ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s capital Islamabad is arguably one of the most naturally beautiful capitals of the world because of its greenery, which indeed needs preserving and the Margalla Hills that lie to its north.
The residents of the capital are lucky to go for a hike after a few minutes drive and enjoy the company of nature and its beauty on the magnificent Margalla Hills. The hills are home to wild boars, monkeys, leopards and birds of various kinds. The hiking trails on the hills are visitor-friendly. Fresh water streams, springs and old wells add to the lure and beauty of the hills and the hiking trails. Various activities such as speed hiking, trail running, rock climbing etc are arranged by various private clubs and groups on the trails. Students and environmental groups also carry out various activities on the trails to raise awareness about the importance of keeping the city and environment clean.
The Margalla Hills National Park not only adds to the beauty of Islamabad but also maintains and enhances the air quality of the city.
According to Islamabad’s civic agency, the Capital Development Authority (CDA)’s website, hot summers, monsoon rains and cold winters with sparse snowfall in the hills almost summarise the climate of the area.
The city has seven hiking trails. Trail 1 leads to the top terminal of the Pir Sohawa road, in more or less two hours.
Trail 2 starts just above Pir Sohawa, the point located near Islamabad Zoo. It is a 1 to 1.5-hour walk and leads to the Daman-e-Koh viewpoint. From there one can continue upward, to the cactus ridge.
Trail 3, the most famous and oldest hiking track in Islamabad, starts from Margalla Road sector F-6. The trail can be challenging, due to steep hills. The course leads to a viewpoint, which takes about 30 to 50 minutes to reach. After reaching the viewpoint, one can continue on for an additional easy-going 45 to 60 minutes and reach Pir Sohawa. In total, it is approximately a one hour and thirty-minute walk.
Trail 4 is a link between Trails 3 and 5. Trail 5 begins from Margalla Road in sector F-5, and people find it easier to climb. Trails 3 and 5 run parallel for some distance, and are connected via trail 4 at certain points. Trail 5 leads to the top of Pir Sohawa Road. One can switch from trail 3 to 5 by walking an extra distance of 1.5 km.
The estimated time to cover the distance on the trail is about 2.5 to 3.5 hours. Trail 6 starts from the back of the Faisal Mosque in Sector E7. The trail goes through a valley along a well-defined route that guides to the top terminal of Pir Sohawa Road. The trail has a track for mountain bikes and a bird-watching point. Trail 7 is a more recently opened trail and is equally beautiful.
