Rock Formations of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

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Hyderabad is blessed with a unique landscape: spectacular ancient rock formations - though almost extinct in the centre of the expanding metropolis - still dot its suburban expanses: Granite ridges and hillocks weathered into picturesque balancing forms, part of the Deccan Shield area. Geologists date these rocks to 2,500 million years back, amongst the oldest and hardest rocks in the world.

About 4.6 billion years ago, from a vast contracting clustered cloud of gas and dust, the earth was formed along with other planets. The upper part of the earth, the crust, was very thin then, and it built over a period of its existence to a thick crust comprising varieties of rocks formed by the action of magmatism (volcanism), metamorphism, weathering and sedimentation.

The present-day arrangement and appearance of rocks is based on dynamic physico­chemical activity operating both on the surface and within the earth. Peninsular India- which contains the Deccan Plateau, mostly comprises hard crystalline rocks (formed by consolidation and crystallization of magma) like granites and gneisses. These rocks are also called 'unclassified' cristallines due to the non-availability of adequate isotope age data. However, the relative position of the granites and associated rocks and their chronological studies in Indian stratiography suggests an age of 2500 million years.

These rocks form the basement for all the younger rock which formed after them. The gneisses rocks of Peninsular India, which lie exposed in parts of Andhra Pradesh, have weathered over millions of years to produce the rock formations that we observe today. The weathering and sedimentation have also prepared the ground for organisms to live among these rocks. The dwellers among these biotic systems utilize the abnormal carvings and help sustain the equilibrium of the ecosystem.

Uncontrolled quarrying and destruction for the sake of building material and more building space threatens to make these rocks a thing of the past. But do we have to destroy a unique asset that other cities would be proud to possess? We should realize that our rocky hillocks lend themselves to great nature and adventure parks.

Nature is recreation for the body and the soul - and we are sorely in need of more recreation areas for the increasing millions of our city. Hyderabad is placing itself firmly on the tourist map. But not only manmade heritage attracts - every visitor admires the balancing boulders of our landscapes with awe. The indiscriminate cutting down of the rocks is seen with dismay. Rocky areas are a treasure trove of unique flora and fauna, including ancient micro-organisms.

How to reach Rock Formations of Hyderabad?

• The Society to Save Rocks is organizing Rock walks in and around Hyderabad The Third Sunday of Every Month. Tel: 91-40-23552923, 91-40-23608253

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