Uttar Pradesh Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh on Tuesday said that serious efforts are underway to include the Salkhan Fossil Park in Sonbhadra district in the permanent list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The park, located in Sonbhadra district’s Salkhan village near the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary, covers an area of approximately 25 hectares and is one of the largest fossil parks in India.
In a letter to Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in September 2025, Singh requested that Salkhan Park be included in the permanent list of World Heritage Sites. He informed the state government that the Government of India is making serious efforts to include the Park in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
He also stated that a proposal has been submitted to the Government of India to include Sarnath in Varanasi in UNESCO’s list. The Tourism Minister also expressed his gratitude to Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
He stated that inclusion in the permanent list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites would enhance the park’s global recognition and importance, while also promoting tourism and scientific research. Currently, India has 43 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, seven of which are under the natural category.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, Singh said that the Salkhan Fossil Park preserves stromatolite fossils — ancient sedimentary formations created by cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) nearly 1.4 billion years ago.
He explained that the Salkhan fossils are older than the 500-million-year-old fossils found in Yellowstone National Park in the United States and Mistaken Point in Canada. The Salkhan Fossil Park provides important evidence of Earth’s Precambrian era and is regarded as a global geoheritage site that traces the early evolution of life. The park provides crucial information about early life on Earth and the origins of oxygenic photosynthesis. He added that it is India’s largest fossil park after Yellowstone National Park in the United States.
The minister stated that the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department has long been making efforts to include Salkhan Fossil Park in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
He stated that permanent recognition of Salkhan Park at the global level would further highlight India’s ancient and rich natural heritage and boost tourism. It would also create opportunities for scientific research and self-employment at the local level.
Singh stated that several national and international geologists have conducted research projects at the Salkhan Fossil Park and noted that the fossils, located in such a beautiful and pristine area, will provide a new direction to scientific research. He added that an increase in the number of tourists would generate employment opportunities for local residents and revenue for the state government.