As the AQI levels in Delhi-NCR have remained disastrous for the past several days and are only expected to get worse on Diwali, here are some cool getaways near the capital where you can escape for a short while to breathe some clean air and recharge your batteries.
Known for its beautiful landscape, Tibetan culture, nature treks and yummy food, this suburb of Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh is a beautiful getaway from Delhi-NCR that is particularly appealing if you are trying to escape smog post-Diwali.
A town and cantonment in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, Kasauli is an easy getaway from Delhi. Revel in the lush greenery and stroll through the streets as you take a break from the polluted air of Delhi-NCR.
A quiet town with old-world colonial charm, Lansdowne is known for its unspoiled beauty and lush greenery. A cantonment town in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, this can be a good place for your post-Diwali break.
A hill station in Madhya Pradesh, Pachmarhi is nestled amid the greens of the Satpura Hill Range. Beautiful winding roads, lush greenery and a number of waterfalls can be your ideal retreat after Diwali.
While summers might be the ideal time for visiting Uttarakhand's hill town, Mukteshwar - surrounded by fruit orchards and unspoilt coniferous forest - is a gem of a place which you can visit if you are looking to escape NCR's bad air post-Diwali.
Located near Nainital, the beautiful Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand is home to a large variety of flora, fauna and wildlife, including the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger. Take a short break and enjoy the feel of jungles, away from smog and pollution.
This is another wildlife reserve near the town of Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan. This is one of the best national parks if you want to see the tigers in their natural habitat.