National Fossils Park, Ghughua, M.P.

National Fossils Park, Ghaghua, is a unique park as heaps of plants fossils have been found here. These fossils tell us the types of plants that existed here some 65 million years ago. These fossils are older than the human race which itself is considered to be .2million years old. Their age makes this place priceless. Considering the scientific importance of these fossils, the government of Madhya Pradesh has given the status of a national park to this place in 1983.
Well preserved fossils of trees, creepers, leaves, fruits, flowers and seeds have been found here. The plants belonging to the eucalyptus family are most commonly and prominently present here.

Interestingly, some of the types of these plants also exist today in different parts of the globe.
It is thought that 65 million years ago, this part of the land had evergreen forests like the ones that now exist in the western ghats and north-eastern India. These forests had plants of all sizes with some very tall trees. Ghaghua would have had a long rainy season with warm and humid atmosphere. Due to the presence of the fossils of some shelled animals like snails and molluscs, it is thought that there was a large water body there, which according to the scientists could possibly have been  a branch of the Arab Sea --- now called the Tethis Sea.

Spread over an area of app. 27hectares, the park is situated on NH no. 11, 76Km from Jabalpur.
I share some fossils' pictures here which will give an idea of how amazing the place is--