About Akal Wood Fossil Park
Akal Wood Fossil Park is a protected paleontological site and National Geological Monument located approximately 17-18 kilometers from Jaisalmer city in Rajasthan. The park preserves petrified tree trunks and plant fossils dating back approximately 180 million years to the Jurassic period. Spread over 21 hectares, it features fossilized gymnosperm wood logs, some measuring up to 13.4 meters in length, providing evidence of an ancient forest ecosystem that once existed in this now-arid desert region.
Visitors guide
Visitors can explore an open-air geological site featuring exposed fossilized tree trunks embedded in sandstone rock formations. The fossils are protected by iron grill cages with overhead tin sheds. Interpretive signboards explain the age and species of specimens. The park includes a small museum near the entrance displaying additional fossils including dinosaur teeth and bones. Visitors walk along marked trails through the barren hillside landscape to view approximately two dozen fossil specimens scattered across the 21-hectare area.
Key highlights
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Petrified tree trunks dating back 180 million years to the Jurassic period
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Longest preserved fossil measures 13.4 meters in length and 0.9 meters in width
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National Geological Monument designated by Geological Survey of India in 1972
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Fossils include Pterophyllum, Ptilophyllum, Equisetites species and gastropod shells
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Small museum at entrance displays dinosaur teeth, bones and stone fossils
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Evidence of ancient lush forest ecosystem in present-day Thar Desert region
History of Akal Wood Fossil Park
The park was discovered by the Geological Survey of India and declared a National Geological Monument in 1972. It was maintained by GSI until 1985 when administration was handed over to the Forest Department of Government of Rajasthan. The fossils belong to the Lathi Formation of Lower Jurassic age, dating to approximately 180 million years ago. The site provides crucial evidence that the Thar Desert region was once covered with dense forests in a warm, humid climate bordering the Tethys Ocean.
Culture & Context
The park is a declared Biodiversity Heritage Site and serves as an important geotourism destination raising awareness about the region's geological history and prehistoric ecosystems.