Delhi Pollution: What Travellers Should Do and Not Do
Most pages describe Delhi's pollution. This guide tells travellers what to do and not do: masks, water, timing and when to change plans.
Short answer: wear a proper mask, drink water, and keep your plan flexible
If Delhi's air is bad during your visit, the most useful things are simple. Wear a well-fitting mask, drink plenty of water, spend less time outdoors, check the official air quality reading each morning, and let your plan change if the reading gets worse. Smog in Delhi is not permanent: it usually eases over a few days.
This guide is written by a Delhi-born guide who takes visitors around the city. It was finished on Diwali night 2026, when the air was bad. We say clearly which points come from our own work and which come from official or published sources. It is general travel guidance, not medical advice. If you have a heart or lung condition, ask your own doctor before you travel.
How to read Delhi's air quality number
India's official scale is the National Air Quality Index, set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Delhi government's air quality dashboard uses the same bands.
| Category | AQI range | What the CPCB says about health |
|---|---|---|
| Good | 0 to 50 | Minimal impact |
| Satisfactory | 51 to 100 | May cause minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people |
| Moderate | 101 to 200 | May cause breathing discomfort to people with lung disease such as asthma, and discomfort to people with heart disease, children and older adults |
| Poor | 201 to 300 | May cause breathing discomfort to people on prolonged exposure |
| Very Poor | 301 to 400 | May cause respiratory illness on prolonged exposure; effect may be more pronounced in people with lung and heart disease |
| Severe | 401 to 500 | May cause respiratory effects even on healthy people; health impacts may be felt even during light physical activity |
Why apps show different numbers. On 8 November 2026, the Diwali day this guide was written, we saw very different readings. A news report based on CPCB data gave Delhi's average as 376, "very poor". The aqicn.org page showed 671 and called it "hazardous" at 6 am, with a note that its data are unvalidated. IQAir showed 206 on the US scale, "very unhealthy". These readings come from different scales, stations and times of day. So always check which scale an app uses before you decide anything.
Our advice: use the Delhi government's air quality dashboard as your main reference. It shows each station's reading and category. It also lists helplines, including pollution control on 1800 202 5051 and emergency on 112.
What to do on a bad-air day
1. Wear a mask
From our own work: this is the one thing we recommend most. Guests who do not wear a mask in bad air often feel something in the throat, a choking feeling in the neck. Guests who wear one are more comfortable.
Not every mask helps equally. Guidance hosted on nyc.gov says well-fitting respirators such as N95s generally give the best protection against pollution, and that cloth masks are not recommended for filtering pollution. Tight-fitting surgical masks can give some protection if you have nothing better. A mask only works if it fits: it should cover your nose and go under your chin, with the nose piece pinched.
2. Drink water
From our own work: we tell guests to drink water often on bad-air days.
3. Spend less time outdoors
The same guidance says the best way to reduce your exposure is to reduce your time outside and avoid strenuous outdoor activity. A mask is a second line of help, not a replacement.
4. Check the air before each day
Look at the official reading in the morning, as explained above, and decide with your guide what to do.
5. Let the plan bend
From our own work: how much we change a tour depends on the traveller and on the weather. When it is not too hot and not too cold, many guests are comfortable carrying on with a mask. Others prefer a shorter day. Tell your guide how you feel, and change the plan early.
What not to do
- Do not rely on a cloth mask. The guidance we read does not recommend them for filtering pollution.
- Do not wear a mask badly. A mask that does not fit gives little protection and can give false confidence.
- Do not force a mask on a child under 2. The same guidance says children under 2 should not wear masks.
- Do not keep a mask on if it makes breathing harder. The guidance advises against it, for example in very hot weather or during exertion.
- Do not trust one app on its own. Readings differ by scale and station.
- Do not wait for roads to close. In our experience, roads and places stay open around Diwali. The problem is the smoke and the air quality, not access.
- Do not plan hard physical activity such as long walks in the open or cycling on the worst days.
Diwali and the days after
From our own work: around Diwali, the roads and places in Delhi stay open. Firecrackers do not close the city. The difficulty is the smoke and the air quality.
The numbers back this up. A report by IBTimes India on 8 November 2026, Diwali day, gave Delhi's average AQI as 376, "very poor", up from 369 the day before. Of 59 stations reporting at 7 pm, 19 were in the severe range, 33 were very poor and 7 were poor. It named firecrackers, vehicles, stubble burning in neighbouring states, and low wind as causes, and said the early warning system expected "severe" air from 9 November for a few days.
When air reaches the severe level, the Commission for Air Quality Management can bring in a set of curbs known as GRAP Stage III. In November 2025, its list included a ban on non-essential construction, limits on some older diesel and petrol vehicles, and hybrid classes for younger school students. The list we read did not include closing tourist sites, but rules change, so ask your guide on the day.
How long does it last, and what clears it?
From our own work: the smoke after Diwali does not stay forever. In our experience it can take roughly two to five days to ease, and strong sun or rain helps clear it. We cannot predict this exactly, so this is an observation, not a forecast.
For forecasts, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology runs an early warning system for Delhi air quality. Its bulletin includes a six-day air-quality outlook and wind and ventilation forecasts. It notes that low ventilation with wind speed under 10 km/h makes it harder for pollutants to disperse.
If you have flexible dates, the forecast is the best tool for choosing when to go out.
Who needs extra care
The CPCB's health statements name people with lung disease such as asthma, people with heart disease, children and older adults as more affected, especially when the air is moderate or worse.
Guidance hosted on nyc.gov also advises that people with heart or lung conditions should ask their health care provider which mask is appropriate, and that children under 2 should not wear masks.
If you or someone in your group is in one of these groups, talk to your doctor before you travel, and keep dates flexible if you can. We are guides, not doctors, and we do not give medical advice.
Should you change or cancel your trip?
This is our general guide, not medical advice. It uses the CPCB bands above.
| Air quality (official category) | What we would do |
|---|---|
| Good or Satisfactory | Carry on as planned. |
| Moderate | Carry on. If you have asthma or a heart condition, take extra care and carry your medicine. |
| Poor | Wear a well-fitting mask outdoors, drink water, and shorten long outdoor stops. |
| Very Poor | Mask outdoors, fewer hours outside, and more indoor stops. Ask your guide to adjust the day. |
| Severe | Avoid long outdoor stays and hard exercise. If you have a lung or heart condition, or are travelling with young children or older relatives, consider moving your dates and ask your doctor. |
If the air is bad but your dates are fixed, you can still enjoy Delhi, but plan for shorter outdoor time and a flexible day. We would not cancel a whole trip for a few bad days unless you have a health reason to.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to visit Delhi when the air is bad?
Many visitors do, with precautions. Wear a well-fitting mask, drink water, limit time outdoors, and check the official reading daily. If you have a heart or lung condition, ask your doctor first.
Do I need to wear a mask in Delhi?
In our experience, yes, on bad-air days. Guests without a mask often feel a choking feeling in the throat. Guidance hosted on nyc.gov says well-fitting N95-type respirators protect best and cloth masks are not recommended.
Is Delhi worse around Diwali?
In our experience, yes. On Diwali day 2026, a report gave Delhi's average AQI as 376, "very poor".
Are roads and sights closed on Diwali?
In our experience, no. Roads and places stay open. The problem is smoke and air quality.
How long does Diwali smog last?
In our experience, roughly two to five days, and rain or strong sun helps clear it. This is an observation, not a forecast.
Which air quality app should I trust?
Check which scale it uses. We recommend the Delhi government's dashboard as your main reference because it uses India's official bands.
Should I cancel my trip because of pollution?
Not automatically. We would cancel or move dates mainly for health reasons, or if the air is severe and you are in a more sensitive group. Ask your doctor.
Who can I call for help in Delhi?
Emergency 112, ambulance 102 or 108, and the pollution control helpline 1800 202 5051, all listed on the Delhi government dashboard. The tourist helpline is 1800111363 or 1363.
Sources
- Delhi government air quality dashboard: station readings, bands and helplines
- CPCB: National Air Quality Index report: categories and health statements
- IITM Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi
- IBTimes India: Delhi chokes on Diwali smoke, AQI hits 376 (8 November 2026)
- All India Radio: Delhi enters severe pollution stage, GRAP Stage III (12 November 2025)
- Mask guidance for smoke and pollution, hosted on nyc.gov (the page does not name its issuing agency or date)
- aqicn.org Delhi and IQAir Delhi: live pages, cited only as examples of different readings on 8 November 2026
