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Location:From the Southeast at Tughlaqabad, near Bhatti mines, branching out and tapering off in the north near Wazirabad on the right bank of the River Yamuna
Famous as:The 'green lungs' of the capital
Open :On all days
Admission:Free and open to all
Photography charges:nil
How to Reach:Tourists can either take local buses from various points within the city to reach the different parts of the ridge, or they can hire auto-rickshaws and taxis or metro rail.
Preferred Timings: 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
Nearest Railway Station:New Delhi Railway Station
Nearest Metro Station: Rajiv Chowk
Functional Metro Station: Rajiv Chowk
Nearest International Airport:Indira Gandhi International Airport
Time required for sightseeing:1 hour
(All data as of October 2005)
The northern extension of the Aravalli hill range, the oldest mountain chain in the country, Delhi Ridge is an integral and one of the most important areas of the National Capital Territory. Sprawling into the capital from the Southeast at Tughlaqabad, near the Bhatti mines, branching out in places and tapering off in the north near Wazirabad on the right bank of the River Yamuna, the ridge has been of strategic importance to the area. It functions as the 'green lungs' of this bustling and ever growing city. It not only shields the city from the hot winds of the deserts of Rajasthan to a great extent but also brings respite to the people from soaring temperatures by retaining moisture and bringing down the temperature in this region.
Divided into four zones, namely the southern ridge, the south central ridge, the central or the new ridge, and the northern or the Old Delhi ridge, it is considered to be a significant and precious part of the environmental heritage of the capital. The ridge together with the Yamuna River is one of the main reasons for the flourishing of so many civilizations in the region. It is also because of the above combination that Delhi is known as the most bird-rich capital in the world after Nairobi. Though the ridge has been affected and most of the animals have vanished over the years, due to increasing human activities but still there are at least 200 hundred species of birds that have been sighted in this area of the capital. An ideal place for bird watchers and nature lovers, visiting the ridge can be a refreshing experience, viewing nature's astonishing beauty and enjoying its serenity and peacefulness in the midst of this noisy city.
Though now a protected forest, the ridge or the green belt was not a completely natural forest. Large-scale afforestation was done during the Sultanate period to ensure that the wild animals remain in the forest, because the area was used as a hunting ground by many emperors. Feroz Shah Tughlaq, who was very fond of hunting, also planted hundreds of trees in the Old Delhi ridge area during his reign. Later during the construction of New Delhi, the British too planted several trees on the ridge and declared it a Reserved Forest, realizing its importance for the ecology of the region.
At present, efforts are being made to save this green area from exploitation. Lately residents of Delhi have come to appreciate the role of the Delhi Ridge in diminishing the pollution levels of the air and in providing a green space to for birds and wildlife within the city.
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