GLORIOUS PAST OF #MUMBAI -AAREY# COLONY

 

GLORIOUS PAST OF #MUMBAI-#GILBERT HILL

I had read about Gilbert Hill and was longing to visit the place specially after coming to know that the hill was 66 million years old and only 3 monoliths from that era existed in the whole world and one of them was in Mumbai. But I did not know how to go there. Although Gilbert hill is not very far from my place but the exact location of Gilbert Hill was not known to me. I had never heard about anyone visiting the place. I inquired from people who stayed at Andheri and many of them had not been to Gilbert Hill nor knew how to go there.

On 3rd December, 2017 ( Sunday)we decided to go and visit Gilbert Hill (GH). We ( Rasika & me) took the train early in the morning and reached Andheri Station at 7.30 am . We got down at Andheri East and started walking towards S. V. Road. We crossed the S. V. Road. On S.V. Road you have to turn right towards Allahabad Bank and thereafter you have to walk straight. It is about 15-20 min walk.

Initially the road is good, but as you enter inside, the road becomes narrow and it is more like a slum area, there is lot of garbage piled up on the road, road is smelly and pathetic. Approach road is not good. I have to mention all this because if you are planning to go there, you should be be prepared for it.

Anyhow, covering our nose we proceeded further……..didn’t know what to expect further……but our trauma came to an end soon, when we reached the base of the stairs which leads to the temple. The place was clean. The stairs were clean and thereafter it is good and well maintained . This was the situation 4 yrs back, at present if there is any improvement, I am not aware of it.

How to go to Gilbert Hill

One has to go to Andheri (West) and take the S.V.Road near the station, cross the S. V.Road turn right towards Allahabad Bank. It is hardly 15 min from the station. Please dont ask for Gilbert Hill. Ask for the Goan Devi temple or Durga temple on the hill.

Steps of Gilbert Hill to go to Gaon Devi & Durga Mata temple

The steps to the temple on GH are broad and little high so it takes little effort climbing the same, although it is not difficult. There is a handrail or banister on the stairs, so one can make use of the same, if required. There are about 200 steps. It takes about 10-15 min to climb at ease. We visited the place in winter therefore the atmosphere was quite dry. We felt on top of the world when we were climbing Gilbert Hill, we were lost in time just like the Monolith.

High Steps to reach the temple on Gilbert Hill

Gilbert Hill

It  is a 200 ft (61 m) monolith column of black basalt  rock from the Dinosaurs age. The rock has a sheer vertical face and was formed when molten lava was squeezed out of the Earth’s clefts during the Mesozoic about 66 million years ago. During that era, molten lava had spread around most of the Indian states of  Maharashtra, Gujarat & Madhya Pradesh, covering an area of 50,000 sq. kms. The Volcanic eruptions were also responsible for the destruction of plant and animal life during that era. An asteroid struck Earth 66 million years ago. The most consequential outcome of this cataclysmic event was the fifth mass extinction, which wiped out about 80% of all animal species, including the non-avian dinosaurs. According to experts, this rare geological phenomenon was the remnant of a ridge and had clusters of vertical columns in nearby Jogeshwari which were quarried off two decades ago. These vertical columns are similar to the Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming , and the Devils Postpile National Monument in eastern California, USA. Gilbert Hill was declared a National Park  in 1952 by the Central Government under the Forest Act. In 2007, after years of lobbying by geologists, the hill was declared a Grade II heritage structure by the BMC(MCGM), and all quarrying and other activities around the monument were prohibited. Over the period of time, Gilbert Hill has faced severe erosion problems too.

Gilbert Hill

Closer view of Gilbert Hill (pic is taken from wikipedia) to show how the rock looks closely.

Temple on Gilbert Hill

There is a beautiful temple of Gan Devi and Durga as you can see in the picture below on the top of the GH. The temple is about 100 yrs old. The place is very calm peaceful. Both of us felt very relaxed and peaceful when we reached the top. There is something about the place which makes you feel good ( don’t know what it is?).

There is a well maintained garden surrounding the temple. We walked around the temple on the grass paths. From the top you can have a good view of the city from all directions. You can see how far is the city from the Arabian sea and from the green forest pastures of Aarey Milk colony.

The Gaon Devi and Durga Temple

The idol of Gaon Devi

Both of us felt relaxed and peaceful on reaching top of GH

This picture was taken after doing the Devi Puja

Pic taken when we were getting down from the temple on GH.

After spending about more than 1 1/2 hr, we decided to leave the giant Monolith, we felt so sorry for the giant Monolith, which was lying absolutely neglected in the concrete jungle of Mumbai. More than half of its structure had been illegally quarried in the past and now what remains is just a small part/reflection of it.

When we say there is nothing in Mumbai except buildings, skyscrapers, malls, multiplexes, amusement parks and Bollywood it establishes the fact that we are really blind or have turned blind and cannot see beyond ourselves. Mumbai city has everything to offer Forests, Wild life, Mangroves, Beaches, hiking and trekking spots, Ports, Sea shores, Forts, Historical/Heritage monuments, old temples, churches & masjid with great architectural styles and above all a Monolith which is 66 billion years old.

I would only like to say to people reading this blog that you all have seen the pics, videos or the movies of the Dinosaurs, have you seen something in reality which belongs to the age of the Dinosaurs? No….right?

So what is stopping you from visiting Gilbert Hill to see a Monolith which belongs to the pre historic age. There are only 3 of its kind in the world and only one is in India, Mumbai. Many of you must be watching celestial events which happen after 100 yrs or 200 yrs……..but those events are far away from us. This Monolith is standing tall right in front of you and you can touch something which is 66 billion years old!! Isn’t that awesome and exciting….!!

Before it gets destroyed by nature or by man, go and visit the Monolith, make it feel Special and Cheer it up !!!

Also experience the peace and calmness which we did when we reached thebut those events are far away from us. This Monolith is standing tall right in front of you and you can touch something which is 66 billion years old!! Isn’t that awesome and exciting….!!

Before it gets destroyed by nature or by man, go and visit the Monolith, make it feel Special and Cheer it up !!!

Also experience the peace and calmness which we did when we reached the top of Gilbert Hill . It is worth it!!!

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