I recently moved to Delhi for my masters and was pleasantly surprised by the city's green spaces, especially the Delhi Ridge. It's a vast forest area in North Delhi, part of the Reserved Forests of India, with most sections off-limits to the public. However, near my university, there's a part open for visitors. I've started exploring it and it's fascinating to see such biodiversity in the middle of a bustling city. Has anyone else explored the Ridge? What are your favorite spots or trails? Also, any tips on how to make the most out of a visit there?
What a joy to find somebody walking into the soul of Delhi beyond traffic and chaos!
Deriving from the expression- "Ridge" is certainly more than just a fertile patch. It is often said to be the Jaan-E-Dilli, an eternal but thin ribbon of the ancient Aravallis, carrying stories possibly older than those told by the Himalayas. I have wandered the trails on rainy days when the peacocks hold a dance and seem to wet their feet in joy, while on winter mornings, the mist flows elegantly like poetry between the keekar trees.
If one happens to be in North Delhi, then an early morning walk on the Kamla Nehru Ridge is a must-witness experience. It is fifty-fifty wilderness, half history.
The Flagstaff Tower had witnessed the partial collapse of the revolt of 1857, but stood silently now, surrounded by trees rustling in the wind and langurs frolicking around. Stop for a while. Breathe. Feel the layered past of Delhi throb beneath your foot.
For the best experience, here are some tips:
- Walk silently. The Ridge reveals itself to those who listen.
- Carry water. Respect the wild. Leave nothing behind-not even noise.
- Some time you will have to go solo. It keeps on being a meditation.
I run HappyOuting, where I help urban souls reconnect with spaces lost to time such as these. If the Ridge touched your heart, just wait until you experience Asola Bhatti, Sanjay Van, and Mangar Bani. Delhi does still have some wild secrets.
Keep wandering. The city shall whisper back.
—Aditya Tripathi, storyteller and soul-trail designer
