Country India Region Chola Nadu Taluk Kunnam Founder M. S. Krishnan | State Tamil Nadu District Perambalur Village Sathanur | |
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National fossil wood park sathanur
National Fossil Wood Park, , Sathanur is located in Perambalur District, in Tamil Nadu. This park is located within Sathanur panchayat and has a fossilized tree trunk, which was discovered in 1940 by renowned geologist Dr. M. S. Krishnan of the Geological Survey of India, who hailed from Tanjore. The petrified tree trunk is believed to be over 120 million years old, and is considered to be evidence for the presence of a sea during the Cretaceous period in this area.
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The fossil formation
This fossil is of a conifer, measures around 18 meters long and a geological treasure. Similar fossilized tree trunks have been found in nearby Varagur, Anaipadi, Alundalippur, and Saradamangalam, all located within a 10 km radius of Sathanur.
Visiting the park
This national park is open to public throughout the year. However, September to February is the best period to visit to enjoy the cool weather and to view the thriving tropical agriculture greenery.
Early visitors
This national park is frequently visited by geologists and nature lovers throughout the year. Early visitors (1960s to 1980s) caused some damage by collecting samples for their research or in their college or university labs. Now it is well fenced and guarded.
This park is located approximately one kilometer north of Sathanur village. There used to be a sandy, muddy road and reaching the park used to be a very daunting task. This was well explained by The Hindu correspondent Soma Basu in 2005 (Sathanur: a tree that is as old as forever).
Other ways to reach the park
The nearest airport is at Trichy, while the nearest railway station is at Ariyalur. Buses also run regularly from the new Perambalur bus-stand to the Sathanur bus stop. Visitors can then walk or take bicycle to reach the park.