The Ghost River Underneath Delhi

The Sahibi River is a mostly dry waterway that transforms into a major urban drain once it reaches the capital. Though it travels 300 kilometers, it spends its final stretch hidden as the famous Najafgarh drain.

While most people see the Najafgarh drain as a simple channel, it is actually the final path of a historic rain-fed river. This hidden watercourse travels through three Indian states, starting in the lush hills of Rajasthan. As it enters Delhi, the river disappears into a concrete channel to help manage the city's drainage. It has even become an unexpected sanctuary for migratory birds.