Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park, IllamBazar, near Bolpur (Shantiniketan)

Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park

IllamBazar, near Bolpur (Shantiniketan)

The villagers of Amkhoi village, near Bolpur, while digging a pond in 2006 stumbled upon giant bone-like structures. Unable to figure out what they were, they informed the local administration.

Entrance of Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park, Illambazar

These lead to a scientific investigation revealing what look like giant bones were actually fossilized wood. Scientific digging continued at the pond site extracting more such fossilized wood specimen, which was estimated to be 15 to 20 million years old.

A fossil specimen displayed next to the pond where the initial finding was made

Fossilized wood or petrified wood is often aesthetically pleasing and has a soft luster with colourfull hues.

They are considered as semi-precious stones and are often used in jewellery and other artifacts. No wonder they have a good market value.

So, as the news of the discovery spread it attracted fossil hunters from far and wide, leading to the vandalism of precious natural resources.

In order to protect the fossils, the entire area was converted into a fossil park in 2017 – 18. Known as the Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park it aims at creating awareness about fossils amongst students and common people and also aims to help scholars in their research.

A pathway meanders past a fossil specimen

It is located at the edge of Illambazar (Google map location) and is easily approachable from Bolpur (Shantiniketan).

The pathway from the entrance leads to the pond where the fossils were initially found. A large wood fossil is on display on a platform at the centre of the pond.

The pathway leads to an open space where the fossils are displaced under decorative shades in an open landscaped area.

Bi-lingual (English and Bengali) boards narrate the details of not only the fossils but also about the process of fossilization.

Fossils are preserved remains impressions or traces of any once living things from the past geological age. Specimens are usually considered to be fossils if they are preserved over 10,000 years.

Fossil specimens displayed under decorative shades

Petrified woods are often aesthetically pleasing with soft luster and hues of green, blue and orange. Beautiful petrified woods are considered as semi-precious stones and ae widely used in lapidary works, and are turned into items such as jewellery, clock faces, paper weight and sculpture. Bigger sized good quality petrified woods are usually bright colours and are more valuable

Landscaped park displaying the fossil specimens

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The bi-lingual boards further mention that in fossils the organic materials are replaced with minerals while maintaining the original structure of the wood. The minerals add colour to the petrified wood.

A fossil specimen at Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park

The fossils displayed at Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park consist of a trunk portion of flowering plants and have turned into rock-like structures due to petrification.

Fossil specimens at Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park

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Scientific investigation has also revealed that the trees were originally part of a forest that thrived in the uplands of Rajmahal and Chotanagpur Hills. It is presumed that the trees are carried by occasional floods and were deposited under fine sand and clay, gradually transforming them into fossils.

The landscaped fossil display area of Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park

The fossils found here belong to Dipterocarpaceae, Anacardiaceae, Combretacea and Leguminosae families of plants. The fossil park doubles up as a botanical garden with newly planted living trees with names labeled.

Necessary Information:

• There is an entrance fee of ₹ 10 and ₹ 5 for students and children
• The park is open from 10 am – 4 pm and closed on Wednesday
• The park lies on the edge of Illambazar town (Google map location)
• It is easily approached from Bolpur Shantiniketan
• Facilities at the park entrance include paid car parking, washrooms and a tea shop

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