Due to its distinctive geographic and climatic characteristics, Pakistan is home to a vast variety of ecosystems and related biological diversity bringing forth some of the top majestic national parks in Pakistan.
There are mountains that are both verdant and dreary, surrounded by snow, have permanent snowfields, forests, agricultural plains, fluvial tracts, sand dunes and deserts, and coastal regions. A national government designates certain places as protected areas in order to preserve these natural resources. Protected areas are those where the representative flora, animals, and ecosystems are preserved and kept in their native habitats and national parks are one of those protected areas.
A national park does not have walled boundaries, play areas, picnic areas, jogging and walking trails, etc. like a municipal park or public garden. Instead, it is a land reserve, typically established and controlled by a national government, that is intended to protect and preserve the outstanding scenery, natural landscape, magnificent and exhilarating places, innate wildlife and flora in their wild setting and to be untainted by pollution, improvement programs, scavenging, and having to cut of foliage.
You will be amazed by the very stunning and amazing national parks that you might get to visit while on a tour of Pakistan. By compiling a list of a few of Pakistan’s most breathtakingly beautiful national parks that you should explore while there, we have streamlined the process for you to choose one amongst the many. Continue reading to learn more!
Top 4 Must-Visit National Parks in Pakistan
1. Deosai National Park
This premier natural landmark is located in the Gilgit Baltistan region, close to Kharmang, Astore, and Skardu. The wide expanse of desolate grassland in Deosai National Park is encircled by snow-capped mountains. It holds the title of top tourist destination in Pakistan’s breathtakingly beautiful region due to its distinctive wildlife and plants.
The Government of Pakistan awarded the designation and named this elevated alpine plateau Deosai National Park in 1993 with the main objective of safeguarding and conserving the Himalayan Brown Bear, a species that is endemic to this region of the world.
As the legend states, Deosai is well-known as the “Land of Giants”. The Deosai Plains of Skardu Valley are distinctive due to their enormous remoteness, abundance of biodiversity, high elevation, variety of plants and animals, and erratic weather.
Deosai is referred to natively as “Ghbiarsa” by Balti inhabitants, who refer to it as “Summer’s Place,” and signifies that summer is the optimal time to visit. Deosai comes in second among the highest plateaus in the universe. The next time you get the opportunity to travel to Pakistan’s northern area, you might want to consider visiting this national park.
2. Khunjerab National Park
In Pakistan’s Gilgit Baltistan, there is a national park at a high elevation called Khunjerab. It is regarded as being among the few parks with the greatest elevation in the entire world and one of Pakistan’s most prominent alpine biodiversity hotspots. It lies within the no-man’s-land between China and Pakistan and is only a few kilometers from the border town of Sost in Pakistan’s Gilgit Baltistan.
The Khunjerab pass, the highest border crossing on a public highway in the world, is where the park got its name. Additionally, it is one of Pakistan’s most notable highland ecological zones. The Snow leopard, Marco Polo sheep, and Himalayan Ibex are just a few of the many fragile and vulnerable life forms that call the national park home.
3. Hingol National Park
Balochistan, a volatile region in Pakistan, is home to the Hingol National Park. From the bottom of the Arabian Sea to the intertidal, beaches, and the Hingol River’s confluence, as well as the Dhrun Mountains, Hingol National Park is home to a variety of different terrains. The bleak but stunning scenery of Hingol National Park serves as a striking illustration of how a natural environment can serve as a cultural venue for religious observances.
The Hingol National Park is well known for the Makran Coastal Highway, which meanders through an uninviting desolate environment and traverses through various strange boulders, including the so-called Princess of Hope, a rock formation that resembles a human being on a rocky ledge and a rock that mimics the Pyramid of Giza.
This is not all, the park holds another strong and prominent aspect of a mud volcano, which is the only one in South Asia and also the one with the maximum elevation in the globe. Aside from its natural features, the park provides a crucial home for Ibex, Gazelles, Urials, and several diverse bird species.
4. Chitral Gol National Park
In Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Chitral Gol National Park is situated next to the Chitral River in the Chitral District. Chitral Valley is located there, two hours away by a vehicle. The park features three valleys and numerous glaciers, through which multiple streams meander and eventually create an 18-kilometer waterway.
The park provides a haven for a variety of wildlife and is also abundant in trees, particularly cedars. Due to the presence of many species housed under one roof, the park attracts attention from the public. It still holds a special place in the hearts of wildlife enthusiasts.
Additionally, the park features as a sanctuary for a wide variety of plants and animals, particularly the Markhor, a threatened species of wild goats. One of the kinds is the Astor Markhor, which can be spotted in the park. The Astor Markhor can be observed there in greatest abundance in Chitral National Park.
In the park, you can see Himalayan Otters, Red Foxes, and Tibetan Wolves. The Siberian Ibex, Ladakh Urial, and Asian Black Bear are additional species that are sporadic visitors to the park. The Snow Leopard has been spotted in the park occasionally, although it doesn’t seem to be a year-round resident.
The Bearded Vulture, Himalayan Vulture, Golden Eagle, Himalayan Snowcock, Himalayan Monal, etc. are prevalent bird species discovered in the park. Pack your suitcase and travel to Chitral Gol National Park to witness the wonderful wildlife that lures tourists from all around the world.
Conclusion
The best spots for ecotourism, hiking, wildlife observation, and environmental photography are national parks. National parks safeguard the country’s cultural, historical, and ecological resources and make them accessible to the general public. Visitors go to the parks to admire and enlighten themselves about the marvels of their home country as well as the forces and individuals who have influenced it through the decades.
So why not explore one of Pakistan’s top majestic national parks to see its grandeur and distinguishing qualities for yourself?
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