Lametaghat

About Lametaghat

Most places on the Narmada are known for a temple, a waterfall or a view. Lametaghat is known for its rock. The sedimentary beds exposed along this stretch of bank are the type locality of the Lameta Formation, a Late Cretaceous sequence that takes its name directly from the ghat, and the name is now used by geologists for equivalent beds across a wide part of central India. That is an unusual distinction for a quiet river bank to carry.

What made the formation famous is what came out of it. These beds and their equivalents have produced dinosaur bone and fragments of eggshell, and the Narmada valley became one of the significant hunting grounds for Indian dinosaur palaeontology on the strength of it. Visitors should set expectations accordingly: this is not an excavation open to the public and there is nothing on display to walk around. It is a place to stand on a bank, look at layered rock and understand what is in it.

What to look at

The exposed beds

Layered sedimentary rock along the bank, which is the whole reason the place is on the map. Looking at it with some idea of what it is turns an ordinary cutting into the real attraction.

The fossil story

Dinosaur bone and eggshell have come from this formation, which is why the Narmada valley features in accounts of Indian dinosaur palaeontology. Nothing is laid out for visitors, so the knowledge has to come with you.

The river stretch

The Narmada here is quieter and less visited than the gorge downstream, and the bank gives an unhurried view of the river away from boats and viewing platforms.

Planning your visit

A geological site rather than a managed attraction, so expect a short, self directed stop and bring your own context.

• Do not chip, dig or remove rock or fossil material; it is protected and taking it is not on.
• Wear proper shoes, since the bank is uneven and loose underfoot in places.
• Read up a little before you go, because there is no interpretation on site to explain what you are seeing.
• Ask locally for current access, as approaches along the bank change with the water level.

Best time to visit

The dry months are the ones that work, roughly from after the rains through to the start of the hot season, when the water is low and more of the bank is exposed and walkable. During and just after the monsoon the river covers and obscures much of what you came to see, and the ground is slippery. Mornings give the best light on the rock faces.