Margalla Hills National Park

Margalla Hills National Park
مارگلہ پہاڑیاں قومی پارک
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Clockwise from left: A view of Margalla Hills, Sunrise, Panoramic view of Margalla Hills, Hiking trail in Margalla Hills National Park
Map showing the location of Margalla Hills National Park
Map showing the location of Margalla Hills National Park
Map of Pakistan
LocationNorthern Pakistan
Nearest cityIslamabad
Coordinates33°43′52″N 72°56′13″E / 33.731°N 72.937°E / 33.731; 72.937[1]
Area17,386 hectares (42,960 acres)
Established1980; 44 years ago (1980)
Governing bodyIslamabad Wildlife Management Board
iwmb.org.pk

Margalla Hills National Park (Urdu: مارگلہ پہاڑیاں قومی پارک) is a national park in Pakistan located in Islamabad Capital Territory, near its northern boundary with Haripur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The park includes the Margalla Hills, which form the foothills of the Himalayas, along with Shakarparian Park and Rawal Lake.[2]

Established in 1980, it is the third-largest national park in Pakistan with an area of 17,386 hectares (42,960 acres).[3][4] Tilla Charouni, with a height of 1604 m, is tallest peak in the park. The Park is a major tourist destination, with Daman-e-Koh and Pir Sohawa serving as popular hill stations, while the Monal Restaurant, Shakarparian Cultural Complex, and Lake View Park are popular picnic spots.[5]

The park is rich in biodiversity, especially rich in Sino-Himalayan fauna, most notably gray goral, barking deer and the leopard.[6] Combined, MHNP is home to around 600 plant species, 402 bird varieties, 38 mammals, and 27 species of reptiles.[7] PTDC is currently constructing a chairlift project in the park.[8]

  1. ^ "Margalla Hills National Park". protectedplanet.net.
  2. ^ Administrator. "Margalla Hills National Park". www.taxilatour.com. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  3. ^ Qureshi, Zubair (14 May 2021). "Pakistan: Islamabad bans activities that may endanger Margalla Hills environment, habitat". Gulf News. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  4. ^ Antelopes: Part 4 - North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. East, R. (Rod), Mallon, David., Kingswood, Steven Charles, 1953-, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Gland, Switzerland: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. 2005. p. 122. ISBN 2-88032-970-1. OCLC 29792393.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. ^ Umar, Suhail Yusuf | Muhammad (2015-01-22). "Distress calls: Wildlife at Margalla Hills under threat". www.dawn.com. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  6. ^ "Wildlife of Pakistan: Margalla Hills National Park". www.wildlifeofpakistan.com. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  7. ^ "Margalla Hills National Park: CDA to launch cleanliness drive - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  8. ^ "Margalla Hills National Park: PTDC to execute chairlift project - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 2015-04-23. Retrieved 2016-06-09.