Amidst the Concrete Jungle, Gilbert Hill in Mumbai Dates Back to the Era of Dinosaurs!

Nestled amongst the crawling urban space of Mumbai, is a treasured part of History. Gilbert Hill, located in Andheri is a 225-foot hill standing tall and surviving against all odds. Dating back to almost 67 million years ago, this hill has seen the evolution of 'Aamchi Mumbai' over the years. Still, many are unaware of the existence of this marvellous geological wonder. In this article, we dive deep into the history of this hill.

A Blast from the Past

Another wonderful historical marvel that still stands tall in Mumbai, Andheri, is Gilbert Hill. The last great extinction of life on Earth was that of the dinosaurs, which occurred 67 million years ago when the Chicxulub asteroid hit Earth. Since then, Gilbert Hill has been standing tall and mighty! This hill is of a certain type of rock known as 'Basalt Rock'. Maharashtra lies on the volcanic Deccan Plateau, which is an arid region. These Basalt Rock formations are observed all across Maharashtra. The formation of this non-porous rock started because of volcanic activity from the Deccan Traps, a vast volcanic area that was formed around 60 million years ago. 

About the Hill

Gilbert Hill was formed when a volcanic eruption created vertical basalt pillars that look like blocks. Many people believe that American geologist Grove Karl Gilbert coined the name. The hill is 10 minutes away from Andheri station and Azad Nagar Metro Station by auto or foot. 

This type of rock, from the Mesozoic era, is only found in two other places in the world, making it a treasured part of history. Both are in the United States of America: one in California, the Devil’s Postpile National Monument, and the other in Wyoming, the Devil’s Tower National Monument. The Indian government declared it a National Park under the Forest Act in 1952, and MCGM (Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai) declared it a Grade II Heritage Site in 2007. 

In recent years, the hill also houses a temple that can be accessed by a staircase. This temple is called as, the ‘Gaodevi Durga Mandir’ or ‘Hanuman Mandir’. Many locals visit the temple. 

Why do we need to conserve it?

Gilbert Hill, is truly a one of its kind geological wonder. This rock initially expanded till Jogeshwari, Amboli and Andheri but later on was mined and carved out to make space for the growing urban population. Despite being on the radar of 'Protected sites of Mumbai list', each day its a test of survival. What once was a open space, around the hill, now grounds residential buildings. This 225 foot tall hill is a testament to time.