The Deccan Traps is a huge igneous province situated in the Deccan Plateau in the west central India. It is one of the largest volcanic provinces in the world. The Deccan Traps are solidified flood basalts and consists of more than 6,500 feet of flat-lying basalt lava flows covering an area of nearly 200,000 square miles. The term `traps is derived from a Swedish word `trappa` or `trapp` which means stairs.

The Deccan Trap was formed 60 to 68 million years ago at the end of Cretaceous period. The volcanic eruption occurred at the Western Ghats some 66 million years ago. The release of volcanic gasses during the formation of the traps contributed to global warming. The Deccan Trap region was reduced to its current size by erosion and continental drift. At least 95% of the lavas are tholeiitic basalts within the Deccan Trap. The other rock types are; alkali basalts, nephenlinites, lamprophyre and carbonatites. It is assumed that the Deccan Traps eruption was associated with a deep mantle plume.