New Delhi has been infamous for its worsening air quality, especially during its winter months. Yet, December and January remain the peak seasons to travel to the capital owing to its cooler and calmer temperatures. As the AQI scale maxes out at 500, the Delhi AQI wanes between 350 to 400, experiencing long spells of thick smog that veils the sun and clear skies.
Experts have long revealed that prolonged exposure to poor air quality can reduce visibility, worsen respiratory conditions, and uptick cardiovascular problems. With winds calm and moisture hanging in the air, the dust from continuous constructions, fossil fuel burning, and vehicular emissions effectively remains boxed within Delhi NCR. While you can beat the severe Delhi AQI with these much-needed weekend escapes, we have curated a guide to safely explore the city with minimum damage and maximum precautions.
How To Travel In And Around The City Through Delhi AQI
1. Always Mask Up!
Flimsy cloth masks don’t do much to save you when Delhi AQI is tanking that badly. While travelling outdoors, wear medical-grade and high-quality pollution masks, N95 or N99 masks, that can filter out maximum particulate matter. If you must, then use reusable masks with changeable filters. Nevertheless, you must change your filters every now and then to avoid clogging them and reducing their effectiveness.
2. Avoid Outdoors (As Much As You Can)
As sad as that sounds for a traveller, Delhi’s outdoors are not for the weak-hearted (quite literally). The visibility of the city is the lowest during early mornings and evenings, which is when walks to best avoided the most. Yet, Delhi boasts of many amazing museums, cultural hubs, and exhibitions that happen indoors that you can explore instead.
If you are searching for a place to eat, it’s best to avoid roadside or open-air restaurants, no matter how enticing they sound. You can check out our list of thebest restaurants in Delhi instead.
3. To Drive Or Not To Drive
With the poisonous smog covering most parts of the city, being outdoors in the city can cause more harm than good. Avoid that ‘breath of air’ with a bike or an auto rickshaw. However, with Delhi’s fast-moving traffic and amazing metro connectivity, you can get better air, calm travel, and fast transport. If you choose to drive around, remember to check the visibility around your area to avoid accidents and keep your windows shut at all times. Moreover, it is also preferable to avoid peak traffic hours as vehicular emissions remain the highest contributors to the Delhi AQI.
4. Check Delhi AQI Meters At All Times
When venturing outside or planning your travel in and out of the city, always check your area’s AQI to suit up accordingly. While the AQI of the city may give an average, you can check particular areas or plan your exploration days accordingly. There are currently 39 Delhi AQI monitoring stations, with three stations, Ashok Vihar, Wazipur, and Rohini, maxing out at 500 AQI, as of December 15. Yet, Shadipur remained within the “Very poor” category, making the outdoors a possible dream.
5. Keep track of your flights
Domestic airlines like Indigo and Air India continue to post updates via their social media, cautioning travel during Delhi’s smoggy winters. With visibility scale varying every moment, it is essential to track your flights. Remain in touch with airlines to get continuous updates on the status of your flight, and keep a lookout for their social media updates. There are heavy possibilities of delays and cancellations due to low visibility amidst the rising Delhi AQI. Moreover, airlines also suggest arriving at the airport well in advance to avoid slow-moving traffic due to reduced road visibility.
6. Keep Your Activities Indoors
Indoor activities are all the rage this winter in Delhi. Beyond its historic monuments and iconic places, Delhi remains the cultural hub of India. Being the Indian capital city for centuries, Delhi hosts some of the country’s most historic and immersive museums with special and permanent showcases all year round. If you are looking to add a bit of magic, check out some of the year’s stunning candlelight concerts around the city. Delhi AQI perhaps comes as a blessing (sarcasm!) for those too lazy to start new hobbies. Whether you want to try gardening, cooking classes, or art escapes, it seems like the perfect time to broaden your horizon.
7. Fit and Pure
Air purifiers are an essential in this increasingly toxic Delhi AQI. Whether it is a hotel or a home, ensure you have access to air purifiers or buy a personal one. Those are easily sellable if you are planning to leave in any secondhand markets around the city. Moreover, make fitness your priority; a healthy body is key to fighting the rotting air. You can have a make-shift gym at your abode or take one of many Delhi’s enriching yoga classes. If you are looking to de-stress, check out these relaxing spas in the city.
With that in mind, travel safely and cautiously. Delhi has much to offer in terms of culture, yet the worsening pollution poses a serious threat to collective health, wealth, and heritage. With the changing pollution and a growing threat to health and wellness, be a mindful traveller.