This is NOT a millions-of-years-old Shaligram found during Nepal floods

Following the deadly flash floods in Nepal that have killed more than 900 people, a video of a huge fossil has been widely shared on social media. Allegedly, it was a 17-crore-year-old Shaligram.Shaligrams are ammonite fossils that originate from the Kaligandaki River Valley of Mustang in Nepal. Shaligram stones are revered in both Hinduism and Buddhism.Sharing the video, an X user wrote, “After the Nepal earthquake disaster, a 31-ton Shaligram, 175 million years old, emerged to the surface.” India Today Fact Check, however, found that Nepali sculptors carved this rock in 2026.OUR PROBEReverse-searching keyframes from the video led us to a June 30 report by the Nepali news outlet Himalaya Times. According to it, a huge rock by the Kaligandaki River was carved into a Shaligram during a 15-day workshop conducted in Nepal’s Jomsom from April 20 to May 4. More than 36 sculptures from the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts participated in the workshop. They also created sculptures of Lord Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu, Buddha, Himalayan snow leopard, and Himalayan sheep from rocks by the Kaligandaki River during the workshop.The Rising Nepal and Online Khabar reported on June 30 that the workshop was organised by the Gharpjhong Rural Municipality and co-financed by the Integrated Service Office Mustang, in coordination with the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts.Another Nepali news outlet, Desh Sanchar, reported on May 28 that the grand Shaligram was inaugurated by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahaswami Vidushekhara Bharati Maharaj of the Sringeri Sharada Peeth from Karnataka, India. The report also mentioned that the unveiling of the Shaligram stone was expected to boost religious tourism.Notably, Shaligrams originate from the same river valley where the large rock in the viral posts was carved.Thus, we concluded that the videos do not show a natural Shaligram stone discovered during the floods in Nepal.- EndsPublished By: Pathikrit SanyalPublished On: Aug 31, 2026 18:55 IST