Last updated: October 2026 · Method: built from published site information and recurring traveller reports; figures approximate — verify on site.
Akal, about 17–18 km from the city on the Jaisalmer–Barmer road southeast, preserves the remains of a forest that grew here when the Thar was a humid coastal plain — roughly 180 million years ago.
The honest expectations
- What you see: fossilised tree trunks lying in open fenced enclosures, some sections on display stands ; a geological site, not an attraction with exhibits.
- Time needed: 30–45 minutes; it pairs naturally with the Sam dunes run.
- Entry: nominal state ASI-style fee; the fee-list logic applies ; verify at the counter.
Verdict: worth it for geology-curious travellers; skippable if you only want dunes.
Good to know
Jaisalmer runs on a seasonal clock: the cooler months carry the crowds and the fuller calendars, while the hot afternoons reward early starts and long lunches. Build this stop around one unhurried hour rather than a quick photo, and let the season decide the hour of day.
On the ground
- Timing: daylight hours suit most visits; confirm the day’s opening window locally, since published hours drift with the season.
- Costs: any entry sits in the nominal range for the city — small notes at the counter settle it (published fee lists here on the site carry current ranges).
- Getting there: an auto or app cab covers the hop from the centre in minutes; walking works in the cooler months.
Keep in mind: specifics shift faster than guides update — treat this page as the frame and recent reviews as the fine print.