Srinagar: In a landmark recognition, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has declared the Guryul Ravine in Kashmir as a national geo-heritage site for its extraordinary fossil deposits dating back over 250 million years. The site, located in Khanmoh on Srinagar outskirts, is known for preserving traces of the Earth’s biggest extinction event the Permian–Triassic or “Great Dying” when nearly all marine life and most terrestrial species vanished.
This recognition raises India geo-heritage site count to 35 and opens doors for global scientific research and tourism. The Guryul Ravine is the first site in Jammu and Kashmir to receive such recognition and is now being considered for nomination as India’s first UNESCO geo-heritage site.
A senior GSI official said the declaration of three Kashmir sites, including Guryul, marks a significant step in promoting global awareness and protection of India’s geological treasures. “It’s not just about preservation, but also about inviting researchers and tourists from across the world,” he said.
Renowned geologist Prof. G.M. Bhat explained that the Guryul Ravine provides one of the most complete records of the mass extinction that wiped out 95% of marine and 75% of land species 252 million years ago. “It’s one of the finest sections in the world that tells the story of the ‘Great Dying’ the event that reset life on Earth. Guryul even preserves traces of the world’s first tsunami event,” he told.
However, this geological wonder has long faced threats from human activity. For decades, local villagers mined the area for livelihood, unaware of its significance. Bilal Ahmad Bhat, a local whose family once held quarry leases, recalled stopping researchers from entering the site. “We didn’t know its importance. When mining was banned around 2007–08, we realized its value and started helping in preservation,” he said.
Despite the ban, the site remains vulnerable. Construction activity continues around the Ravine, where an industrial estate is being developed. GSI recently raised concerns about encroachments, warning that such developments could jeopardize its global heritage potential.
In 2017, experts from Jammu University, the J&K Geology and Mining Department, and University College London urged the government to declare the area a “Zone of Geological Importance” and to impose a complete ban on mining. But limited research and administrative neglect have slowed progress, unlike in China’s Meishan D section, a comparable site that has gained UNESCO status and international acclaim.
Prof. Bhat said, “India has 34 heritage sites, but none yet recognized as a UNESCO geo-heritage site. The Guryul Ravine is our best chance it holds the most complete record of Earth’s largest extinction. The government must act to protect it.”
First discovered by British geologist Henry Godwin-Austen in the 1850s, Guryul Ravine has drawn international attention for over a century. However, political instability in Kashmir, especially during the 1990s, disrupted scientific work and delayed its recognition.
Today, with fresh collaborations involving researchers from the USA, Japan, China, Taiwan, and Europe, Guryul Ravine’s story is being revived. Over 30 studies have already been published, and experts believe the next decade could finally bring this silent witness of the Earth’s ancient catastrophe the global recognition it deserves.