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		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;robot: Creating new article from &lt;a href=&quot;/wiki/Special:WantedPages&quot; title=&quot;Special:WantedPages&quot;&gt;Special:WantedPages&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;New page&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2017}}&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Peacock_in_its_habitat.jpg|thumb|Forest area of Delhi Ridge]]&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Delhi Ridge&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, sometimes simply called &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Ridge&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, is a [[ridge]] in the [[Aravalli Range#Northern Aravalli leopard wildlife corridor|Northern Aravalli leopard wildlife corridor]] in the National Capital Territory of [[Delhi]] in [[India]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ref39zodif&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Citation | title=Natural Resource Management | author=Bindhy Wasini Pandey | publisher=Mittal Publications, 2005 | isbn=978-81-7099-986-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tz9iDM6crLIC | quote=&amp;#039;&amp;#039;... The Ridge and its neighbouring hilly tracts represent the natural flora. The major natural forests in Delhi are generally restricted to the Ridge. The natural flora is a tropical, thorny and secondary forest.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It is a northern extension of the ancient [[Aravalli Range]], some 1.5 billion years old (by comparison, the [[Himalayas]] are &amp;quot;only&amp;quot; 50 million years old).&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ref27qifeb&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Citation | title=Records of the Geological Survey of India, Volumes 5-7 | author=Geological Survey of India | publisher=Government of India, 1872 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mn8RAAAAIAAJ | quote=&amp;#039;&amp;#039;... These ridges are prolongations of the Aravali mountain system, and are approximately on the line of the Indo-gangetic watershed ...&amp;#039;&amp;#039;}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ref45vufal&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Citation | title=Rajasthan, Delhi and Agra | author=Lindsay Brown, Amelia Thomas | publisher=Lonely Planet, 2008 | isbn=978-1-74104-690-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zz0_zXPb68kC | quote=&amp;#039;&amp;#039;... Delhi lies on the vast flatlands of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, though the northernmost pimples of the Aravallis amount to the Ridge, which lies west of the city centre ...&amp;#039;&amp;#039;}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; 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, Delhi|Wazirabad]] on the west bank of the river [[Yamuna]],&amp;lt;ref name=indfy&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
| url = http://www.indfy.com/places-to-see-in-delhi/parks-and-gardens/delhi-ridge.html&lt;br /&gt;
| title = Delhi Ridge&lt;br /&gt;
| access-date = 2006-12-23&lt;br /&gt;
| work = Parks and Gardens in Delhi&lt;br /&gt;
| publisher = IndFY.com.&lt;br /&gt;
| archive-url = https://www.webcitation.org/6HncjqS1j?url=http://www.indfy.com/delhi/tourist-places-to-visit/parks-and-gardens/delhi-ridge.html&lt;br /&gt;
| archive-date = 2 July 2013&lt;br /&gt;
| url-status = dead&lt;br /&gt;
}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; covering about 35&amp;amp;nbsp;kilometres.&amp;lt;ref name=geology&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
| url = http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/index_files/geology.htm&lt;br /&gt;
| title = Geology Details&lt;br /&gt;
| access-date = 2006-12-23&lt;br /&gt;
| work = rainwaterharvesting.com&lt;br /&gt;
| publisher = [[Centre for Science and Environment]]}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Ridge acts as the &amp;quot;green lungs&amp;quot; for the city, and protects Delhi from the hot winds of the deserts of [[Rajasthan]] to the west. It has also enabled Delhi to be the world&amp;#039;s second most bird-rich capital city, after [[Kenya]]&amp;#039;s [[Nairobi]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=2020-01-02|title=A round-the-year guide to engaging with nature|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/a-round-the-year-guide-to-engaging-with-nature/article30459615.ece|access-date=2021-08-27|issn=0971-751X}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
It is believed that the Aravallis are one of the oldest mountain ranges in India [[Aravalli Range#Geographical features|which evolved around 2.5 billion years ago]] in the [[Archaeozoic]] times. Range extends from [[Gujarat]] through [[Rajasthan]] to [[Haryana]]-[[Delhi]]. In Delhi the spurs of the Aravallis are commonly called as the Delhi Ridge which is divided into the Northern, Central, South Central and Southern Ridge.&amp;lt;ref name=mcg&amp;gt;[http://www.mcg.gov.in/BioDiversity.aspx Aravali Bio-Diversity Park Curtain Raising On World Environment Day 5 June 2010] Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web|title=Govt assures to demarcate Delhi ridge boundaries by mid-October |publisher=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Govt-assures-to-demarcate-Delhi-ridge-boundaries-by-mid-October/Article1-1117370.aspx |author=Darpan Singh |date=4 September 2013 |access-date=2013-09-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905171747/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Govt-assures-to-demarcate-Delhi-ridge-boundaries-by-mid-October/Article1-1117370.aspx |archive-date=2013-09-05 }}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=Forest dept prepares plan to save the Delhi ridge &lt;br /&gt;
 |publisher=Hindustan Times &lt;br /&gt;
 |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Forest-dept-prepares-plan-to-save-the-Delhi-ridge/Article1-1116675.aspx&lt;br /&gt;
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130910042911/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Forest-dept-prepares-plan-to-save-the-Delhi-ridge/Article1-1116675.aspx&lt;br /&gt;
 |url-status=dead&lt;br /&gt;
 |archive-date=10 September 2013&lt;br /&gt;
 |author=Darpan Singh &lt;br /&gt;
 |date=3 September 2013 &lt;br /&gt;
 |access-date=2013-09-10 &lt;br /&gt;
}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web|author=Shivani Singh |title=Land rush spoils Delhi’s enviable green records |newspaper=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Land-rush-spoils-Delhi-s-enviable-green-records/Article1-1119612.aspx |date=9 September 2013 |access-date=2013-09-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910090229/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Land-rush-spoils-Delhi-s-enviable-green-records/Article1-1119612.aspx |archive-date=2013-09-10 }}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Geographical segments==&lt;br /&gt;
The Ridge today, for administrative reasons, is divided into 4 separate zones,&amp;lt;ref name=krishen&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
| url = https://www.amazon.com/Trees-Delhi-Field-Pradip-Krishen/dp/0144000709&lt;br /&gt;
| title = Trees of Delhi: A Field Guide&lt;br /&gt;
| publisher = Dorling Kindersley&lt;br /&gt;
}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; namely:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
# The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Old Delhi&amp;#039;&amp;#039; or &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Northern Ridge&amp;#039;&amp;#039; denotes the hilly area near Delhi University and is by far the smallest segment of the Ridge. Northern Ridge location is 28°40′52″N 77°12′57″E. Nearly 170 hectares were declared a Reserved Forest in 1915. Less than 87 hectares remain today near [[Delhi University]], which is being developed as the [[Northern ridge biodiversity park]] by the [[Delhi Development Authority]].&lt;br /&gt;
# The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;New Delhi&amp;#039;&amp;#039; or &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Central Ridge&amp;#039;&amp;#039; was made into a Reserved Forest in 1914 and stretches from just south of [[Sadar Bazaar, Delhi|Sadar Bazaar]] to [[Dhaula Kuan]]. It extends over 864 hectares, but some bits have been nibbled away.&lt;br /&gt;
# The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Mehrauli&amp;#039;&amp;#039; or &amp;#039;&amp;#039;South-Central Ridge&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is centred on &amp;quot;Sanjay Vana&amp;quot;, near [[Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi|JNU]] and [[Vasant Kunj]], and encompasses 633 hectares. Large chunks have been encroached and built upon. 70 hectares approximately near [[Sainik Farm]] are being developed as the [[Tilpath Valley Biodiversity Park]]. &lt;br /&gt;
# The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Tughlaqabad]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; or &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Southern Ridge&amp;#039;&amp;#039; sprawls across 6200 hectares and includes the [[Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary]]. This is the least urban of the 4 segments of the Ridge, but a lot of it is village-owned or privately owned farmland. This includes [[Bandhwari]] and [[Mangar Bani]] forests.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Northern Ridge==&lt;br /&gt;
[[Northern ridge biodiversity park]], 87 hectares near [[Delhi University]], is being developed by the [[Delhi Development Authority]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Historical monuments===&lt;br /&gt;
The North Ridge, a part known as Kamala Nehru forest, is home to several historical monuments, including the Flag Staff Tower, built in 1828.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web|title=Flagstaff Tower, Old Delhi.|url=http://www.victorianweb.org/history/empire/india/27.html|publisher=victorianweb.org|access-date=5 September 2012}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Flagstaff Tower - Northern Ridge, Delhi|url=http://www.expresstravelworld.com/sections/management/637-flagstaff-tower-northern-ridge-delhi|publisher=Indian Express, Expresstravel|access-date=5 September 2012}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;gallery&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
File:Asokan Pillar.JPG|[[Ashoka pillar]], brought to Delhi from [[Topra Kalan]] by [[Firuz Shah Tughlaq]] in 1356&lt;br /&gt;
File:Flag Staff Tower.JPG|[[Flagstaff Tower]], where British ladies and children took refuge during the [[Revolt of 1857]]&lt;br /&gt;
File:Pir Ghaib.JPG|Pir Ghaib, a 14th-century hunting lodge and Observatory built by [[Feroz Shah Tughlaq]]&lt;br /&gt;
File:Chauburji. Built on top.JPG|Chauburji&lt;br /&gt;
File:Old Baoli.JPG|Old [[Baoli]]&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/gallery&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Central Ridge==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Central Ridge&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, 864 hectares were made into a Reserved Forest in 1914 and stretches from just south of [[Sadar Bazaar, Delhi|Sadar Bazaar]] to [[Dhaula Kuan]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Buddha Jayanti Park ===&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Buddha-jayanti-park.jpg|thumb|Buddha statue in the Buddha Jayanti Park]]&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Buddha Jayanti]] Smarak Park&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is situated in the central part of the Delhi ridge in [[New Delhi]], [[India]]. It occupies a stretch of almost a kilometre on the eastern side of [[Vandemataram Marg]], also known as Upper Ridge Road.It was created on the occasion of the 2500th anniversary of [[Gautama Buddha]]&amp;#039;s enlightenment by Indian architect M. M. Rana.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web|title=Buddha Jayanti Park|url=http://www.delhitourism.gov.in/delhitourism/entertainment/buddha_jayanati_park.jsp|publisher=Government of NCT of Delhi - Delhi Tourism|access-date=3 January 2017}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; A sapling of the [[Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi|Bodhi Tree]] from [[Sri Lanka]] was planted here by the then Prime Minister of India Shri. [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]] on 25 October 1964.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On an artificial island in the park stands pavilion with a gilded [[Buddha statue]] in it. It was dedicated by the [[Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama|14th Dalai Lama]] in October 1993. Each year in May on &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Vaisakha]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Full moon day the [[Buddha Jayanti]] festival is celebrated here.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==South-Central Ridge==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;South-Central Ridge&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is encompasses 633 hectares. Large chunks have been encroached and built upon.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Aravalli Biodiversity Park===&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Aravali Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon.jpg|thumb|Aravalli Biodiversity Park, [[Gurgaon]]]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Northern palm squirrel.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Northern Palm Squirrel]] in &amp;#039;Aravalli Biodiversity Park&amp;#039;, Delhi]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Aravalli Biodiversity Park]]&amp;lt;ref name=mcg/&amp;gt; is an area spreading over {{convert|692|acre|km2}} on the South Central Delhi Ridge within the [[Aravalli Range]]. The area is confined by [[Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi|JNU]], [[Mehrauli]]-[[Mahipalpur]] road, NH-8, Vasant Kunj, Masoodpur, Palam road and the southern boundary of [[Vasant Vihar]]. [[Delhi Development Authority|DDA]] and [[University of Delhi|DU]], under the joint Biodiversity Parks Programme, maintain the area. Every year a substantial amount of money is spent in restoration, development and maintenance.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The land under Aravalli Biodiversity Park was once a site for mining. Martha Shinde ([[Scindias]]) had a mining lease for the 2.3&amp;amp;nbsp;km² area. They plundered out whatever they could. For years Shinde exploited forest resources including minerals, mica, sand, stone, rocks and water. Land, which once was covered with a dense forest, soon turned into pits and hillocks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Scientists from the Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE) of [[University of Delhi]] have so far reintroduced over 10 ecosystems with over 40 biotic communities. Portions of Aravalli, which come under [[Gujarat]], are covered with natural dense forest. However, the land on which Aravalli Biodiversity Park is being developed, was devoid of such natural growth of forest due to extensive mining of the area. The CEMDE and DDA are reviving native flora and fauna of Aravalli hill ranges by planting of native species, such as dhau ([[Anogeissus pendula]]), dhak ([[Butea monosperma]]), babul ([[Acacia nilotica]]) and kair ([[Capparis decidua]]). A rangeland with native grasses has been developed and a systematic planting program is carried out and every year native trees and bushes are planted to remove unwanted weeds, i.e. [[Prosopis juliflora]]. &lt;br /&gt;
A conservatory of butterflies, orchidarium and fernery has been developed.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Aravali Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon]], on [[Gurgaon]]-Delhi border, developed by the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon, was inaugurated on 5 June 2010, [[World Environment Day]].&amp;lt;ref name=mcg/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Neela Hauz Biodiversity Park===&lt;br /&gt;
{{main|Neela Hauz biodiversity park}}&lt;br /&gt;
Neela Hauz biodiversity park, next to Sanjay Van in South Central Ridge, was restored in 2015-16. In 2014, of the 611 water bodies in Delhi, 274 were dead and remaining were in bad shape. Neela hauz is a freshwater lake which was slowly dying due to the dumping of waste.&amp;lt;ref name=neela1/&amp;gt; During ancient times it use to be the main source of water supply for the [[Rajput]] city of [[Qila Rai Pithora]].&amp;lt;ref name=neela1/&amp;gt; During ancient times, its basin was recharged by the wider dense forests of Sanjay Van and its overflow drained in to [[Yamuna]].&amp;lt;ref name=neela1&amp;gt;M Jaggi, June 2017, [http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/42134/1/SR%2054%286%29%2022-23.pdf NOPR: Neela Hauz Biodiversity Park – From Barren to Beautiful, SR Vol.54(06).]&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2014, the wetland was covered with [[Eichhornia crassipes|water hyacinth]] and ridge was infested with the invasive species of [[prosopis juliflora]] (&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Vilayati Babul&amp;#039;&amp;#039; or &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Kikar&amp;#039;&amp;#039; of Mexican origin), which were planted in the 1920s by the [[British raj|Britisher colonisers]] to rehabilitate the wasteland.&amp;lt;ref name=wildht2&amp;gt;[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/two-years-on-tilpath-valley-biodiversity-park-breathes-again/articleshow/63035604.cms Two years on, Tilpath Valley Biodiversity Park breathes again], Times of India, 23 Feb 2018.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=wildht1&amp;gt;[https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/delhi-gets-its-third-biodiversity-park-in-tilpat-valley/story-22c7t3YnkSk3bqW2jMMpsJ.html Delhi gets its third biodiversity park in Tilpat Valley], Hindustan Times, 3 Feb 2018.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=neela1/&amp;gt; The silted up lake was encroached upon and raw sewage drained into it, causing concerned citizens to take an order from [[Delhi High Court]] to have it restored by the government.&amp;lt;ref name=neela1/&amp;gt; After the restoration started in 2015, this biodiversity park was officially inaugurated in November 2016.&amp;lt;ref name=neela1/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Sanjay Van===&lt;br /&gt;
{{Expand section|date=December 2021}}&lt;br /&gt;
[[Sanjay Van]] is located near [[Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi|JNU]] and [[Vasant Kunj]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Southern Ridge==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Southern Ridge&amp;#039;&amp;#039; sprawls across 6200 hectares and includes the [[Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Bandhwari]] and [[Mangar Bani]] forests. This is the least urban of the 4 segments of the Ridge, but a lot of it is village-owned or privately owned farmland.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary ===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary]] is a  32.71&amp;amp;nbsp;km&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; biodiversity area in the South Ridge on Delhi-Haryana border lies south of Delhi. It is an important habitat for the [[Indian leopard]]. [[Endangered species]] in the sanctuary include [[red-headed vulture]] and [[egyptian vulture]], and the [[Government of Haryana]] has a [[Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre, Pinjore#Vultures|vulture conservation program in place]]. [[Near-threatened species]] include [[painted stork]], [[white-faced ibis]] and [[european roller]]. Rare birds include [[black francolin]] and [[grey-headed fish eagle]]. Plant species include [[butea monosperma]] (dhak or flame of forest), [[anogeissus]] (dhok), [[Wrightia tinctoria]] (inderjao), [[Elm|Indian elm]], [[neolamarckia cadamba]] (kadamba), [[prosopis cineraria]] (jaand), [[tinospora cordifolia]] (giloi), etc.&amp;lt;ref name=protect1&amp;gt;[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/haryana-government-moots-buffer-zone-to-save-asola-sanctuary/articleshow/67752163.cms Haryana Government moots buffer zone to save Asola sanctuary], Times of India, 30 Jan 2019.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Mangar Bani forest===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Mangar Bani]], [[neolithic]] archaeological site and [[Sacred groves of India#Locations of scared groves|sacred grove]] hill forest on Delhi-Haryana border, is in the [[Delhi_Ridge#Southern_Ridge|South Delhi Ridge]] of [[Aravalli Range|Aravalli]] mountain range in [[Faridabad]] [[tehsil]] of [[Faridabad district]] in the Indian state of [[Haryana]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/travel/india/story/mangar-bani-weekend-getaway-travel-lifetr-1027108-2017-07-30 |title=Here&amp;#039;s why Mangar Bani can be your ideal weekend getaway |date=July 30, 2017 |first1=Navneet|last=Mendiratta |website=India Today |publisher=[[India Today]] |location=India |language=en |access-date=2019-01-16}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/saving-mangar-bani-why-returning-grove-to-original-custodians-may-be-only-solution/articleshow/66061056.cms |title=Saving Mangar Bani: Why returning grove to original custodians may be only solution - Times of India |work=[[The Times of India]] |location=India |language=en |access-date=2019-01-16}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/gurgaon/haryana-s-mangar-bani-forest-demarcated-at-last/story-OqTvqpQIMoffH85fpYNc7H.html |title=Haryana&amp;#039;s Mangar Bani forest demarcated at last |date=2015-09-03 |website=hindustantimes.com/ |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |location=India |language=en |access-date=2019-01-16}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
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It lies within the [[Aravalli_Range#Northern_Aravalli_leopard_wildlife_corridor|Northern Aravalli leopard wildlife corridor]] stretching from [[Sariska Tiger Reserve]] to Delhi. Historical place around sanctuary are [[Badkhal Lake]] (6km northeast), 10th century ancient [[Surajkund]] reservoir (15 km north) and [[Anangpur Dam]] (16 km north), [[Damdama Lake]], [[Tughlaqabad Fort]] and [[Jahanpanah#Adilabad|Adilabad ruins]] (both in Delhi), [[Chhatarpur Temple]] (in Delhi).&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Department of Forest, Delhi&amp;quot;&amp;gt;[http://forest.delhigovt.nic.in/wildlife/asola.html#asola Asola Bhatti Wild Life Sanctuary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816140938/http://forest.delhigovt.nic.in/wildlife/asola.html#asola |date=16 August 2011 }}, Department of Forest, Delhi Government&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It is contiguous to the seasonal [[Pali_village#Pali_jharna|waterfalls in Pali-Dhuaj-Kot villages of Faridabad]],&amp;lt;ref name=sura&amp;gt;[https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/punjab-and-haryana/faridabad/water-will-be-stopped-by-making-a-dam-on-the-hills-of-pali-village/articleshow/70320771.cms पाली गांव की पहाड़ियों पर डैम बनाकर रोका जाएगा झरनों का पानी]&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and the [[Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary]]. It is also an important wetland for the [[migratory birds]] as there are several dozen lakes formed in the abandoned [[Open-pit mining|open pit mines]] in and around the area.&lt;br /&gt;
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Spread over 5000 ha, this is the largest pre-historic site and stone age tool making factory in the [[Indian subcontinent]], first ever site discovered in the Aravalli range with cave paintings. The stone tools and rock art dating back to 100,000 years BP and cave paintings date back to  20,000-40,000 BP. This is also the oldest human habitation discovered in Haryana and Delhi NCR.&amp;lt;ref name=mangr1&amp;gt;[https://theprint.in/india/stone-age-tools-cave-paintings-discovered-in-haryana-could-be-clues-to-prehistoric-factory/702204/ Stone Age tools, cave paintings discovered in Haryana could be clues to ‘prehistoric factory’], The Print, 2 July Sep 2017.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
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===Tilpath Valley Biodiversity Park===&lt;br /&gt;
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[[Tilpath Valley Biodiversity Park]], spread over 172 acres is a biodiversity area in the South Ridge, immediately northwest of Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary and south of [[Sainik Farm]]. Before the area had valleys dotted with the sand-mined quarries, dried up springs due to no charging of ground water, with no forest cover except the invasive weed species of prosopis juliflora, [[lantana]] and [[parthenium]]. This was replaced with 3 layer of forest community with native trees and plants such as [[Madhuca longifolia|mahua]], [[haldina|haldu]], [[Dalbergia sissoo|sheesham]] and [[Aegle marmelos|bael]]. Scrubland was restored to attract reptiles and birds. 100,000 trees were planted in 2015 with the effort of 40,000 volunteers in 6 hours and 20,000 trees in 2016 again. Wildlife survey is conducted using [[pugmark]]s are tracking using [[pug impression pad]] and by photographing the wild animals.&amp;lt;ref name=wildht2/&amp;gt; It now covers grasslands, hilly terrain,  105 plant species, 103 bird species, 32 butterflies species, 15 herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) species and eight mammalian species including [[leopard]], [[Indian rock python]], [[jackal]]s, [[neelgai]], [[mongoose]]s, [[porcupine]]s, [[small Indian civet]], [[gecko]], [[Sirkeer malkoha]] cuckoo, [[nightjar]], [[Indian paradise flycatcher]].&amp;lt;ref name=wildht1/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
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Being developed since 2015, it was officially inaugurated as Delhi&amp;#039;s third biodiversity park on 3 February 2018.&amp;lt;ref name=wildht2/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=wildht1/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
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==See also==&lt;br /&gt;
* [[List of National Parks &amp;amp; Wildlife Sanctuaries of Haryana, India|National Parks &amp;amp; Wildlife Sanctuaries of Haryana]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Wildlife of India]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Wildlife sanctuaries of India]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Talkatora Gardens]]&lt;br /&gt;
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==References==&lt;br /&gt;
;Citations:&lt;br /&gt;
{{reflist|2}}&lt;br /&gt;
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;Bibliography:&lt;br /&gt;
* {{cite book |title=The Delhi Ridge Forest. Decline and Conservation |author=Kalpavriksh |year=1991|url=https://archive.org/stream/DelhiRidge#page/n0/mode/2up |ref=Ka }}&lt;br /&gt;
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;External links:&lt;br /&gt;
{{commons category}}&lt;br /&gt;
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120528194722/http://aravalibiodiversitypark.in/?q=node%2F1 Aravalli Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon, website]&lt;br /&gt;
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040605024840/http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/23/stories/2004022308690400.htm Foundation of  biodiversity park laid]&lt;br /&gt;
* [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/thorny-british-tree-to-be-thrown-out-of-biodiversity-park/528712/0 Thorny British tree to be thrown out of biodiversity park]&lt;br /&gt;
* [http://www.dda.org.in/greens/biodiv/aravalli-biodiversity-park.html ARAVALLI BIODIVERSITY PARK]&lt;br /&gt;
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{{coord|28.616|77.169|type:landmark|display=title}}&lt;br /&gt;
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{{Protected areas of India}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Tourism in India}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Biodiversity Worldwide}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Delhi}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Haryana}}&lt;br /&gt;
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[[Category:Landforms of Delhi]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Ridges of India]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Aravalli Range]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Delhi]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Delhi]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Haryana]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:South Delhi district]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Gurgaon district]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Faridabad district]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>ImportMaster</name></author>
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