Margalla Hills National Park Islamabad
Margalla Hills National Park Islamabad, is located in the foothills of the Himalayan range. The topography is rugged, with numerous valleys and many steep and even precipitous slopes. The area is drained by the River Kurang and its tributaries, which…
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Margalla Hills National Park Islamabad, is located in the foothills of the Himalayan range. The topography is rugged, with numerous valleys and many steep and even precipitous slopes. The area is drained by the River Kurang and its tributaries, which flow into the River Soan. Margalla Hills National Park is the most accessible park in Pakistan due to its close proximity to the national capital, Islamabad. A visitor center is planned for Daman-E-Koh, providing lounge accommodation and information service. Lodges, camping grounds, and picnic sites are also planned and the provision of a chair lift may be considered.
Wildlife:
Margalla Hills is unique in Pakistan, being rich in Sinohimalayan fauna, some species (especially birds) of which are at the western extremity of their distribution. It is an extension of the Islamabad wildlife sanctuary, which includes the Shakar Parian Hills and the Rawal Lake Islamabad. The park was set up to provide refugees to the Gray Goral, Barking deer, and the Leopard. Protection of these animals has benefitted other unusual and interesting smaller animals as well. Margalla Hills Park provides an excellent opportunity for bird watching. A Cheer Pheasant hatchery has been established at Chak Jabri and Dhok Jewan to raise captive Cheer pheasants that have become extinct in the hills. These are then released in the wild.
Mammals:
Mammals in the park include Asiatic leopard, Wild boar, Golden Jackal, Rhesus Macaque, Leopard cat, Gray Goral sheep, Barking deer, Chinkara gazelle, Red fox, Pangolin, Porcupine, Yellow-throated marten, and Fruit bats.
Birds Margalla Hills National Park Islamabad:
Birds in the park are Himalayan Griffon vulture, Laggar falcon, Peregrine falcon, Kestrel, Indian sparrow hawk, Egyptian vulture, White-cheeked Bulbul, yellow vented bulbul, Paradise flycatcher, Black partridge, Cheer pheasant, Khalij pheasant, Golden oriole, Spotted dove, Collared dove, Larks, Shrikes, Wheatears and buntings.
Reptiles:
Reptiles in the park are Russell’s viper, Indian cobra, Himalayan pit viper, and Saw scaled viper.
