Geological wonders: 5 of the oldest fossil parks in India

India is home to a range of geological wonders! It also includes the oldest fossil parks in the world. These parks offer an insight into India’s ancient past as these fossils date back millions of years.

These fossil parks are a significant archaeological as well as scientific site. These also offer an interesting glimpse into India's geological history. So on that note, let’s have a look at five of the oldest fossil parks in India:

Also known as Sonbhadra Fossils Park, Salkhan is a fossil park in Uttar Pradesh set some 12 km from Robertsganj. It is among the oldest fossil parks in India and in the world. The park was set up in 1985 and is managed by the Geological Survey of India (GSI).

Mandla Plant Fossils National Park is renowned for its extraordinary collection of fossilized plants. The park is situated in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh and has plants in the form of fossils which are as old as 40-150 million years ago!

Tiruvakkarai Fossil Wood Park is in the Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. The park is famous for its petrified wood fossils. These fossils, dating back to the Cretaceous period, around 65 million years ago, tell a lot about the ancient forests that once covered the region.

Ghughua Fossil Park, located near Shahpura in Madhya Pradesh, is known for its diverse collection of fossilised plant and animal remains. The park features fossils dating back to the Mesozoic era, including plant fossils, dinosaur eggs, and other prehistoric artifacts.