Lying largely on the west bank of the River Yamuna, Delhi is cut across by the forested ridge that marks the end of the Aravalli range.

The most prominent physical landmark of Delhi, besides the River Yamuna, is the Ridge. An extension of the Aravalli range running down from Rajasthan, this rocky outcrop stretches from the Cantonment area in west Delhi till the University area in the north. In 1878, the Ridge was declared a reserved forest and the British started planting drought resistant trees to increase its green cover. Besides thorny scrub covering the hard rock surface, trees like the Neem, Babul and Palas (Flame of the Forest) grow in the wild.

The wide avenues in New Delhi area are lined with neatly planted trees including the Gulmohar, the Amaltas, Neem, and Banyan. Delhi’s gardens have the characteristic Bougainvillaea creepers with purple and white blossoms. The Ridge was the habitat for deer, the rhesus monkey and peacocks that can be seen in their natural surroundings even today. In winter, migratory birds come to nest in the wild forested patches, though their numbers are dwindling fast.

Smooth wide roads lined with shady trees, manicured roundabouts ablaze with a profusion of flowers – this is Lutyen’s Delhi. Parks and gardens abound and provide the much needed greenery in this otherwise polluted and densely populated city. While central New Delhi area has colonial edifices of Imperial power, orderly buildings and tree-lined avenues, the old city area on the northern bank of the Yamuna is a confused maze of old Mughal structures, noisy and colourful markets and crazy traffic weaving around pedestrians. The newer southern areas, with their modern shopping malls, ostentatious houses and modern cars go hand in hand with unfazed cows and buffaloes spilling out from villages onto the main streets.