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Margalla Hills are Islamabad’s back gardens. Most citizens have walked one of the trails at least once. For foreigners, these picturesque times are much more. They are a national park located 20 minutes away from the diplomatic area providing a variety of fauna, easy to spot trails, a vantage point from where the whole capital can be seen, a restaurant on top of the hills accessible by car, and a sufficient number of sites and activities for people to plan a number of outings.
Tour operators in Islamabad promise clients a hassle-free tour to the delightful hills.
Our company, HospitalityTours.com.pk, offers day tours to the ever delightful hills. We provide private transport and vans, English speaking licensed guides, and a tailor made itinerary based on trail and weather conditions. For reservations, please reach us by Whatsapp with your desired dates and group size: WhatsApp. Contact us anytime.
The Margalla Hills National Park covers over 17,386 hectares of land in the Islamabad Capital Territory and the Haripur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is the southernmost foothills range of the Himalayas. Tilla Charouni is 1,604 meters above sea level and is the park’s highest peak. At around forty kilometers in length, the park includes the Margalla Hills, Shakarparian Park, and Rawal Lake.
For an urban national park, the biodiversity of the Margalla Hills is quite impressive. There are over 600 documented plant species, 200 bird species, 38 mammal species that include the grey goral, barking deer, wild boar, and leopard, as well as 27 reptile species. Although leopard sightings are rare, the species is well represented and monitored by the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board.
From the Faisal Mosque and the northernmost regions of Islamabad, the hills are easy to view and most of the city can appreciate the hills from their location. Despite how visible and protected the area is, many do not realize how large the area is.
Of all the park viewing areas, Daman-e-Koh is the easiest to access as it is only about a twenty minute drive from the center of Islamabad. At an elevation of around 730 meters, Daman-e-Koh is very close to the whole of Islamabad’s city grid. From this point you can see the Faisal Mosque as well as the Pakistan Monument resting on Shakarparian Hills. The grounds offer walking paths, as well as picnic and café areas.
Mornings and evenings are preferred over midday. Summer sun brings a haze to the city, while winter mornings give a crisp line to the Potohar Plateau beyond.
Daman-e-Koh is usually the first stop for a Margalla Hills tour and a reference point for hikes higher up.
The most frequented trail, starting near Daman-e-Koh, is a loop through a subtropical forest with a gradual climb (through a mostly step-like path). Fairly easy with reasonable physical fitness. Should take about 2 – 3 hours to complete the loop. Monkeys are abundant. Barking deer are seen more often early mornings and late afternoons. It connects to other longer trails for those wishing to go beyond.
The path at some places is uneven stone. A good pair of shoes definitely helps. For a lesser crowded experience, go early in the morning (especially weekends) to get Daman-e-Koh before the masses do.
Increased physical demand over Trail 3. Connects to some higher elevation areas of the park. Trail 5 is for those wanting a proper half-day hike. The trail gets less visited and is rewarding with sections of forest canopy.
The full circuit of Trail 5 takes 4 – 5 hours. Most day tour packages that do Trail 5 optimize the morning for that as well as for Pir Sohawa to take lunch.
Pir Sohawa is a chain of restaurants and viewing platforms located at an elevation of around 1,100 meters along the Margalla Hills Road. The drive from the city takes about thirty minutes. The Monal Restaurant is one of the more well known restaurants among the many that line the city with terraced seating that offers a panorama view of the city and a sight line to the plains on clear days.
Pir Sohawa is the most convenient restaurant to visit on the Margalla Hills. Although the road is winding and narrow, it is a fun drive. The restaurant fills up in the evenings on the weekends, so going to the restaurant for lunch on a weekday avoids a crowded visit.
Shakarparian Hill is part of the national park and does not have any connecting trails to the Margalla Hills. This hill is located at around 550 meters elevation and features the Pakistan Monument. It was built in March 2007 and features a museum. There is a viewpoint located there that features a southern view of the city, as well as a Northern view of the Margalla Hills.
Adding Shakarparian to a day in the Margalla Hills adds a historical and cultural element completing the package for the day. The Rose and Jasmine Garden located on Shakarparian is the city's first botanical garden.
Located to the southeast of the national park on the Korang River and containing the Rawal Dam. The lake has paths, boating, and a children's park. This is a good stop after hiking the national park in the evening, to have a more peaceful time as a group by a lake, before going back to the city.
Heritage village located in the lower foothills of Margalla Hills, about a 10 minute drive from the main Islamabad sectors. Restored village heritage, whitewashed lanes, craft shops, restaurants and more. The Pakistan Foundation has kept and opened the village for heritage, and cultural Center. This is a good 30 minute stop on the way back from the hills.
With a wide variety of habitats and over 200 documented species of birds within it, the park is visited by serious birders repeatedly. Some of the species include woodpeckers, grey partridge, Indian peafowl and several bulbuls and babbler species. Woodpeckers, along with falcons and hawks, are also residents. In Winter, Central Asian birds migrate to the park and the number of species is greater.
A program designed for bird watching specifically, starts early in the morning, to cover the forest areas of Trail 3 and the lake edge of Rawal. This program is designed differently from general day tours, and requires a specific park guide who knows the park's bird areas.
The tour consists of the following:
A private vehicle for your group that will take you from your hotel or another starting point. The type of vehicle is based on your group size: a sedan for 2, a van for 7 passengers, and a coaster for a large corporate group.
An experienced and certified guide who is familiar with trail navigation, wildlife, plants, and bird species. A guide is not some driver who is also a guide for a national park.
A clear, logical, and predetermined itinerary. Daman-e-Koh for sightseeing and orientation, Trail 3 while the energy is still there, Pir Sohawa for lunch, and Saidpur or Shakarparian for the afternoon on the way back. The itinerary is not random, it is based on the sun and the heat of the day.
Entry to the national park. There is an entry charge for the park and some areas located in the park. This entry charge should be included as part of the package price or as a separate charge that is clearly stated.
Water. The heat of Islamabad's summer requires a lot of water. The package must provide bottled water or have a plan to provide water at each stop.
Which package is meant for whom:
A Half-day tour of Margalla Hills: Daman-e-Koh, Trail 3, Saidpur Village. This tour is perfect for time constrained visitors, families with small children, and corporate visitors with afternoon meetings for whom an outdoor hour in the morning would work well.
Full-day Margalla Hills tour. Tour includes Trail 3 or Trail 5, Pir Sohawa for lunch, Rawal Lake, and Shakarparian in the afternoon. Approximately six to seven hours. Provides a complete view of the hills in one day.
Birdwatching day tour. Tour starts at 4 am to cover the Rawal Lake side and the Trails before sunrise. Includes a guide, binoculars, and bird species book. Tour is most ideal in winters for the migratory species. Ends by noon.
Photography day tour. Tour covers Daman-e-Koh at sunrise, forest sections at the golden hours, Pir Sohawa at the hillside views and Saidpur at sunset. Includes a guide who is aware of the best positions for forest light and city views.
Combined city and Margalla Hills tour. Tour covers the hills in the morning and Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument and Lok Virsa Museum in the afternoon. Offers a great introduction to Islamabad for first time visitors.
Margalla Hills in Islamabad, Pakistan, are very beautiful during spring (March to May). The forest is green after the winter showers and the temperature is perfect to spend the whole day outdoors.
During summer (June to August), Islamabad is extremely hot. But weather in the hills above 700 meters is pleasant and mornings are ideal for the trails. Afternoon sun brings haze that obscures the views.
Monsoon (July to August) is not ideal time to explore the trails as the forest gets slippery because of the rain and moss and becomes dark green due to the moisture. It is not ideal time to do the long trails.
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Autumn and winter offer clear air and cold weather. October to February is the time to see our migratory birds. At 1,100 metres, the mornings on the hills are jacket weather. The views from both Daman-e-Koh and Pir Sohawa are clearest in January.
-Margalla Hills have many trails where you can walk. Some of the trails have steps and are steep (Trail 3 and Trail 5). I recommend wearing shoes that you are comfortable jumping in, as some steps are uneven. Running shoes should be fine, but I would not wear sandals.
-Dehydration happens frequently on trails without shade and a lot of people do it badly. It is better to bring water. Packages may say you don't need it, but you should bring water.
-Don't try to do the longer trails in the heat of the day. Try to do longer trails in the morning (no later than 9 am)
-Pir Sohawa fills up with people wanting to go to the restaurant. A lot of people go there for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays. Avoid driving to Pir Sohawa on these days if you are not going to wait 2 hours to sit in the car and drive home.
-Check the trails after heavy rain during the monsoon. Some trail sections become too muddy making a new plan necessary.
What are the hiking trails in Margalla Hills? The most popular of the trails is Trail 3, or Loop Trail. The steps go through the forest and start at Daman-e-Koh. The main routes are 6 numbered hiking trails that are maintained by the Capital Development Authority
How long does Trail 3 take? It takes about 2 to 3 hours to complete at a comfortable pace.
Is it safe to hike Margalla Hills alone?The marked Margalla Hills trails are safe with common sense. Longer routes should not be taken alone and for the safety and convenience of all visitors, it is recommended to hire a local guide.
Is there a leopard population in Margalla Hills? There is a leopard population. Sightings are seldom. They live there. You don't.
What time of year are the best months to visit Margalla Hills? For hiking and visiting the forest, March and the months that follow are excellent. October also has excellent months and is great for bird viewing.
Can I get to the top of Margalla Hills by car? You can drive almost to the top. The main road stops at restaurants just shy of 1,100 meters.
Is a guide needed? Most hikers don't hire guides for Trail 3, however longer routes should be done with guides and birding guides are needed due to their specialized knowledge.
Share the dates, the group size and if you want the short tour in the morning, the full day with Pir Sohawa or the bird watching program. We will confirm the vehicle, the guide and the order.
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Email: info@hospitalitytours.com
Head office: Office No. 2 & 3, Ground Floor, Parish Rose Plaza, Opposite NUST Gate 4, Sector H-13, Islamabad