| Gilbert Hill | |
|---|---|
 Gilbert Hill | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 60 m (200 ft) |
| Coordinates | 19°07′15″N72°50′24.24″E / 19.12083°N 72.8400667°E /19.12083; 72.8400667 |
| Geography | |
  Gilbert Hill Location of Gilbert Hill in Mumbai | |
| Location |  Andheri, Mumbai, India |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | 66 myr |
| Mountain type | Volcanic |
| Volcanic zone | Deccan Traps |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | East (steps) |
Gilbert Hill is a 200 ft (61 m)monolith column of blackbasalt rock atAndheri, in Mumbai, India. The rock has a sheer vertical face and was formed when molten lava was squeezed out of the Earth's clefts during theMesozoic Era about 66 million years ago. During that era, molten lava had spread around most of the Indian states ofMaharashtra,Gujarat andMadhya Pradesh, covering an area of 50,000 square kilometres (19,000 sq mi). Thevolcanic eruptions were also responsible for the destruction of plant and animal life during that era.[1]According to experts, this rare geological phenomenon was the remnant of a ridge and had clusters of vertical columns in nearbyJogeshwari which were quarried off two decades ago.[when?] These vertical columns are similar to theDevils Tower National Monument inWyoming, and theDevils Postpile National Monument in easternCalifornia, USA.[2] Gilbert Hill was declared aNational Park in 1952 by theCentral Government under theForest Act. In 2007, after years of lobbying by geologists, the hill was declared a Grade II heritage structure by theMunicipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), and all quarrying and other activities around the monument were prohibited.[2] Over the period of time,[clarification needed] Gilbert Hill has faced severe erosion problems too.[3]
Atop the rock column, twoHindu temples, the Gaodevi and Durgamata temples, set in a small garden, are accessed by a steep staircase carved into the rock. The hill offers a panoramic view of suburban Mumbai.
