Hingol National Park

Hingol National Park, also known as Hungol National Park, is one of the largest national parks in Pakistan. It is located in the Makran coastal region along and to the north of Pakistan's Arabian Sea coast. The park covers a huge area of about 6,100 square kilometres and is found 190 km from Karachi in the districts of Gwadar, Lasbela, and Awaran in Balochistan. It became a national park in 1988.

The park is named after the southern part of the Hingol River, which runs along the shores of the Arabian Sea. This area is rich with waterfowl and many kinds of marine life. Hingol National Park has six different ecosystems, including desert and plains areas, making it special among the national parks of Pakistan.

Around the park, you will find a dense forest to the north, a dry mountain range to the south, and the Hingol River tributary. This river is home to thousands of birds that travel there each year and marsh crocodiles. To the south lie the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Since the Makran Coastal Highway was finished in 2004, the park's unusual rock shapes have drawn many visitors from across the country.

Wildlife

Hingol National Park is a special place for animals and plants in Pakistan. It has around 257 types of plants and 289 types of animals. This includes 35 kinds of mammals, water animals, frogs, lizards, and birds that travel from far away. You can sometimes see marsh crocodiles near the coast.

Hangul Bay has many sea animals, like dolphins and special turtles. These turtles come to the beach in August to lay their eggs at night. But plastic on the beach makes it hard for them, so some turtles leave without laying eggs. This has made the number of these turtles smaller along the coasts of Sindh and Balochistan.

Rock formations

Hingol National Park has many interesting natural rock shapes made by wind and water over time. One famous rock looks like a tall statue of a woman and is called the Princess of Hope. Another rock looks like a sphinx and is known as the Balochistan Sphinx.

The park also has many mud volcanoes, which are hills made of mud that sometimes bubble up from below the ground. These are mostly found in the Mid-Hor area and are a special sight for visitors.

Hinglaj Mata mandir

Hinglaj Mata mandir, also called Nani Mandir, is a very important Hindu shrine in Pakistan. It is found in the middle of Hingol National Park. Every spring, more than 250,000 people travel to visit this special place.

The Kali Mata temple is inside a cave in the Hinglaj Valley. People say it is very, very old—about 200,000 years! Each year, between 20,000 and 30,000 people join a big festival. Leaders from the Hindu communities in Sindh and Balochistan help organize it. Because there are not many places to stay, most visitors live in tents. Some even sleep under trees or in the sun. One of the hardest parts for visitors is climbing Chandra Gup Mt.

Makran beaches

The beach next to Kand Malir at the edge of Hingol National Park, called 'Virgin Beach', was named one of Asia's 50 Most Beautiful Beaches in 2018. The area has deserts, tall mountains, and volcanoes that make it very special for visitors, though not many people visit yet. You can drive along the Makran Coastal Highway to reach Sapat Beach in Boji Koh, another beautiful beach in Balochistan.

The Hingol National Park team has over 20 members from groups like Wildlife Pakistan and the local government. However, some parts of the park still need improvement. Kand Malir beach, also called "Golden Beach", is famous for its very clear water and is considered one of Pakistan’s most beautiful beaches.

Natural history

Hingol National Park has many different landscapes and places where animals and plants live. It has dry forests in some parts and rocky areas in others. The park also has a river mouth that helps many birds and fish live there.

The park is home to many plants and animals. Over 250 kinds of plants have been found, and scientists think there are more waiting to be discovered. Animals in the park include many types of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Some of the mammals are the Sindh ibex, which lives in the steep mountains, and there are thought to be over 3,000 of them. Other animals include different kinds of foxes, wolves, and special birds like eagles and vultures.

Conservation

Hingol National Park is home to many special birds that need protection. Some of these birds are in danger of disappearing, while others are just very rare. The park helps keep these birds safe and lets people learn about them.

The birds that need special care include the Sociable lapwing, Saker falcon, White-backed vulture, Spot-billed pelican, Dalmatian pelican, Eastern imperial eagle, Pallas's fish eagle, Houbara bustard, Black ibis, Black-tailed godwit, Sooty falcon, Goliath heron, Desert owl, and Brown fish owl. These birds are important to the park and to nature.

Management

The park is cared for by a small team of 20 staff members, including 18 game watchers and 2 deputy rangers. They all work under the park manager, who in turn reports to higher officials in charge of wildlife and the environment.