Ppt on Northern Ridge Delhi Name: Sahil Agrawal College: Shyamlal College(Eve) Supervisor: Manish Karmwar

1. The Northern Ridge
B.A. Honours
Group Members: Sahil Agrawal - 7165
Saransh Gupta - 7164
Pradeep Kumar - 7166
Jyotsana - 5076
Lalita - 5077
Manorama - 5079
Ajit Kumar Pathak - 6678
Piyush Dubey - 6679
Sachin Kasana - 6665
Supervisor : Mr. Manish Karmwar
Shyam Lal College (Evening)
University of Delhi
Session 2013-14
(Semester-II)

2. Abstract
 The ridge is a northern extension of the
ancient Aravalli Range, some 1500 million years
old (compared to just 50 million for the
Himalaya).
 It protects Delhi from the hot winds of the
deserts of Rajasthan to the west and is thus said
to be the green lungs for the city.
 The Northern Ridge of Delhi is considered as a
symbol of unity of every religion.
 It consists of total 6 monuments namely:
The Flagstaff Tower
The Ashoka Pillar
The Pir Ghaib
The Baoli
The Chauburji
The Mutiny Memorial
 The Northern Ridge is connected to history
because of the monuments present over there.
It has the main importance during the period
of revolt of 1857.

3. Table of content
Sl. No. Particulars
1 Introduction
2 Major issues and problems
3 Suggested readings and solutions
4 Observation and discussion
5 Conclusion

4. Introduction
 The Northern 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 ridge consists
of quartzite rocks and extends
from the Southeast
at Tughlaqabad, near the Bhatti
mines, branching out in places
and tapering off in the north
near Wazirabad on the west bank
of the river Yamuna, covering a
distance of about 35 kilometers.

5. History
 In 1993, parts of north Delhi, central Delhi, south West
Delhi and south Delhi covering 7,777 hectares was
declared a reserve forest. Thereafter in 1994 and 1996,
a major part of the ridge was notified by the
Government, thus stopping all construction.
 Over the years, pressures of urban development, have
seen forests of Delhi ridge under threat. In many areas,
landscaped public parks, and public housing have
come up, plus the area also faces dumping of
construction waste.

6. The Ashoka Pillar
• It was built by Ashoka The great
around 250 B.C. engraved with
edicts spreading the message of
righteousness and morals based on
Buddhist tenets.
• This 32 feet tall rock pillar
weighing a gazillion tons was
moved by Firoz Shah Tughlaq from
Meerut to Delhi in A.D. 1356 and
was installed in his hunting palace
known as Kushk-i-Shikar.

7. Pir Ghaib
• The last remains of Kushk-i-Shikar are
now known as Pir Ghaib.
• The place got associated with a mystic
saint (Pir) who suddenly disappeared
(Ghaib) one day. There is a cenotaph
erected in his memory by his followers.
• The structure may have been used as
an observatory or as a look-out tower
for animals to be hunted.
• It is high and there is a hollow
cylindrical feature to enable one to see
through.

8. The Flagstaff Tower
• It is a circular building, situated
on the highest point of the ridge.
• Was likely to have been built
around 1828 when the British
moved their cantonment here.
• It was used to hoist their flag to
symbolize their dominance.
• English survivors sought refuge
here on 10 May 1857.

9. Chauburji Masjid
• It was originally a tomb built during
the Tughlaq period, with additional
brick work done on it in the 18th
century during the Mughal period.
• In 1857, it functioned as a battery to
mount guns on, damaging it further.
• It is often referred to as the mosque
near Bara Hindu Rao, but there is no
evidence it was ever used as one.

10. Old Baoli
• It must have been part of Firoz Shah’s
hunting lodge.
• The walls of the Baoli are made of
random rubble masonry.
• At the very bottom of the well, there are
some obvious Tughlaq features such as a
wall and double pillars. Above this level,
there is evidence of a tunnel,
approximately 193 m long that leads
from the north end. The purpose of this
tunnel, which was 2.15 m high with
ventilation shafts and doorways, is
unknown.

11. The Mutiny Memorial
• The Mutiny Memorial was built in 1863 in
the memory of the officers and soldiers of the
Delhi Field Force who were killed between
30th May and 20th September of 1857.
• The memorial consists of a tapering tower of
high Victorian Gothic design. The tower itself
is about 29.5 m high and is crowned by a red
sandstone spire surmounted by a marble
crucifix.
• The names of the soldiers who lost their lives
here are inscribed on marble plaques on all
sides of the façade. In the year 1972, on the
25th anniversary of Indian independence, a
modest plaque was installed to enshrine the
heroism of the immortal martyrs of Indian
freedom.

12. Major issues and problems
 The main problem is deforestation. Human’s evil interruption,
construction of buildings, roads and establishment of human settlements
have threatened the ecosystem.
e.g.. Hindu Rao Hospital: Starting as a tiny unit, now covers about a
hectare.
 Conversion of forest into park lands is threatening the Ridge ecosystem.
 Miscellaneous activities like garbage dumping, lopping for fuel and
fodder, and razing by livestock.
 Animals are not able to live and feed properly because the food chain is
disturbed because of deforestation.
 The monuments are not at all in good conditions. Government is not
taking any initiative to take care of the monuments.
 The two dangers facing the ridge forest today are encroachments and
plans to convert it into a park. Though legally declared a Reserved Forest,
almost 50 years ago, today more than 40% of its has been destroyed.

13. Suggested solutions
 Indian Government should take some initiative to
protect the forestry area of the ridge.
 They should implement some rules to save flora
and fauna living there.
 There must be some law and order for the people
visiting the ridge.
 There should be some awareness programme for
the common people who are not aware of the ridge
or the monuments present over there.
 The people of our city should know the
importance of the monuments present in the
ridge.
 Every monuments has its own history and it
should be familiar to every common citizen.

14. Observations
 The Ridge, a densely forested region within the Union Territory of Delhi
contains several species of trees that include Kirar, the healing neem,
babul, ber, amaltash, dhok and the magnificent gulmohar among others.
 Mammals such as the leopard, rhesus macaque, palm-squirrel, fox, jackal,
wolf, blackbuck, chinkara, nilgai, wildboar, porcupine and a myriad of
lesser denizens make themselves at home here.
 The bird life in this region is rich and varied, inviting both casual birders
and seasoned birders alike.
 Colored birds such as the Rose Finch and Green Herons, woodpeckers,
barbets, Leaf Warblers and others like the Crested Serpent Eagles, Booted
Eagles, Oriental Honey-buzzards, vultures and Great Horned Owls known
to be magnificent raptors are among the 200 species of birds found in this
insect-rich region.

15. Conclusion
 The Northern Ridge, situated in the north campus of Delhi University, is
a northern extension of the ancient Aravalli Range.
 It is among the renowned reserved forest area in the national capital
Delhi because of many historic reasons from past.
 It has its importance as it protects Delhi from the hot winds of the
deserts of Rajasthan and it has helped Delhi in becoming the second
most bird rich capital city in the world.
 It is considered as a symbol of unity of every religion.
 A number of monuments are situated whose maintenance is undertaken
by the Delhi government’s Department of Archaeology.
 Like other forest reserves, it is under-attended by the concerned
authority. Problems like deforestation, erosion and human's evil
interruption is helping this nature's gift to erode. While working on this
project, we observed the benefits of flora and fauna and repented on our
deeds; that we harm them who wants nothing from us rather than just a
mere attention. We felt privileged while meeting, observing and
describing our greatest friend for life.

16. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_Ridge
http://kunzum.com/2012/05/31/delhi-101-23-
the-northern-ridge-history-in-one-sweep/
http://www.archinomy.com/case-
studies/1923/delhi-ridge
http://blog.delhiheritagewalks.com/landmark
s-of-1857-a-heritage-walk-in-northern-ridge-
30-jan-%E2%80%9811/