Bagh, located in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district, is popularly known for the Bagh Caves, dating back to the late 4th to 6th century. These caves are popular among history lovers because of the Buddhist murals in its rock-cut chambers. Surprisingly, apart from that, from a tourism point of view, Bagh doesn’t usually feature on our travel plans. But this may change very soon.

There’s something older in Bagh, much older than the Buddhist caves. We are talking about the fossils of dinosaurs, prehistoric sharks and giant gymnosperms to name a few. The quiet town of Bagh, as it turned out, is a treasure trove of fossils as old as 100.5 – 60 million years old.

Geologists and palaeontologists are working together to make a dossier for UNESCO for the tag of a global geopark. This is done to protect the site, increase tourism, involve the local communities and raise awareness to protect the area’s history of millions of years.

If Bagh gets the recognition from UNESCO, it will become India’s first UNESCO Global Geopark. Bagh’s geological history is rich and abundant, so much so that for the longest time, the locals didn’t even pay any attention to the fossils that are literally strewn all over the town.

Bagh fulfils every requirement needed to qualify for the UNESCO tag and hopefully, by next year, India will get its first UNESCO Global Geopark.

From perfectly preserved dinosaur eggs and fossilised remains of both carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs to basaltic columns and fossilised remains of several feet-long sharks and other rare marine animals. Owing to all these findings, in 2011, a large section of Bagh was declared as Dinosaur Fossil National Park. Now, we await the UNESCO tag.

1. Where is Dinosaur Fossils National Park Bagh located?
   Dinosaur Fossils National Park Bagh is located in Bagh in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh.
2. What are Bagh Caves famous for?
   Bagh caves are popular among history lovers because of the Buddhist murals in its rock-cut chambers. These caves date back to 4th to 6th century.
3. When is the best time to visit Bagh in Madhya Pradesh?
   The winter months (October – February) are the best time to visit Bagh.