Amid Delhi’s high-rises, busy roads and relentless concrete sprawl, the Ridge forest stands almost like a miracle. Most Delhiites have likely only heard of it once, perhaps in a textbook or on a passing auto-rickshaw ride. But this seemingly hidden natural oasis, a northern extension of the Aravalli Hills, is not only the city’s oldest geological feature—it’s also one of its most crucial ecological lungs.
With over 7,700 hectares of forest area distributed in fragmented patches—South Central Ridge, South Ridge, and Northern Ridge among them—the Ridge silently absorbs pollution, reduces the Urban Heat Island effect, and offers refuge to a surprising variety of wildlife, from the nilgai to the occasional jackal and hundreds of bird species. It’s astonishing that such a bio-diverse belt exists within one of the most congested megacities in the world.
Yet, despite its importance, the Ridge is under quiet threat. Illegal encroachments, institutional expansions, and general neglect continue to shrink its coverage. It’s a heritage forest—not just biologically, but historically. The Northern Ridge, for instance, was part of the defense zone during the pivotal 1857 Uprising. Its rocks, some over 1.5 billion years old, can still be spotted on casual walks. But how many among us walk there? How often do we slow down enough to recognize the presence of such timeless serenity in our backyard?
There is a growing awareness, gently rising like morning mist over Kamla Nehru Ridge. Local groups now organise forest-clean drives, birdwatching events, and school nature walks. These movements, however small, are weaving people back into their land, restoring the broken conversation between Delhi’s citizens and their natural history. The Ridge isn’t just a forest—it is Delhi’s memory, its breath, and potentially, one of its saviours in the face of climate crisis.
Maybe this weekend, instead of another mall visit or café brunch, we can take a slow walk through the Ridge. Smell the aging earth, listen to the breeze filter through the keekar trees, and remember that Delhi is not only made of domes and flyovers. It is made of stone, silence and wildness too—something worth cherishing and protecting.
#DelhiRidge #UrbanJungle #DelhiNatureWalks #EcoDelhi #GreenDelhiDream
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