Akal Wood Fossil Park

Dwelling into the geological history of the Thar Desert sounds adventurous!

18 kms from Jaisalmer is the Akal wood fossils park which is about 180 million years of age. Sea shells and massive fossilized tree trunks in this park record the geological history of the desert. The whole area is now preserved for posterity as a natural wonder. 

The area of wood fossil Park, Akal is 21 hectare. It is 15 kilometer form Jaisalmer on the Jaisalmer Barmer road. The fossilized wood logs are lying prostrate in random orientation. 25 wood logs are visible on the surface of which 10 are well exposed. The largest exposed log is 7 m. in length and 1.5 m.in. width. There are more wood fossils lying deep under the surface. Evidence of similar fossils are surfacing in many other areas in Jaisalmer region.

Wood fossils of Akal are an example where the process of petrification took precedence over disintegration of organic matter and fossilized the wood. The fossilization took place about 180 million years ago, and the whole forest composed of huge trees was petrified. In that geological era there were only non flowering trees. Therefore the wood fossils are considered to represent gymnosperms like Chir, Deodar or Red wood of lower Jurassic age.

The presence of gigantic trees suggest that the land that is desert today had a different hot and humid climate which supported a luxuriant forest. These tree trunks were buried in sediments in a horizontal form and petrified. Subsequent geological activities caused shifting and upheaval of the sandy basin bringing these fossils to the surface. These now stand exposed in the present form due to weathering by wind and erosion by water. There are large number of petrified logs and innumerable pieces of woods scattered on the surface in the area and evidence of fruits have also been discover.

Location: 17 K.M. from the main Jaisalmer city near Barmer Road
How to reach: Take a cab or share an Auto-rickshaw
Importance: Fossil remains of Jurassic era till 130 million years ago

If you are done with history then Akal Fossil Park is the place to be. For, it takes you beyond History. It takes you back to the prehistoric Jurassic era, which is, hold your breath, 180 million years back! It is a fossil park where stood a forest 180 millions years ago. Then the area submersed in to the sea and the tree trunks got preserved in the form of fossils.

The fossil trunks lie scattered in this park. Fossilized tree trunks are of various sizes with the largest being 13 meters in length and 1.5 meters in width. Covering about 10 sq. Km of bare hillside, the Fossil Park contains 25 petrified trunks, in total. The 21-hectare preserved area of the park lies about 17 Km from Jaisalmer on the road to Barmer.

If you happen to be a Conservationist or a Geologist by chance, try to get there early. Get there before tourists come pouring in. You will have to seek prior permission in order to study the remains.