#InformationNote
The winding road through Margalla Hills National Park, linking Daman-e-Koh, Pir Sohawa and onward to Haripur, offers city dwellers a tranquil escape. Pine-scented breezes and cloud-topped peaks make each journey a sensory delight.
Wildlife & Flora
Spanning 17,000 ha, MHNP hosts over 600 plant species, 250 birds, 38 mammals and 27 reptiles. Elusive leopards, gray gorals and Himalayan pangolins roam beside cheer and kalij pheasants. Subtropical pines, oaks and fig trees intermingle with flowering wild olive, kachnar and amaltas.
Tourism & Learning
Visitors—from families to researchers—gather at rest points for short retreats or field studies. Trails 3 and 5 attract birdwatchers chasing migratory falcons and endemic species.
Conservation Efforts
The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board enforces trail monitoring, anti-poaching patrols and litter fines. Wildlife rescue teams have been reactivated, while eco-tourism guidelines are in development.
Challenges Ahead
Urban sprawl, deforestation, litter and fires threaten this ecological gem. Local communities report shrinking wildlife corridors as construction encroaches. Experts urge stricter regulations, habitat restoration and public cooperation to preserve Margalla’s natural heritage—lest we lose it forever.