Margalla Hills National Park

By: Hassan Ali UOS Sub Campus Bhakkar

Geographical Location:  33°43′52″N 72°56′13″EPhysical Location: North east of the national capital Islamabad in the province of Punjab

Total area: 17,426 hectares Date Established: 1980 Best time to Visit : through out the year

Explanation

Margalla Hills National Park is located in the foothills of the Himalayan range.

The topography is with numerous valleys and many precipitous slopes.

The area is drained by the River Kurang its tributaries , which flow into the River soan

This park is most accessible park in Pakistan due to its close proximity to the national Capital, Islamabad

A visitor center is planned for Daman –e – Koh is providing lounge accommodation and an Information service.

Lodges, camping grounds and picnic sites are also planned and the provision of chair lift may be considered.

Wildlife

Margalla Hills is an extension of Islamabad wildlife sanctuary, which include the Shakar Parian Hills and Rawal Lake.

The park was setup to provide refugee to the Gray Goral, Barking deer and the Leopard, Protection to these animals has benefitted to unusual and interesting smaller animal 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 world.

The mammals in the park Include: Red fox vulpes vulpes

Pengolin (Pholidota)

Percupine (Erethizon dorsatum )

Fruit Bat (Chiroptera)

Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)

Rhesus macaque(Macacamulatta)

Golden Jackal (Canis aureus)

Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)

Barking deer(Muntiacus)

Yellow throated marten (Martes flavigula)

Gray goral Sheep(Naemorhedus goral)

Reptiles:Indian Cobra(Naja naja)

Saw scaled viper (Echis carinatus)

Russelli,s Viper (Daboia)

Birds

Birds in Park include:

Kestrel

Yellow vented bulbul (pycnonotus gpiavier)

Lagger Falcon (falco jugger)

White cheeked bulbul

Peregrine Falcon Falcoperegrinus

Lark  (Alaudidae)

Shrike Laniidae

Wheatear Oenanthe

Bunting (Emberizacitrinella

Collar DoveStreptopelia decaocto

Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus

Khalij pheasantLophura leucomelanos

Cheer Pheasent Catreus wallichii

Black Partridge