About History of Balasinor Dinosaur Fossil Park

Balasinor dinosaur museum is located in Raiyoli village of Balasinor town. This is an ideal place for people having an interest in archeology. Dinosaur Fossil Park is the most popular tourist place in Balasinor. It is the second-largest dinosaur fossil park in the world. It was the home of 13 species of dinosaurs. It is also referred to as India’s Jurassic Park.

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It is believed that one of the largest clusters of dinosaur hatcheries in the world is there in Gujarat. It is considered home to at least 13 species of dinosaurs for more than 100 million years until they became extinct 66 million years ago. The 72-hectare park has as many as ten thousand dinosaur fossils.

It is a good idea to take a guided tour of the park since the location of the egg fossils is all over the park and they are difficult to spot without a guide. Princess Aliyah Babi who is the guardian and custodian of this park has done a remarkable job of maintaining this park and she gives guided tours to visitors sometimes.

The park is an open fossil park and you can see the giant statues of T- Rex and Brontosaurus which bear a striking resemblance to the real creature. The fossils found here include those of femur, eye hole, tibia fibula, vertebra, egg scale, claws, skin, and wood fossils but one of the most interesting fossils that you can see here is the brain fossil of a dinosaur.

A trip to the park transports visitors back to the age of the dinosaurs as one sees the indents made by the eggs in the soil, life-size statues of dinosaurs in various positions, some in menacing attacking pose and others in a calm posture. Visitors are allowed to take pictures at this park and this place is so fascinating that you start taking pictures right from where a giant rock states the name of the park.

There is a museum near the fossil park and visitors can find extensive information about the history of dinosaurs’ fossils that have been found in India and Gujarat. Multimedia devices are used at this museum to explain the evolution of different species. It is a multilevel fully air-conditioned museum and extremely child and disabled friendly with ramps for wheelchairs and prams. Visitors can take a picture with all the dinosaur statues in the park as well as those in the museum.

One of the reasons why this area proved favorable for the survival of the dinosaurs is the soft soil found here which made the hatching of eggs easier along with the protection of the newly hatched young ones. That is why the fossilized eggs found here are in an almost pristine condition according to scientists. They are one of the best-preserved dinosaur remains of the world after Aix-en-Provence in France.

History of Balasinor Dinosaur Fossil Park

In the early 1980s, paleontologists discovered dinosaur bones and fossils while a regular geological survey of this area was being done. Balasinor is a mineral-rich area and this was an unexpected find since geologists had come here searching for lime reserves for a cement plant. Dinosaur egg hatcheries and fossils of at least 13 species were unearthed at this dig site.

One of the most significant discoveries that were made here was that of a carnivorous abelisaurid named Rajasaurus Narmadenis which was believed to have existed in the late cretaceous era. This particular dinosaur species looks similar to a T-Rex but has a horn and a crown on its head like that of a king and hence the name Rajasaurus. Several other fossils of this dinosaur were found on the banks of River Narmada which gave it the suffix Naramdenis.

The discovery of these fossils was revered by the neighboring villagers who did not understand the scientific significance of the fossils and brought them home to worship them. Further excavation at this site gave to the world something which was not less than a treasure: dinosaur remains which included eggs and bones.

One of the dinosaur’s skeletons discovered here is now kept in Calcutta (Kolkata) museum. Such a magnificent discovery puts Balasinor on the world map and it became the center of attention of scientists and tourists alike. This excavation made Gujarat the hub for what was called Dinosaur tourism.

Entry fee of Balasinor Dinosaur Fossil Park

• Tickets for adults are 20 Rs. per head
• Tickets for Children (5 to 12) is 10 Rs. per head
• Tickets for museums are 500 Rs. Per person

Online Ticket Booking Of Balasinor Dinosaur Fossil Park

Timings of Balasinor Dinosaur Fossil Park

Balasinor Dinosaur Fossil Park remains open from 8 am to 6 pm except for Monday.

Best Time To Visit Balasinor Dinosaur Fossil Park

November to February and June to October is the best time to visit this fossil park.

Other Attraction Balasinor Dinosaur Fossil Park

• Hanumanji Temple
• Khodiyar Mata Temple
• Shiv Shambhu Mahadev Temple
• Kedareshwar Temple

How To Reach Balasinor Dinosaur Fossil Park

The Park is at a distance of 16 km from Balasinor city, in Raiyoli and the road from this village takes you there in 30 minutes. 

Balasinor Dinosaur Fossil Park Distance from Ahmedabad

100 km

Balasinor Dinosaur Fossil Park Distance from Vadodara

115 km