Delhi ridge is a ridge in the National Capital Territory of Delhi in India. The ridge is a northern extension of the ancient Aravalli Range some 1500 million years old (compared to just 50 million for the Himalaya). The Delhi ridge is said to be the green lungs for the city.
The Ridge today, for administrative reasons, is divided into 4 separate zones, namely :
The Old Delhi or Northern Ridge denotes the hilly area near Delhi University and is by far the smallest segment of the Ridge. Nearly 170 hectares were declared a Reserved Forest in 1915. Less than 87 hectares remain today.
The New Delhi or Central Ridge was made into a Reserved Forest in 1914 and stretches from just south of Sadar Bazaar to Dhaula Kuan. It extends over 864 hectares, but some bits have been nibbled away.
The Mehrauli or South-Central Ridge is centred on Sanjay Vana, near JNU, and encompasses 633 hectares. Large chunks have been encroached and built upon.
The Tughlaqabad or Southern Ridge sprawls across 6200 hectares and includes the Asola and Bhatti wildlife sanctuaries. This is the least urban of the 4 segments of the Ridge, but a lot of it is village- or privately-owned farmland.
Ridge details:
7782 ha — official area notified as reserved forest
6200 ha — Southern Ridge
869 ha — Central Ridge
626 ha — South Central Ridge
87 ha — Northern Ridge