Rapid urbanization and industrialization in tropical regions have intensified challenges related to deteriorating air quality, climate resilience, and public health. This talk will focus on glimpses of contemporary research initiatives addressing these multidimensional issues through both fundamental investigations and applied innovations. Our studies span from nature-based strategies for mitigating the Urban Heat Island effect and ambient air pollution to the quantification of atmospheric black carbon emissions from open biomass burning and their spatio-temporal variability over southern India. We further examine the complex dynamics of secondary aerosol formation and its implications for human exposure. These findings underscore the evolving nature of airborne pollutants and their intersection with urban lifestyles. Complementing these field-based assessments, our experimental work on composite photocatalysts provides an advanced materials perspective for indoor air purification and pollutant degradation under ambient conditions. Together, these investigations present a holistic framework for air quality management—linking source characterization, exposure assessment, and sustainable mitigation technologies. The talk highlights the necessity of integrating traditional environmental monitoring with emerging analytical tools and nature-inspired engineering solutions to achieve cleaner air and healthier cities.