Department of Tourism, Government of Madhya Pradesh
Dinosaur Fossils National Park is a protected fossil site located near the town of Bagh in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh, India. The park conserves Late Cretaceous-era fossil deposits, including dinosaur eggs bones, and associated flora and fauna. It is one of the few designated fossil parks in India and a proposed site for UNESCO Global Geopark recognition.[1][2][3]
The park is situated in the Narmada Valley and covers approximately 89.4 hectares. The site lies within sedimentary rock formations known for yielding fossil material from the Late Cretaceous period, dating between 100 and 66 million years ago.[4]
Discovery and establishment
Tribals of the surrounding region used to worship the petrified stone eggs as their guardian deity for centuries. Fossils in the Bagh region were first documented in the early 2000s. In 2006, the discovery of a well-preserved dinosaur egg led to increased interest from researchers and the state government. Further investigations revealed additional eggs, bone fragments, and fossils of ancient marine species. In response to the scientific significance of the site, the Government of Madhya Pradesh declared the area a protected fossil park in 2011.[5]
In 2022, the Madhya Pradesh Ecotourism Development Board initiated preparations to nominate the site for UNESCO Global Geopark status. The proposal highlights the Bagh fossil beds as among the oldest known dinosaur nesting sites in Asia. The initiative is supported by geologists and conservation experts, with the aim of promoting scientific research, heritage conservation, and sustainable tourism.[5][8]
Conservation and public outreach
The park is managed by the Department of Tourism, Government of Madhya Pradesh. Conservation efforts include preservation of in-situ fossil material and development of visitor infrastructure. Interpretive trails and exhibits are under development to enhance public awareness of India's palaeontological heritage.[9][10]
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