Meet the ‘Dinosaur Princess’ Who Protected India’s Jurassic Park in a Gujarat Village

Aaliya Sultana Babi from Gujarat’s Raiyoli village fought hard to preserve dinosaurs’ fossils that are now showcased at the Balasinor Fossil Park.

Aaliya Sultana Babi grew up in the Raiyoli village of Gujrat. And in 1981, when she was just a kid, the village was surrounded by palaeontologists, researchers and more. Because the little village Raiyoli was home to a large number of dinosaur fossils and eggs. 

Little Aaliya got fascinated by the process and often accompany the palaeontologists and learn about the fossils and about the various types of dinosaurs that once walked the earth. She took it upon herself to protect the excavation grounds from animals and people. She was the first person who showed interest in preserving the place as a memorial. Years later, due to her constant efforts, the area was converted into a dinosaur museum called Balasinor Fossil Park, otherwise known as ‘India’s Jurassic Park’.

The eggs found in the village were at least 65 million years old. And since 1981, about 1000 dinosaur eggs belonging to at least 7 species of dinosaurs were found in the village, making Raiyoli the 3rd largest dinosaur hatchery in the world. They found an entirely new species of dinosaur in the Raiyoli village which has been named ‘Rajasaurus narmadensis’ (which means regal reptile of the Narmada). 

And today, hundreds of tourists flocks around the Balasinor Fossil Park, but Aaliya’s work has not been done. She continues to protect the fossils and acts as a guide to the tourists. So visit the Balasinor Fossil Park, the only dinosaur museum in the world where the tourist is actually allowed to touch the fossil remains. 

Credits: The Better India

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