Gangtok Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

Sikkim, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5

Gangtok AQI Right Now

5

Category: Good

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 2.8 µg/m³

PM10: 4.9 µg/m³

Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.

Gangtok Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.52.8 µg/m³
PM104.9 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)10.32 µg/m³
NO₂11.27 µg/m³
SO₂0.21 µg/m³
CO227.12 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Gangtok

Good: Minimal impact on health. Great day to be outdoors!

Health Impact — Gangtok

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 0.1 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Health Recommendations for Gangtok

  • General Population: Air quality is satisfactory. Enjoy outdoor activities.
  • Elderly: No special precautions needed.
  • Children: Great day for outdoor play.
  • Lung Disease Patients: No restrictions on outdoor activities.

Understanding Gangtok Air Quality

Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim nestled at approximately 1,650 metres on a fog-draped ridge in the Eastern Himalayas, consistently ranks among the cities with the cleanest air in India. The combination of extreme elevation, extraordinarily heavy rainfall exceeding 3,500 mm annually, dense temperate and subtropical forest cover, a population of only around 100,000, and the near-complete absence of heavy industry creates conditions where poor air quality is genuinely exceptional. Sikkim's strict environmental policies - including India's first fully organic farming state status and tight controls on industrial development - further protect Gangtok's air from the pollution sources that affect most other Indian state capitals.

The dry winter months from December through March represent Gangtok's only period of marginally elevated pollution, though even peak-season readings would be considered pristine by the standards of most Indian cities. During these months, reduced rainfall allows a modest build-up of vehicle exhaust from the growing tourist traffic on Gangtok's steep, winding roads - particularly along the crowded MG Marg to Nathula Highway corridor. Construction dust from the city's ongoing infrastructure development on challenging hillside terrain contributes to localised particulate levels, as does biomass burning for domestic heating in surrounding rural areas. Tourism-related emissions from diesel-powered SUVs and taxis ferrying visitors to high-altitude destinations like Tsomgo Lake and Nathula Pass add to the dry-season load.

The monsoon season (June–September) delivers relentless rainfall that scrubs the atmosphere to exceptional purity, with AQI readings frequently in single digits. Post-monsoon months maintain excellent air quality as the lush, rain-soaked landscape continues to suppress dust. Pre-monsoon spring (April–May) sees increasing tourist arrivals but also the return of moisture-laden winds. Gangtok's greatest air quality asset is its governance model - Sikkim's ban on plastic bags, restrictions on polluting industries, and investment in hydropower over thermal power provide a blueprint for mountain-city environmental management across India.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Construction dust
  • Road dust
  • Biomass burning
  • Tourism-related emissions

Geography: Eastern Himalayan hill capital at ~1,650m elevation; steep ridge setting with dense temperate forest cover, extremely heavy rainfall (~3,500mm annually), minimal industrial activity

Peak pollution months: December, January, February, March

Frequently Asked Questions — Gangtok

What is the air quality like in Gangtok?

Gangtok enjoys some of the cleanest air of any state capital in India, with AQI readings typically in the Good category (NAQI below 50) year-round. The city's 1,650-metre elevation, dense Himalayan forest cover, annual rainfall exceeding 3,500 mm, minimal industrial activity, and Sikkim's strict environmental policies all contribute to exceptionally pure air.

What causes air pollution in Gangtok?

Gangtok's very limited pollution comes from vehicle exhaust - particularly tourist SUVs and taxis on steep roads - construction dust from hillside development, road dust on unpaved sections, biomass burning for heating in surrounding areas, and tourism-related emissions during peak season. The city has no heavy industry, and Sikkim's organic-state status means agricultural burning is also minimal.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities