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 of Pakistan | |
| Location | Northern Pakistan |
| Nearest city | Islamabad |
| Coordinates | 33°43′52″N 72°56′13″E / 33.731°N 72.937°E |
| Area | 17,386 hectares (42,960 acres) |
| Established | 1980 |
| Governing body | Islamabad Wildlife Management Board |
| iwmb | |
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.
Established in 1980, it is the third-largest national park in Pakistan with an area of 17,386 hectares (42,960 acres). 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.
The park is rich in biodiversity, especially rich in Sino-Himalayan fauna, most notably gray goral, barking deer and the leopard. Combined, MHNP is home to around 600 plant species, 402 bird varieties, 38 mammals, and 27 species of reptiles. PTDC is currently constructing a chairlift project in the park.