Dindori (Madhya Pradesh): Fossils of trees and leaves have been preserved at the National Fossil Park Ghughwa, located 70 km from Dindori district, in Madhya Pradesh. Here, fossils of various types of plants and trees are seen, including eucalyptus, coconut among others.
National Fossil Park Ghughwa is the first fossil national park in the country. The park also has fossils of dinosaur eggs.
While the fossils of about 6.5 million years old trees have been preserved in the park, due to lack of guides and canteen, tourists have to face a bit of difficulty.
Who discovered fossils
These fossils were discovered by Dr Dharmendra Prasad, Statistical Officer of undivided Mandla district and Honorary Secretary of District Archeology.
Then fossils were then duly studied by Dr SR Ingle, Professor of Adarsh Vigyan College, Jabalpur and Dr MB Bande of Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences.
Fossils are millions of years old
These fossils give information about the flora that existed millions of years ago. The finding of so many fossils here indicates that in ancient times there were dense forests in and around the area.
Then there must have been a terrible natural disaster like a volcanic eruption, in which all these plants were destroyed simultaneously.
These fossils also give us information about the climate and geographical location of this place in ancient times.
So far fossils of 31 genera of 18 families (scientific classifications) have been discovered in Ghughwa. Fossils of palm trees, eucalyptus, coconut species and dicot plants are in abundance here that attract tourists.
Dr OP Yadav of National Heart Institute, Delhi said that he was very happy to come here and glad to see years old fossils.
The other tourist told that it was very nice to see the plant fossils from 6.5 million years ago.
Also Read: Narmada Bachao Andolan back on indefinite protest
