Gilbert Hill

This one’s for the geology nerds. Head over to the suburbs in Andheri, and you'll find Gilbert Hill. No, seriously, you can’t miss it – it's a massive, vertical wall of black basalt rock, standing about 200 feet tall, looking like someone carved a giant cake of lava.

Why is it special? Because it's 66 million years old. It formed during the same volcanic action that created the Deccan Traps when molten lava squeezed up and solidified into these weird, vertical columns. This type of geological formation, characterised by precise columnar jointing, is exceptionally rare on a global scale. Experts say there are only a couple of other formations like this in the whole world, like Devil’s Tower in the US.

This rock solidified during the Mesozoic Era, around the time the dinosaurs were facing extinction. The fact that Gilbert Hill survives today in the commercial heart of Mumbai's suburbs makes it even more of a geological anomaly.

While it was designated a Grade II heritage structure in 2007 and a National Park earlier, the hill’s conservation remains a continuous battle. The constant pressure of urban sprawl, with apartments and shanties built right up to its base, has led to encroachment and erosion, weakening the structure that has stood for millions of years. 

To truly grasp its uniqueness, one must climb the steep, carved steps leading to the summit. Up here, you find the small Gaodevi and Durgamata temples, which have inadvertently become its guardians, as local devotees are often the most vocal against any attempt to quarry or demolish it for real estate.

From the top, the elevation offers a powerful, panoramic contrast of the dense tapestry of the suburbs, the airport, and the concrete expanse of Mumbai.