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Suketi Fossil Park displays life-size fiberglass models of
pre-historic animals whose fossils and skeletons were unearthed here. The
park is first of its kind in Asia to be developed at the actual site where
fossils were discovered. At a distance of 21-kms from Nahan, the Suketi
Fossil Park is located on the bank of Markanda River and is approachable
by the link road Kalka-Ambala, 4-kms from
Haryana .
Located on the upper and middle Shivaliks, the park mainly comprises of
soft sandstone and clay rocks. The park at present has six sets of
life-size models of Stegodonganesa Sivatherium or the extinct grand
elephant, Hexaprotodon-Sivalensis or the hippopotamus with six incisors,
Colosschelys Atlas or the giant land tortoise and chelonia, Paramachaerdus
or the Sabre Toothed tiger and Crocodilia, the animals which once thrived
in the region.
The Shivalik formations contain one of the world's richest collections of
mammalian fossils. From a study of these fossils, it has been possible for
the paleontologists to probe into the mysteries of evolution of
pre-historic life and the climate and environment of these periods, which
go back to Jurassic era, nearly 8.5 million years ago. The Shivalik
deposits are unsurpassed in the world for the richness of the fauna they
entomb.
Around this park, plantation work by Horticulture Department has been
done, which makes the surroundings quite charming. The other major
attraction is the Museum, which contains various fossils, models, charts
and paintings relating to the various aspects of plants and animals life
of the past and present in Shivalik range.