Jharkhand’s first fossil park opens doors for visitors

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren recently inaugurated a 95-acre park that has been built to preserve the Jurassic-era fossils.

Set on Rajmahal hills in Sahebganj, this fossil park in Mandro Block has been built at a cost of INR 10.79 crore, which apart from generating employment for locals, will also promote eco-tourism.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister added that this is one of the biggest treasure troves that Jharkhand is proud of. Mandro hill is one of the world’s rarest places that boasts of such fossil finds, he added.

Soren also added that he will visit the park again, and stay back for a day to learn more about the fossils.

As per the reports, several plant and animal fossils of the Jurassic-era, have been discovered on Rajmahal hills, which are estimated to be 200 -145 million years’ old. If records are to go by, Palaeobotanist Birbal Sahani is said to be the first one to have conducted an extensive study of the fossils.

Divisional forest officer (DFO), Sahebganj, Manish Tiwary told the media that that park has several facilities including, a mini laboratory, a museum-cum-auditorium, and an eco-tourism complex.

He added that it has been developed with the objective of generating awareness about the importance of fossil preservation, eco-tourism promotion, and livelihood opportunity creation for locals here.

Revealing more about the park, he stated that private vehicles will not be allowed in the park, and that only battery operated auto-rickshaws will be allowed to ply inside. There will be a rest house, where researchers and students will be able to stay and study, he added.