Indoor Things to Do in Delhi When AQI Spikes: A Smog-Season Guide
Updated 2026-10-04 · 7 min read · by the delhi2go team
When Delhi’s AQI spikes, usually between late October and January, the city has plenty to do indoors. There are free museums and galleries, the Mandi House theatres, comedy and jazz clubs, bowling and arcades, and weekend workshops. Before you plan your day, check the live AQI on CPCB’s SAMEER app and the current GRAP stage. Then pick your plan from the lists below, sorted by mood.
First, check the air: AQI and GRAP explained
Where to check AQI
- SAMEER app (CPCB): live AQI from monitoring stations across Delhi-NCR. Look at the station nearest you, not just the city average.
- CPCB’s daily AQI bulletin: the official 24-hour average, released every afternoon. It’s the figure GRAP decisions are based on.
- DPCC website: real-time readings from Delhi Pollution Control Committee stations.
- Air Quality Early Warning System (IITM Pune): forecasts for the next few days, useful for planning a weekend.
The GRAP stages
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is Delhi-NCR’s emergency playbook for bad air. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invokes each stage, often a few days ahead, based on forecasts.
| GRAP stage | AQI | Category | What it typically means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage I | 201–300 | Poor | Dust control, curbs on open burning, tighter vehicle checks |
| Stage II | 301–400 | Very poor | More restrictions, such as on diesel generators; higher parking fees to discourage driving |
| Stage III | 401–450 | Severe | Non-essential construction stops; older petrol and diesel cars restricted; classes for young children may go hybrid |
| Stage IV | Above 450 | Severe+ | Truck entry curbs, more schools online, work-from-home advisories |
CAQM has revised what falls under each stage over the years, so check its latest order for exact rules. Higher GRAP stages mean worse traffic, more people on the metro and occasional event postponements. Plan to stay closer to home.
Simple rule of thumb: above about 300, do indoor plans and keep outdoor time short. Above 400, wear an N95 even for short walks, and skip exercise outdoors.
Museums and galleries
Delhi’s museums are under-used, warm in winter and mostly very cheap. Many close on Mondays, so plan around that.
| Museum | Area | Closed | Nearest metro | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiran Nadar Museum of Art | Saket (DLF South Court Mall) | Monday | Saket / Malviya Nagar (Yellow) | Free modern and contemporary Indian art; open Tuesday–Sunday, 11 am–8 pm |
| National Gallery of Modern Art | Jaipur House, near India Gate | Monday | Khan Market (Violet), then a short auto | Amrita Sher-Gil, Tagore, Raja Ravi Varma and big rotating shows |
| National Museum | Janpath | Monday | Udyog Bhawan (Yellow) | 5,000 years of Indian art and archaeology; give it half a day |
| Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya | Teen Murti | Check before going | Udyog Bhawan / Lok Kalyan Marg (Yellow) | Holograms, VR and immersive galleries on every prime minister |
| National Science Centre | Bhairon Road, Pragati Maidan | Only Holi and Diwali | Supreme Court (Blue) | Eight floors of hands-on science; great for kids |
| Crafts Museum | Bhairon Road, Pragati Maidan | Galleries closed Monday | Supreme Court (Blue) | Textiles, folk art and a live crafts demonstration area |
| Shankar’s International Dolls Museum | Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg | Monday | ITO (Violet) | About 6,000 dolls from 85 countries; tiny entry fee |
| National Rail Museum | Chanakyapuri | Monday | Check map (cab easiest) | Real locomotives; partly outdoors, so save it for a better day |
Closing days are based on Delhi Tourism and the museums’ own listings, but holiday hours change, so check the museum’s website on the morning you go. Galleries like Triveni Kala Sangam (Mandi House), the India Habitat Centre galleries on Lodhi Road, and Bikaner House near India Gate host free exhibitions too. Check our listings for current shows.
Theatre and performance
The Mandi House cluster is Delhi’s theatre district. It has Kamani Auditorium, Shri Ram Centre, LTG Auditorium and Triveni within a few minutes’ walk of each other, and it’s right on top of Mandi House metro (Blue/Violet). Shows range from repertory classics to new Hindi and English plays and dance productions. Our Mandi House theatre guide has the rundown. The India Habitat Centre on Lodhi Road also has a strong calendar of talks, films, music and theatre, many of them free. Our live listings carry the week’s shows.
Comedy
Smog season is stand-up season. The comedy clubs run shows almost every evening, from open mics to headliners. The Laugh Store is one of NCR’s best-known rooms. Start with our best stand-up comedy clubs guide, try an open mic night for a cheap evening, or browse comedy listings.
Live music indoors
Jazz bars, listening rooms and gig venues are perfect for a bad-air evening. Piano Man Jazz Club is one of the city’s best-loved jazz rooms. Our live music venues guide covers the rest. For classical concerts, check the India Habitat Centre and the Mandi House auditoriums.
Active plans that keep you moving
You don’t have to sit still just because you can’t run outside.
- Bowling and arcades: many of the big malls in Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida have bowling alleys or arcade zones. They’re easy for groups and kids.
- Indoor snow and play: DLF Mall of India in Noida has the Ski India snow park and KidZania, the role-play city for children. Check timings and prices on their sites before going.
- Climbing, trampoline and adventure parks: indoor bouldering gyms and trampoline parks are scattered across NCR. They’re good for teenagers and energetic adults.
- Escape rooms: one-hour puzzle rooms in Gurgaon, Noida and South Delhi, best with four to six people.
- Gyms and studios: drop-in yoga, pilates and dance classes are listed under wellness on Delhi2Go.
Workshops and slow evenings
Smog weekends are perfect for learning something. Delhi’s studios and cafés run pottery, painting, candle and perfume-making, baking, calligraphy and photography workshops most weekends. Most last two to three hours and include materials. Browse workshops for this week’s sessions.
Other slow, warm options:
- Bookshops and reading cafés: Khan Market’s bookstores and the independent shops in South Delhi are great for a long browse.
- Board-game cafés: a cheap, all-evening plan for groups.
- Cinema: catch a new release or a festival screening; film clubs and cultural centres run screenings too.
Malls with events
In smog season, malls become event venues, with weekend pop-up markets, kids’ activities, live music and festive installations from Diwali to Christmas. Good bets include Select Citywalk in Saket, the Vasant Kunj malls, Ambience in Gurgaon, DLF Mall of India in Noida and Pacific Mall at Tagore Garden. They’re easy to reach by metro and have food on tap.
Three smog-day itineraries
The culture day (central Delhi): start at the National Gallery of Modern Art when it opens (not on a Monday). Take a short cab ride to Mandi House for lunch near the theatres, browse Triveni’s galleries in the afternoon, and catch an evening play at one of the Mandi House auditoriums. Your only outdoor time is the walk between buildings.
The kids’ day (Pragati Maidan): spend the morning at the National Science Centre, then do the Crafts Museum galleries after lunch. Both are on Bhairon Road, and Supreme Court metro is close by. Finish with an early dinner and head home before the evening rush.
The south Delhi day (Saket): begin at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (free, from 11 am, closed Mondays), have lunch at Select Citywalk next door, then try bowling, an arcade or a cinema. End with a comedy show or a jazz set in the evening. Saket and Malviya Nagar on the Yellow Line keep the travel underground.
Tips for smog-season days out
- Check AQI on the morning of your plan, not the night before. It can swing a lot overnight.
- Take the metro. It’s warmer and faster than the road, and under GRAP restrictions traffic gets worse.
- Wear a well-fitting N95 or FFP2 for walks between venues. Cloth and surgical masks don’t help much against fine particles.
- Choose venues near metro exits to cut your outdoor time.
- Don’t assume indoor air is clean. Not every venue runs air purifiers, so ask if it matters to you.
- Kids and older family members are the most sensitive, so prioritise indoor plans on “severe” days.
For more ideas, browse our indoor things to do hub. For family-friendly picks, see the kids and family events hub, or what’s on today.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check Delhi's AQI right now?
Use CPCB's SAMEER app or the CPCB and DPCC websites for live station readings, and the IITM-run Air Quality Early Warning System for forecasts. CPCB's daily AQI bulletin, issued every afternoon, is the official number that GRAP decisions are based on.
What are the GRAP stages in Delhi?
GRAP has four stages: Stage I for 'poor' air (AQI 201–300), Stage II for 'very poor' (301–400), Stage III for 'severe' (401–450) and Stage IV for 'severe+' (above 450). The Commission for Air Quality Management invokes each stage, sometimes pre-emptively based on forecasts.
Which Delhi museums are open on Monday?
Many big Delhi museums close on Mondays, including the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Crafts Museum galleries and the National Rail Museum, and the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in Saket is also shut. The National Science Centre at Pragati Maidan is open daily except Holi and Diwali, according to Delhi Tourism.
What can kids do indoors in Delhi when pollution is high?
Try hands-on science at the National Science Centre, Shankar's International Dolls Museum, mall-based play zones such as KidZania in Noida, children's theatre and weekend workshops in pottery, art or baking.
Are outdoor events cancelled when AQI is severe in Delhi?
There's no blanket rule, but organisers sometimes postpone or move outdoor events, and GRAP restrictions can affect travel and schools. Check the event page on the day before you head out.
