Did UP’s Salkhan Fossils Park Just Make It to UNESCO's Tentative World Heritage List?

Lucknow, June 22 (NationPress) In a remarkable milestone for Uttar Pradesh, Salkhan Fossils Park—one of the globe's most ancient fossil locations—has been added to UNESCO's Tentative List of World Heritage Sites as of Sunday. This landmark achievement is anticipated to elevate Uttar Pradesh's tourism to unprecedented levels on the global platform.

The park aims to achieve full World Heritage designation within the next two years.

Mukesh Meshram, the Principal Secretary of the Tourism Department, remarked that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has steadfastly pursued vital initiatives to bolster tourism in the state, emphasizing eco-tourism.

He indicated that the Board recently accomplished a significant milestone by securing a spot for Salkhan Fossils Park—situated near Salkhan village, roughly 15 km from Robertsganj in Sonbhadra—on UNESCO’s Tentative List.

The Tourism Department has been diligently working towards this objective for the past year. A crucial step in this journey involved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Uttar Pradesh Eco-Tourism Development Board and the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences in Lucknow.

The institute carried out scientific examinations of the park's fossil-rich rocks, uncovering 1.4 billion-year-old stromatolites and algae fossils, which are regarded as some of the earliest indicators of life on Earth. These discoveries laid the scientific groundwork for the park’s nomination to UNESCO.

This accolade not only underscores the geological importance of Salkhan Fossils Park but also positions Uttar Pradesh prominently on the global eco-tourism landscape.

Tourism Director Prakhar Mishra explained that the journey to include any site in the UNESCO World Heritage List commences with its entry into the Tentative List.

Subsequently, an extensive dossier is crafted, which serves as the foundation for the nomination to the permanent list. This entire procedure generally spans about a year and includes an on-site assessment by a UNESCO team.

He shared that the dossier for Salkhan Fossils Park in Sonbhadra is currently in the works and will soon be forwarded to the government of India for submission to UNESCO.

He expressed confidence that the park could be officially listed on the permanent World Heritage List within the next two years. Such a designation would not only garner international recognition for Uttar Pradesh but also significantly enhance its global tourism profile.

Amid growing national and international fascination with Earth’s ancient natural heritage, Salkhan Fossils Park—also referred to as Sonbhadra Fossils Park—is emerging as a crucial site of international significance. Nestled near Salkhan village, about 15 km from Robertsganj in Sonbhadra district, the park is located in a scenic area between the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary and the Vindhya mountain range.

Covering 25 hectares, the park is home to exceptionally preserved stromatolites—layered, microbial rock formations embedded in ancient sandstone dating back approximately 1.4 billion years.

These fossils represent some of the earliest known life forms and provide invaluable insights into the planet's biological and geological history.