INTRODUCTION

Ghughua or Ghughwa Fossil National Park in Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh is a unique place to visit while doing Madhya Pradesh tour. While traveling from Kanha national park to Bandhavgarh or vice versa, we passes through this fossil park. It is a man-made park with priceless treasure of plant fossils. You will be amazed to know that these fossils have been dated 6.5 million years old. It is believed to be of time Gondwana Supercontinent. Whatever fossils, we will find in this fossil park, is collected from nearby areas, around radius of 100 kms thus we can that location of Ghughua fossil park is very appropriate, at its deserved natural site. It was Dr. Dharmendra Prasad who first noticed the presence of fossils in this regiona and forwarded the samples for test. Result of these samples, makes way for creation of this fossil platform to showcase this over-loolked treasure to general public. Fossils were first discovered in year 1970 and after test results, plan was finalized to prepare proper platform to showcase and conserve these valuable fossils and thus declaration for Ghughua Fossil National Park came in year 1983. It is open for visitors from sunris to sunset in all days of weak. Here you need to buy visitor tickets to explore the park. Local staff is available to assist you in your visit. Here well preserved fossils of woody plants, climbers, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds have been showcased with informative notes. Dicotyledons and palm fossil woods are particularly numerous. At present, these plants are not found in Central India region thus their fossils discovery in this region indicates that long time back, climate of this region was different and lot of geographical changes took place, resulting into making of these fossils. They represent a period in the history of the Earth that is highly significant for the vegetational history of India. Now a days we can see their modern form. It is open for visitors on all the days of a week from sunrise to sunset. In order to visit this park, visitors have to take entrance ticket by making the payment. Their is difference in ticket charges for Indian citizens and foreigner tourists. This destination is well promoted by M P Tourism department.

FOSSILS DISCOVERY

These fossils were scattered in a large areas of Dindori and Mandla district areas but was un-noticed by concerned authorities. These fossils were discovered by Dr. Dharmendra Prasad, the Statistical Officer of Mandla district and also the honorary secretary of the District Archaeology Union S.R. Ingle from Science College, Jabalpur and Dr. M.B. Bande from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleobotany. In year 1970, Dr. Dharmendra Prasad notice them first and take necessary initiative for further study on them at Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleobotany, Lucknow. This discovery put this region into fossils map of the world and scientists, students and tourists, begun to visit this region with curiosity in mind to see the fossils.

FOSSILS DIVERSITY

The fossil record of Ghughua consists of mainly plants belonging to the topmost Cretaceous to early Tertiary periods dating back to about 65 million years. So far 31 genera belonging to 18 families have been identified. Their is a preponderance of palms and dicotyledons. Fossils of eucalyptus trees, found here are native to Australia which indicates of time when Great Gondwana Supercontinent was existing on earth. Other fossilized plants includes ancient Date Palm, Jamun, Banana, Rudraksh and Aonla. In addition to this, fossils of some shell bearing animals have also been found which indicates that, in past, this region was much more humid and receives more rainfall. Now a days, climate is totally different. Dindori region is rocky and hilly. Due to poor agricultural prospects, its population density is very less and public is engaged in other occupational activities like working in nearby cities, doing painting etc.

HOW TO REACH

By Air :

Nearest airport for visiting Ghughua fossil park is in Jabalpur (110kms/02:30hrs). It is well connected with Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata . Jabalpur airport (IATA Code:JLR) lies in west of Ghughwa fossil park. For further journey from Jabalpur airport to Ghughua, we offer Jabalpur airport taxi service in which you can hire tourist taxi for visiting Jabalpur city and its nearby tourist destinations.

DISTANCE CHART
From	Distance (in Kms)
Jabalpur to Ghughua fossil park	105
Bandhavgarh to Ghughua fossil park	100
Shahpura Town to Ghughwa fossil park	15
Amarkantak to Ghughua fossil park	185
Umaria to Ghughua fossil park	70
Kanha National Park to Ghughua fossil park	160

By Train:

Nearest railway station for visiting Ghughua Fossil National Park is Umaria railway station (Railway code: UMR) at a distance of 70 kms in north-east direction. Umaria is a small station and have limited train connectivity. Best option is Jabalpur station (Station code:JBP) as a distance of 105 kms in west direction. It has good train connectivity with major tourist destinations and cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Howrah, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Pune, Bengaluru, Agra, Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Varanasi, Gwalior, Indore, Bhopal etc. After reaching Umaria station or Jabalpur railway station, further journey is possible by taxi cabs.We arrange trip to Ghughua fossil park from Umaria and Jabalpur.

By Road:

Ghughua fossil park is best reached by road. It is connected by road from its nearby towns and cities like Shahpura, Dindore, Mandla, Jabalpur, Bandhavgarh, Kanha national park, Amarkantak, Umaria etc. It is easily accessible in all the seasons. One can travel by bus or by taxi. Bus service is limited so taxi or self vehicle is better for reaching park.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

In Ghughua fossil park, tourists can see fossils showcased in open platforms. Informative notes have been provided in written format so that tourists may have understanding of what they are watching. In addition to this, a small museum can be seen there seeds and leaf fossils have been preserved and showcased. One can also enjoy its natural surrounding. Their is no more activity or attractions here. Time taken to visit this park varies with visitors interest in subject. Usually tourists take 30-45 minutes halt here. Here arrangements have been made by not properly maintained.

CLIMATE & WEATHER

Ghughuwa fossil park lies in western region of Madhya Pradesh. Its surrounding is rocky and dry. Here Landscapes are good but vegetation is poor. Due to rocky surrounding, it absorbs temperature quickly which means, in day time temperature rises quickly and in nights, temperature decreases swiftly. Here rainfall is normal. Due to rocky surrounding, seasonal nallahs, perennials gets flooded quickly and also get reduced with similar pace.

Months	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Minimum (°C)	01	08	15	20	30	30	26	23	22	23	15	05
Maximum(°C)	18	32	35	40	44	46	39	34	35	36	30	22

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Ghughua national park is open for visitors in all the seasons. Tourists can visit the fossil park at any of the day in year. Here you have to pay visitor fee and can enjoy the visit. Most of the tourists arrival have been registered from October to June month as surrounding national parks remain open for tourists, in this period thus their movement through this route is very common in this period. Visitors arrival is dependent on tourism season of nearby tourist destinations like Bandhavgarh, Kanha national park, Amarkantak, Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary. So according to tourism in these destinations, we can conclude best time to visit Ghughua fossil park is from October to June.

ACCOMMODATION

Usually tourists do not stay here as within 45 minutes, they conclude the visit to this park. Still, forest department have made arrangement for stay in Ghughua fossil park. Here officer incharges is permanently staying so anyone can book the room through official present here. It is a paid service and offers limited number of room/s for accommodation purpose. In addition to this, you can visit this park while staying at hotels/resorts in Jabalpur, Mandla, Shahpura, Bandhavgarh, Umaria etc.

NEXT TO GHUGHUA FOSSIL PARK

Tourist destinations next to fossil park are Bandhavgarh, Amarkantak, Jabalpur, Kanha national park, Mandla, Achanakmar wildlife sanctuary. We can see this fossil park as mid-way halting point. While traveling from Bandhavgarh national park to Kanha national park, tourists passes through fossil park and thus they have chance to visit this hidden treasure. Even if you have planned to visit from Jabalpur to Amarkantak, you may visit this fossil park by taking diversion of 18 kms from Shahpura or Kundam towns.