Places / Attractions
Akal Wood Fossil Park Jaisalmer: Guide
Akal Wood Fossil Park: 180-million-year-old petrified trunks 17 km from Jaisalmer, Rs 30 entry, 9 AM-5 PM hours, and pairing with Desert National Park.
Rina Bhati
Local Culture Reporter
3 min read
Akal Wood Fossil Park is a Geological Survey of India geo-heritage reserve 17 km southeast of Jaisalmer on the Barmer road (NH11), holding petrified logs up to 13 m long from 180 million years ago (details checked Sep 2026). Entry is Rs 30, the park opens 9 AM-5 PM daily, and 30-45 minutes covers it.
The fossils show this desert was once a wet tropical forest beside a prehistoric sea. It works best as a roadside stop on the way to Desert National Park or Barmer, not as a standalone day.
What is Akal Wood Fossil Park, and why is it in a desert?
It is a protected national geo-heritage monument where Lower Jurassic tree trunks — around 180 million years old — survived as petrified stone. The site spreads over 21 hectares and is maintained by the Geological Survey of India.
The preserved trunks show that the Thar was once a lush, warm forest bordering a sea before tectonic drift turned it arid.
What will you see at the fossil park?
Over a dozen large petrified trunks lie enclosed under tin sheds that protect them from desert weathering; the largest specimen runs past 13 m long and 1.5 m in circumference. Silica and iron minerals replaced the plant cells, so bark rings and wood grain survive in solid yellow stone.
A small visitor centre shows fossilized sea shells, gastropods, and prehistoric marine invertebrates found during excavation surveys. The sheds are exposed to the sun, so the circuit is a morning or late-afternoon walk.
Akal Wood Fossil Park: Key Facts
| Parameter | Detail | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Geological Age | 180 Million Years (Jurassic Period) | Pre-dates the Thar Desert creation |
| Protected Area | 21 Hectares | National Geo-Heritage Monument |
| Specimen Highlights | Petrified tree trunks up to 13m long | Silicified ancient conifer wood |
| Entry Fee | Rs 30 per adult | Open daily 9 AM-5 PM |
Supervised by Geological Survey of India and Rajasthan State Forest Department. Rates and taxi quotes run +20-30% around Diwali and New Year — checked Sep 2026. April-June: visit early only.
How much does it cost to visit, and when is it open?
Entry is Rs 30 per adult, the park opens daily 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, and a full loop takes 30-45 minutes. Carry drinking water and a sun hat, because shade is thin between sheds.
In summer months visit only in the early window; April-June midday heat makes open-site walking taxing.
How do you reach Akal Wood Fossil Park from Jaisalmer?
It sits 17 km southeast — about a 20-minute drive — along National Highway 11 toward Barmer. The natural plan is to combine it with Desert National Park or a Barmer-bound journey.
City taxis quote a half-day rate for the loop; confirm the price in writing around festive weeks, when rates run +20-30% higher (checked Sep 2026).
Who will enjoy the park most, and what should you pack?
Families with schoolchildren, geology enthusiasts, and anyone curious how a desert keeps a Jurassic forest story get the most from the stop. The explanatory signboards lay out the timeline without a guide.
Pack water, a hat, sturdy shoes, and a camera — the log texture photographs best in raking morning light. Skip it if the group has no interest in geology and the day is already heavy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Akal Wood Fossil Park from Jaisalmer? 17 km southeast — about 20 minutes by car along NH11.
Can visitors touch the wood fossils? The major logs are fenced inside protective enclosures; view and photograph them from the walkway.
Is there an entry fee? Rs 30 per adult, open daily 9 AM-5 PM.
Is a guide available? Informational signboards explain the Jurassic timeline, and site attendants help with navigation.
Treat Akal as a 30-45 minute roadside stop, not a destination: it earns its place on a Desert National Park or Barmer day, and the Rs 30 entry keeps the cost trivial.
Go in the morning for cool air and good log light, carry water, and confirm the taxi price in writing. Details checked Sep 2026.
Editorial voice
Rina Bhati
Local Culture Reporter
Local journalist covering tourism, food, and culture across western Rajasthan.
Observant and specific, with attention to the people and working life behind the visitor route.