In the ever-expanding concrete jungle of Mumbai, a relic from the age of dinosaurs quietly exists. Amid apartment buildings and bustling streets, a 66-million-year-old geological marvel lies hidden in plain sight, dating back to a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, yet unknown to most Mumbaikars.Tucked away in Andheri, Gilbert Hill is a towering basalt rock formation formed during massive volcanic eruptions that also created the Deccan Traps. Rising nearly 200 feet above the surrounding neighbourhoods, it is one of only three such volcanic columns in the world, with similar structures found only in the United States and Northern Ireland.
Declared a national monument in 1952 to protect it from quarrying, and later designated a heritage site by the Mumbai civic body in 2007, Gilbert Hill remains largely overlooked despite its scientific and cultural significance.
A steep staircase carved into the rock face leads visitors to the summit, where two small temples dedicated to Goddess Gaodevi and Goddess Durgamata sit quietly. From the flat peak, one is rewarded with sweeping 360-degree views of Andheri.The site drew fresh attention after industrialist Anand Mahindra shared a post on X saying he was unaware that such a rare geological formation existed in Mumbai. He also asked how Gilbert Hill could be made a more visited destination.Travel bucket-list items can be right in your hometownA quick check showed that Gilbert Hill is one of only 3 volcanic columns in the world, yet I had no clue it was here in MumbaiHow do we make this a more visited destination?#SundayWandererpic.twitter.com/JGh5mi4SVM— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) February 8, 2026The question is a fair one. In a city that is constantly changing, Gilbert Hill remains easy to miss, despite its age, scale and global significance.Also Read: Valentine’s Day 2026: From Udaipur to Alleppey, romantic weekend getaways for couples in India(Edited by : Priyanka Deshpande)
