Margalla Hills

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Margalla hills
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The Margalla hills are above the main city of Islamabad
Ecology
RealmIndomalayan
BiomeTropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest
BordersScript error: No such module "Compact list".
Bird species431
Mammal species38
Geography
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StateScript error: No such module "Compact list".
Elevation1,604 m (5,262 ft) of Tilla Charouni
CoordinatesLua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
GeologyEarly Eocene Limestone formations.
Climate type
Humid subtropical climate
Conservation
Protected71[1]%

The Margalla Hills[a] is a hill range within the Margalla Hills National Park in the northwestern Punjab region in Pakistan, forming the northern edge of the Islamabad Capital Territory, just south of Haripur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They are part of the Himalayan foothills on the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot and form a subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion. The Margalla range has an area of 12,605 hectares.[2][3] The biodiversity in these hills is significantly higher than the drier areas to the south and the colder areas up north, primarily due to its high rainfall and subtropical heat.[citation needed]

Climate

This region falls in the Humid subtropical climate zone.[4] The average annual rainfall in the Islamabad area is 1,457 millimetres (57.4 in).[5] Much of the high rainfall is delivered here from the moisture laden air of the bay of Bengal hitting the lower Himalayas.[6]

Paleontology and archeology

According to the research carried out by scientists and archaeologists of the project "Post-Earthquake Explorations of Human Remains in Margalla Hills", the formation of the Margalla Hills dates to the Miocene epoch. The dominant limestone of the Margalla is mixed with sandstone and occasional minor beds of shale. The archaeologists of the project have also found two human footprints over one million years old here, preserved in sands.

File:Margalla Hills National Park.jpg
Panoramic view of Margalla hills

The Shah Allah Ditta Caves are also part of its ancient history. This cave is about 2500 years old and is believed that Alexander The Great as well as several other emperors used this route to either pass by or pass into this area. The cave also have Buddhist-era murals dating to at least 2400 before present. The cave has seven alcoves of different sizes for lamps which are still conserved today. Furthermore, one of the paintings found within the cave is of the Hindu god Shiva.[7]

Flora

File:A Greeny hiking way in in Margalla Hills.jpg
Dense vegetation of the forest

There are around 250 to 300 species of plants on the Margalla Hills. As many as two-thirds of them are used by the people for their medicinal effects to treat or cure various diseases.[8]

There are several species of native trees in hills, some of the trees in the lower slopes include species like the bombax ceiba, ficus benghalensis, ficus lacor, ficus racemosa, ficus palmata, ficus religiosa, ficus auriculata, cassia fistula, Alstonia scholaris, bauhinia variegata, prunus cerasoides, butea monosperma, syzygium cumini, erythrina suberosa, sterculia diversifolia, melia azedarach, morus alba, toona ciliata, flacourtia indica, lannea coromandelica, mallotus philippensis, phyllanthus emblica, pyrus pashia and many others, the upper slopes are dominated by pinus roxburghii and dodonaea viscosa.[4][9][10]

There is high diversity of the other plants as well including cannabis ssp., adhatoda vasica, Rhododendron arboreum, Hypericum oblongifolium, ajuga ssp., Tulipa clusiana, Woodfordia fruticosa, fabaceae ssp., Nelumbo nucifera, Gloriosa superba, Sauromatum venosum, Malva sylvestris, Hedera nepalensis[11][12] as well as the bamboo species Dendrocalamus strictus.[13]

Fauna

There have been 431 bird species recorded in and around Margalla hills,[14] some of them include the blue-throated barbet, coppersmith barbet, great barbet, plum-headed parakeet, rose-ringed parakeet, slaty-headed parakeet, Indian pitta, Indian paradise flycatcher, spotted forktail, Indian pied myna, rusty-cheeked scimitar babbler, rufous-bellied niltava, verditer flycatcher, blue-throated blue flycatcher, crimson sunbird, Mrs. Gould's sunbird, purple sunbird, kalij pheasant, Asian koel, orange-headed thrush, rufous treepie, Indian pond heron, scarlet minivet, wire-tailed swallow, Himalayan bulbul, Indian white-eye, brahminy starling, white-capped redstart, Oriental magpie-robin, red-vented bulbul and others.[15][11]

There are around 30 or more mammal species here, some of the herbivores include the rhesus macaque, Indian boar, Northern red muntjac, Indian flying fox, Kashmir flying squirrel, Indian crested porcupine, and grey goral, carnivores include the Indian leopard, Indian wolf, golden jackal, yellow-throated marten, masked palm civet, small Indian civet, red fox, jungle cat and leopard cat.[16][17][18]

There are many butterfly species in and around these hills like the papilio protenor, papilio polyctor, vagrans egista, graphium sarpedon, hypolimnas bolina, pseudergolis wedah, symbrenthia lilaea, arhopala rama, catopsilia pomona, charaxes agrarius[19] as well as the Tajuria cippus.[20]

Bird watching

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The Margallas are an excellent place for bird watchers. The area is home to a large number of birds, including robins, sparrows, kites, crows, larks, paradise flycatchers, black partridge, shrikes, pheasants, spotted doves, Egyptian vultures, falcons, hawks, eagles, Himalayan griffon vulture, laggar falcon, peregrine falcon, kestrel, Indian sparrow hawk, white cheeked bulbul, yellow vented bulbul, cheer pheasant, khalij pheasant, golden oriole, collared dove, wheatears and buntings.[21]

The cheer pheasant, indigenous to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was being reared in Margalla Hills as a part of conservation campaign by the World Pheasant Association and Capital Development Authority.[22]

Environmental conservation

The ecology of Margallas faces threats from quarrying by stone-crushing plants,[23] deforestation,[24] illegal encroachments,[25] and buildings, and poachers.[26] Crush plants situated around the hills near Taxila are busy eroding the hills for extracting building material.[27] Deforestation is resulting from fires and illegal felling of trees.[28]

File:Green is Health.jpg
Forested road next to the hills.

Margalla Hills Society

The Margalla Hills Society[29][30] was established in 1989.[31][32]

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Pakistan

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The WWF-Pakistan's 'Green School Programme', in collaboration with the Capital Development Authority (CDA), carries out 'Eco-Adventure Activities' on the Margalla hills to raise awareness in the school children regarding the conservation of natural environment and about the importance of being environmentally responsible.[33]

File:Tilla Charouni.JPG
Tilla Charouni, highest peak with 1,604 metres (5,262 ft)

Events

File:Damn-e-Koh, Margalla Hills.JPG
Daman-e-Koh lookout park in the Margalla Hills, Islamabad

Places in Margalla Hills

See also

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/668362-can-margalla-be-saved-from-commercial predators#:~:text=The%20Rawal%20Lake%20and%20Shakarparian,army%2C%20all%20departments%20remained%20tightlipped.&text=Share%20this%20article:
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Another fire breaks out on Margalla Hills". Dawn. 2021-05-27. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  3. ^ Vegetation classification of the Margalla foothills, Islamabad under the influence of edaphic factors and anthropogenic activities using modern ecological tools- Majid Iqbal, Shujaul Mulk Khan, Zeeshan Ahmad, Murtaza Hussain. - Retrieved 11-4-2026
  4. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Full article: Vegetation classification of the Margalla foothills, Islamabad under the influence of edaphic factors and anthropogenic activities using modern ecological tools". ResearchGate.
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Mean FOR THE PERIOD 1961 - 2009". Archived from the original (TXT) on 2010-06-13.
  6. ^ An Analytical Study of Variations in the Monsoon Patterns over Pakistan. 20-1-2014, Retrieved 3-4-2026
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."1m-years-old footprints found at Margalla Hills". Dawn. 2007-07-28. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."64 per cent plants on Margalla Hills used for treatment of diseases - thenews.com.pk". The News International. 2012-12-17. Archived from the original on 17 December 2012. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."D7BL1MHP Ecological Baseline Margalla Hills National Park | PDF | Grazing | Habitat".
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Everything About Cherry Blossoms Season in Pakistan - Exploria.pk". 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  11. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Margallah Hills National Park: Ecological Baseline: Draft Report". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
  12. ^ Indigenous uses of economically important flora of Margallah Hills National Park, Islamabad, Pakistan- Asma Jabeen, Mir Khan, dr mushtaq Ahmad, Muhammad Zafar March 2009. Retrieved 2026-03-12
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Franklin, Smith and. "Prospects of Bamboo cultivation in N.W.F.P." researcherslinks.com. Archived from the original on 2025-03-18. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
  14. ^ Bird checklist - Islamabad, Pakistan. ebird.org. Retrieved 2026-04-09.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Margalla Hills National Park bird checklist - Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona: Scientific journals".
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Ecological Baseline of Margalla Hills". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Seasonal indices in prey species of the leopard cat in Margalla Hills... | Download Scientific Diagram".
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Observations".
  20. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-05-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Margalla Hills National Park". Wildlife of Pakistan. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
  22. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Cheer pheasant reintroduced successfully into the wild". The Express Tribune. 2021-11-06. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  23. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Anwar, Shahzad (2014-12-28). "Environmental hazard: Stone-crushing plants nibbling away Margallas". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  24. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Anjum, Shakeel (11 September 2018). "Encroachers causing deforestation on Margalla Hills". The News International. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  25. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Iqbal, Nasir (2021-11-10). "IHC orders survey of damage caused to Margalla Hills National Park". Dawn. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  26. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Experts call for halt to poaching of pangolin". The Express Tribune. 2022-01-30. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  27. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Stone crushers pose threat to Margallas: World Earth Day observed". Dawn. 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  28. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."CDA fails to control Margalla Hills fire". Daily Times. 2013-12-03. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  29. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Roedad Khan - Margalla Hills Society". Roedad.com. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
  30. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Khan, Aurangzaib (2015-02-25). "Herald Exclusive: The whole Roedad". Dawn. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  31. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Salam, Afia (2013-10-07). "A tunnel without vision". Dawn. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  32. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PM's intervention sought to halt work on Margalla Road". Dawn. 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  33. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Eco-adventure activity launched on Margalla Hills - thenews.com.pk". The News International. 2012-12-26. Archived from the original on 26 December 2012. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  34. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Crilly, Rob (28 July 2010). "Passenger plane crashes outside Islamabad". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  35. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Margalla Hills receive snowfall after 6 years". 2013-12-02. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  36. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Margalla Hills turn snowy after a decade". Dawn. 2016-02-11. Retrieved 2022-09-22.

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