Amkhoi was just a remote Santhal majority village near Ilambazar, Birbhum until recently came into limelight when a large number of fossilised trees dated back to 15 to 20 million years are discovered while digging a pond there. The fossilised trees are angiosperms (flower producing) and experts presume that in late Miocene period vast deciduous forest along with some evergreen elements existed in this region. Sooner a dedicated fossil park is built there by the forest department. Today Amkhoi Fossil Park ranks among the leading wood fossil parks in India (such as Akal Wood Fossil Park in Rajasthan or National Fossil Wood Parks in Tamil Nadu, etc.). Undoubtedly, this is must visit place in Birbhum for nature and science enthusiasts.
Kuntal Bhattacharya280 days ago
Nice fossil park. Needs a huge maintenance. Good to spend time for an hour. Local foods are available. However, it needs a thorough renovation. The forest trails are very beautiful. The location is amidst forest and hence serene.
Subrata Rajak280 days ago
Very good place.amazing site.
Ronan Bhattacharyya1 year ago
To touch a million years must visit the fossil park. Trail with GPS & Northside Achiever for full experience of the timeline dating back to antiquity.
RIMA MONDAL2 years ago
Okay to spends some 15 odd minutes, If u r traveling via ilambazar-bolpur road. Can be easily avoided as part of Bolpur sight seeing. Entry fee is reasonable, i.e. 10/- per head on Dec'2021. It's a small area with poorly maintenance. Ajay river is flowing within 2.5km proximity, u may will also want to explore.
Someswar Ghosh2 years ago
It's a great place to gather spent time in the lap of nature and also gain some knowledge. Here you see the wood fossils, which are mainly petrified wood fossil. This place is well maintained by the tribal community of Amkhoi village. The people are very good. There are no entry fee. Amkhoi, a village tucked inside a forested zone of Birbhum district in West Bengal, not far from Bolpur (gateway to Shantiniketan and the university founded by Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore), was suffering from shortage of water. It was while digging a pond that remains of petrified wood was discovered. Soon experts realised these were remains of trees which existed here 15 million to 20 million years ago.
These were identified as angiosperm (flowering plants) wood. According to the local forest department, a vast deciduous forest along with some evergreen elements existed in this region in the late Miocene period.
As the news of the discovery spread far and wide, illegal fossil hunting began to take place. To prevent the stealing of fossils, the forest department decided to build a park around the findings and develop it as a tourist zone. Today Amkhoi Fossil Park ranks among the leading fossil parks in India (such as Akal Wood Fossil Park in Rajasthan, dinosaur fossil parks in Gujarat, National Fossil Wood Parks in Tamil Nadu, etc.).
At Amkhoi, the fossils are preserved within a landscaped botanical garden. As you enter, you can see the pond from where it all began. A pathway runs through the park with display boards next to the fossils. Some of the fossils found here belong to Dipterocarpaceae, Anacardiaceae, Combretacea and Leguminosae families of plants.
Scientists have also discovered that some trees which have become extinct here are still seen in the Western Ghat region of India as well as in Myanmar and Malaysia. According to researchers, these fossils indicate that vast forests existed in the uplands of Rajmahal Hills and the Chota Nagpur Plateau located to the north west of the present Birbhum district. It has been presumed that the trees were carried by occasional floods and got covered in fine sand and clay, resulting in gradual transformation to fossils.
The park (free entry), which remains open between 10am and 4pm, is also a mini botanical garden and if you are accompanied by kids, you may introduce them to the living trees (all labelled). The park lies on the edge of Illambazar town. Facilities at the park entrance include paid car parking, washrooms and a tea shop. The museum is yet to open.
Entry fee is reasonable, i.e. 10/- per head on Dec'2021.
It's a small area with poorly maintenance.
Ajay river is flowing within 2.5km proximity, u may will also want to explore.
Here you see the wood fossils, which are mainly petrified wood fossil.
This place is well maintained by the tribal community of Amkhoi village.
The people are very good.
There are no entry fee.
Amkhoi, a village tucked inside a forested zone of Birbhum district in West Bengal, not far from Bolpur (gateway to Shantiniketan and the university founded by Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore), was suffering from shortage of water. It was while digging a pond that remains of petrified wood was discovered. Soon experts realised these were remains of trees which existed here 15 million to 20 million years ago.
These were identified as angiosperm (flowering plants) wood. According to the local forest department, a vast deciduous forest along with some evergreen elements existed in this region in the late Miocene period.
As the news of the discovery spread far and wide, illegal fossil hunting began to take place. To prevent the stealing of fossils, the forest department decided to build a park around the findings and develop it as a tourist zone. Today Amkhoi Fossil Park ranks among the leading fossil parks in India (such as Akal Wood Fossil Park in Rajasthan, dinosaur fossil parks in Gujarat, National Fossil Wood Parks in Tamil Nadu, etc.).
At Amkhoi, the fossils are preserved within a landscaped botanical garden. As you enter, you can see the pond from where it all began. A pathway runs through the park with display boards next to the fossils. Some of the fossils found here belong to Dipterocarpaceae, Anacardiaceae, Combretacea and Leguminosae families of plants.
Scientists have also discovered that some trees which have become extinct here are still seen in the Western Ghat region of India as well as in Myanmar and Malaysia. According to researchers, these fossils indicate that vast forests existed in the uplands of Rajmahal Hills and the Chota Nagpur Plateau located to the north west of the present Birbhum district. It has been presumed that the trees were carried by occasional floods and got covered in fine sand and clay, resulting in gradual transformation to fossils.
The park (free entry), which remains open between 10am and 4pm, is also a mini botanical garden and if you are accompanied by kids, you may introduce them to the living trees (all labelled). The park lies on the edge of Illambazar town. Facilities at the park entrance include paid car parking, washrooms and a tea shop. The museum is yet to open.