Uttar Pradesh’s Sonbhadra district has earned a place on the global map with the inclusion of Salkhan Fossils Park in UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites.
Known for containing fossils estimated to be 1.4 billion years old, the park’s listing marks a crucial milestone toward full World Heritage status, which could be granted within two years.
The park, one of the oldest fossil sites globally, now features on the official UNESCO website, underscoring its significance as a rare site showcasing some of the earliest signs of life on Earth.
Aimed at boosting eco-tourism and heritage conservation, this development is seen as a major leap forward for the state’s tourism sector. Detailed information about the park has been made publicly accessible on the UNESCO portal: https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6842.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed the Eco-Tourism Development Board to draft a comprehensive dossier to support the park’s nomination for the permanent World Heritage List. This documentation is expected to be submitted to the Government of India soon.
"In addition to these 39 schools, the govt will soon begin construction in 10 more CM Composite Schools. For the remaining 26 districts, financial approvals and land selection processes are in their final stages," a govt spokesperson said. The govt earlier announced that each district will have a CM Composite School.
The emphasis on tourism infrastructure has been a consistent priority for the current administration. Principal Secretary of Tourism, Mukesh Meshram, credited the chief minister’s proactive stance. “Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has consistently undertaken key initiatives to strengthen tourism in the state, with a particular focus on eco-tourism. As a result of these sustained efforts, the Eco-Tourism Development Board has recently introduced Vistadome coaches on a tourist train, providing scenic rail connectivity between Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.”
"The Board has now achieved a major accomplishment by securing a place for Salkhan Fossils Park—located near Salkhan village, approximately 15 km from Robertsganj in Sonbhadra—on UNESCO’s Tentative List. The Tourism Department had been working towards this goal for the past year," said Meshram.
The nomination process has been grounded in scientific research. Following an MoU signed on June 26, 2024, with the Uttar Pradesh Eco-Tourism Development Board, the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences in Lucknow carried out in-depth studies of fossil-bearing rocks in the park. The research identified stromatolites and algae fossils dating back 1.4 billion years.
"These findings formed the scientific foundation for the park’s nomination to UNESCO," officials said, adding that this recognition has brought Uttar Pradesh into focus as a destination for global eco-tourism.
Explaining the next steps, Tourism Director Prakhar Mishra said, “The process of including any site in the UNESCO World Heritage List begins with its entry into the Tentative List. Following this, a comprehensive dossier is prepared, which forms the basis for the nomination to the permanent list. This entire process typically takes about a year and includes an on-site evaluation by a UNESCO team.”
"The dossier for Salkhan Fossils Park in Sonbhadra is currently being prepared and will soon be submitted to the Government of India for forwarding to UNESCO," added Mishra. He also highlighted the park’s exceptional value through comparisons with other world fossil sites.
"While the fossils at Yellowstone National Park in the United States (already a UNESCO World Heritage Site) are around 500 million years old, those at Mistaken Point in Canada are about 550 million years old, and Joggins Fossil Cliffs (also in Canada) are around 310 million years old. In contrast, the stromatolites found at Salkhan Fossils Park are approximately 1.4 billion years old—making them among the oldest known evidence of life on Earth. This immense scientific value greatly strengthens the park’s case for permanent UNESCO status, and the Uttar Pradesh Eco Tourism Development Board is working diligently toward this goal," said Prakhar Mishra.
Located between Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary and the Vindhya mountain range, Salkhan Fossils Park spans 25 hectares. Its fossil-rich sandstone features some of the earliest known microbial life forms on Earth, offering valuable insights into the planet’s ancient biological and geological evolution.
With growing national and international attention on Earth’s natural heritage, Salkhan Fossils Park—also referred to as Sonbhadra Fossils Park—is positioned to become a globally significant site for research, tourism, and conservation.