The Hidden River Beneath Delhi

The Najafgarh drain is not actually a man-made sewer, but the final section of a natural river. It was once a vibrant waterway feeding a massive lake before being channelized to prevent flooding.

While most people see it as a polluted drain today, this channel is the northernmost reach of the River Sahibi. Centuries ago, it flowed into the expansive Najafgarh Jheel, a vast lake that supported local wildlife. Urban expansion eventually turned the riverbed into a flood-control canal, leading to the name change that obscured its true identity. Surprisingly, parts of this area now serve as a bird sanctuary, clinging to the remnants of its ecological past.