these other Indian cities and towns with AQIs between 0-50.
AQI score: 8 Indian cities with the best air quality index that you can visit actually to breathe a little
1. Aizawl, Mizoram AQI – 38
At 18°C and an AQI of 38, Aizawl, with its picturesque hill stations, clear-blue lakes, cascading waterfalls and dense forests, is a nature lover’s dream.
The capital of Manipur is a cultural hotspot, with remnants of its rich history on display at the Kangla Fort and Manipur State Museum. The glistening Loktak Lake, home to the Meitei fisher community and sprawling orchid gardens, is one of the capital city’s many attractions.
AQI – 55
A stunning hill town in Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal has terrific year-round weather and warrants a visit to its granite cliffs, forested valleys, lakes, waterfalls, and grassy hills.
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AQI – 50
From its majestic Elephant Falls and manicured gardens at Lady Hydari Park to the walking trails around Ward’s Lake and Police Bazaar for the latest in fashion — Shillong has it all. It also boasts of a burgeoning nightlife famed primarily for its live music events.
AQI – 22
While Manali is one of the more touristy towns of Himachal Pradesh, it retains its identity and a good AQI. It’s a gateway to skiing in the Solang Valley. Also, it offers a spate of adventure sports like a jumping-off point for paragliding, rafting, and mountaineering with a backdrop of the Pir Panjal mountains.
AQI – 51
If you’re looking for a peaceful getaway with your family, Silchar, with its ancient landmarks, sprawling greens and incredible Assamese delicacies, is the way to go.
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AQI – 49
Although a metropolitan city, Chennai has retained a good AQI. Other than its historic temples, colonial-era markets, Nawabi palaces and beaches (a visit to the Marina beach is a must!), Chennai is also ideally situated for a (relatively) short road trip to Pondicherry, Mahabaleshwar and Kanchipuram.
AQI – 29 to 58
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Most tourists flock to North Goa — Anjuna, Baga, Vagator, Arambol — as a result of which the AQI around those beaches, and the main cities like Panaji and Mapusa, tends to take a hit. Down South, however, the air is much cleaner in lesser-inhabited areas like Agonda, Benaulim and Varca, which make for the most relaxing sort of getaway.
NOTE – This article was originally published in gqindia and can be viewed here
