While Delhi Gasps for Breath, Shillong and Gangtok Top India’s Clean-Air Chart

New Delhi: As thick toxic smog continues to smother northern India with AQI levels routinely crossing the “severe-plus” mark, a new air-quality report has crowned Northeast hill stations Shillong and Gangtok as the country’s cleanest urban breathing spaces.

Both capitals recorded “good” to “satisfactory” AQI throughout the winter season, thanks to their high altitude, extensive forest cover, heavy rainfall, and near-zero industrial footprint. The region’s natural valley-and-ridge topography ensures constant wind flow that disperses any pollutants almost immediately.

Strict vehicle restrictions, low traffic density, and strong community-driven conservation initiatives have further helped Meghalaya and Sikkim preserve their pristine skies, the report noted.

Other hill towns that made it to India’s top clean-air list include Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, Munnar in Kerala, and Coorg in Karnataka — all blessed with abundant greenery and proactive environmental policies.

Increasingly, these destinations are witnessing a surge in visitors not just for holidays but for wellness retreats, work-from-hill programmes, and even permanent relocation by families and professionals desperate to escape the choking metros.

Environmentalists say the success of these towns offers a clear lesson: strategic geography combined with robust regulation and public participation can protect air quality even in a rapidly urbanising country.

As Delhi-NCR residents don masks and air purifiers this winter, India’s quiet hill stations are proving that clean air is still possible — if we choose to protect it.

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