Renowned geologist and Guinness World Record holder, Dr Ritesh Arya urged the state Tourism department to include the Tethys Fossil Museum, which he founded to inspire children and make the wonders of Earth's geological history accessible to all, on the tourism map of Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh.
“This would not only boost tourism in the region but also foster education, especially among young minds,” he said.
The museum, located near Kasauli in Solan district, houses an extraordinary collection of over 500 fossils, offering a detailed glimpse into the story of the Tethys Sea, which once separated India from Tibet. The fossils trace the sea's eventual closure and the dramatic evolution of the Himalayas, presenting an unparalleled narrative of Earth’s natural history. The museum’s exhibits, including 2.5-billion-year-old stromatolites, 70-million-year-old dinosaur eggs, and a 20-million-year-old fossilized tree, create a captivating experience for both tourists and geoscientists eager to unearth the secrets of the Himalayas.
Dr Arya also proposed expanding geo-tourism in the Kasauli-Jagjit Nagar region, highlighting not only fossils but also sites of geological and historical significance. This initiative aims to merge tourism with education, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore, learn, and appreciate the rich geological heritage of the region.
He shared that in a move to bolster this initiative, Padma Choddon, District Tourism Officer, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Solan, has already submitted a proposal to the Director of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Shimla, advocating for the inclusion of the Tethys Fossil Museum and the 20-million-year-old fossilized tree in the state’s official tourism map.
The proposal emphasizes how this initiative could elevate Himachal Pradesh as a global destination for geo-tourism, providing a platform for education, research, and sustainable tourism. The inclusion of the Tethys Fossil Museum is expected to not only enhance tourism in the Kasauli region but also celebrate and preserve the region's unique geoheritage, connecting visitors to Earth’s ancient past.
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