The Bagh Region in the Kukshi tehsil alongside the tehsils of Manawar and Gandhwani within Dhar District, Madhya Pradesh, India, is renowned for its significant geological and paleontological features, particularly the Late Cretaceous Bagh Group, some of which are relevant geosites. This study adopts the Potential Touristic Use (PTU) component of Brilha’s (Geoheritage 8:119–134, 2016) geosite assessment framework, with the primary objective of evaluating the geotourism potential of 17 selected geosites in the Bagh region, with focus on opportunities for educational and research-driven tourism. The findings identified Bagh Caves, Dinosaur National Park, Padlya and Gayatri Temple as high-potential geotourism sites, while sites such as Futi Bawari, Borghata, Sitapuri-Avral, Jhaba, Akhada and Raisinghpura scored low geotourism potential; with others ranking in moderate categories. The study highlights key issues prevalent across all geosites in the Bagh Region, including limited infrastructure and vulnerability to anthropogenic activities, underscoring the urgent need for government and stakeholder intervention in addressing inadequate geoconservation efforts. The study underscores the need for geotourism management and geoconservation strategies, offering insights for future interventions aligned with sustainable tourism goals in the region.
