Fossil hunting in India

Indian fossil-collecting law has tightened considerably since the December 2024 Himachal Pradesh High Court ruling that banned extraction in the Spiti Valley. Most of the country's well-known sites are now viewing-only, either as National Parks, National Geological Monuments, or state-protected heritage areas. Removal of fossil material is treated as a violation of the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act of 1972.

Travel is the main practical hurdle. Spiti requires high-altitude acclimatization (4,400m+) and is only accessible by road from May through October. The Thar Desert sites need early-morning or late-afternoon visits to avoid extreme heat. Several sites in central India are remote and best reached with a hired guide who knows the local terrain and protected boundaries.

Top picks: Raiyoli Dinosaur Park, Gujarat (Late Cretaceous eggs and Rajasaurus, viewing only); Ghughua National Fossil Park, Madhya Pradesh (Late Cretaceous petrified wood and dinosaur eggs); Akal Wood Fossil Park, Rajasthan (Early Jurassic petrified logs); Salkhan Fossils Park, Uttar Pradesh (1.4-billion-year-old stromatolites).