Broghil Valley National Park

Broghil valley is one of the beautiful valleys located in Khyber Pakhton Khawa near Afghanistan border. It is the northern valley of Chitral and the distance from main chitral valley is about 250 Km. the ethnic group of Broghil is Wakhi the local language is also named Wakhi. The ethnic group of Broghi came in to being with the joint of Tajik, Chinese, and Afghan ethnic groups. They came here for food, shelter, job and new home. 

Broghli valley enhances more than 30 lakes smaller and bigger all of them are natural and the water of lakes coming from glaciers and stones. There is Broghil pass is very important passage which connects    Afghan and Pakistan borders the impotent pass is called Darwaza which connects Aghan border from the north west. From the southeast direction the valley connected Yasin valley through Darkot pass. 

Tourist Attraction:

Broghil valley enhances many lakes and mountain attraction which are unique from all over the world although it is yet not explored by the international and local tourists. The valley consists of few species of animal and birds although which cannot be seen in ordinary way. The main attraction in Broghil valley is Karambar Lake.

Karambar Lake:

It is located between Khyber pakhton khawa and Gilgit Baltistan. There are no proper road towards this lake the lake is covered with mountain from all sides having green lush grass and flowers in it the water of lake is crystal clear and having trout fish in it.Karambar lake is the 31st highest lake in the world. There are no advanced facilities in Lake but you can manage adventurous tour like camping there. The local people around the lake leave there pets for feeding in summer and spring season.

Mountain Passes:

Broghil valley is a house of different connecting passes and tracks. The connecting tracks connects Broghil with Gilgit, Hunza , Pamir, Wakhan corridor, and Tajikistan. It enhances the shorter track towards Wakhan. You can access Ishkoman valley through the Suktarabad glacier. The connection of Hunza valley and Broghil bears wonderful sceneries and high altitude which is one of the highest tracks in Broghil valley. The Darkot pass is famous for Yak riding and Yurting which is also one of the shortest ways to enter in Gilgit from Broghil. During the Russian invasion over Wakhan Mr. Rehman Qul migrated into Pakistan through this pass with thousands of animals and Kirgiz. Recently the route from Chianatar glacier to Immit Ishkoman is discovered by Italian Tourist group.

Wildlife in Broghil:

Baroghil Valley is homeland of ibex, wolves, snow leopards, white and brown bears, fox, rabbits, marmots and many more wild animals. The bird species are, hawks, eagles, falcons are found in the high mountains, while pheasants, partridges, hoopoes, larks, sparrows, quails, doves, swallow starlings, nightingales, crows and vultures.

How to Access:

Although the national park is difficult to access but the route to access it from International tourists is get direct flights to Islamabad after that they may get flights to Gilgit (domestic flights) from where you can hire transport the other route is Islamabad to Chalas to Hunza to Gilgit to Darkot Yasin valley to Chikar to Broghil pass.

The other famous spots to explore around Broghil are, Showrsheer, Lashkargaz, Swinj, Sohktarabad, Chittiboi Glacier, Virgoth, Mitrandas, and Gakuch.

Hazarganji Chiltan National Park

Hazarganji is one of the beautiful national parks in Pakistan. The Hazarganji is local word of Baluchistan meaning that thousands of treasure was buried in Chiltan national park of old army this was the passage of armies and merchandise at very old time. The area is consists of mountain, slope, and plain. The north-south area of this park is easily accessible from Quetta 25-30 kilometers far from the edge of the Quetta. The park is very famous for tourism but at local level international tourists yet not explored it. In start this park is use to safe the diminishing population of Suleiman Markhor and Wild Goat people came from whole Pakistan to see those species some people also plan illegal hunting of Markhor to overcome this problem government of Pakistan established wildlife and forest protection department. Due to interest of visitor’s government also build rest house, museum, and picnic spot for the entertainment of visitors. 

Wildlife in Chiltan Park:

One of the groups in the behalf of National Geography channel came for research on wildlife in Hazarganji Park. They explore that there are almost 800 species of wild goat the population of Suleiman Markhor is very low which is about 300-400 due to lot of hunting. The wild goat likes to live in Jungle area while the Markhor use to live at hilly area the height of mountain is 1500-200 meters.

There are mammals and birds founded in National Park which are, Wild goat, Suleiman Markhor, Leopard, Jackal,  Porcupine, Desert hare, Deer, Red fox, Stripped hyena, Indian wolf, Urial sheep, and Caracal. While the bird species are, Lichtenstein's desert finch, Stonechat, Houbara bustard, vulture, Laggar falcon, Indian sparrow hawk, Scops owl, Common cuckoo, European bee-eater, Rock partridge, European nightjar, Orphean warbler, Griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, and Honey buzzard. There are also reptiles in desert area of Chiltan Park which are, Saw scaled viper, Monitor lizard, Russell's viper, and Spiny tailed lizard.

The species of plant and trees found in Hazarganji are, amid juniper, pistachio, almond and ash trees.

Background and Access:

The wildlife Park of Hazarganji is established in 1980 which is protected by Rangers this park is protected area for Markhor which is national animal of Pakistan. Hunting of Markhor is strictly prohibited in Park. There is no permission to stay more than two days in this park due to security reason of wild life. No local transportation and proper road leads towards park you have to book and hire transport from Quetta. The international visitors can take flights to Karachi to get access while the domestic visitors can book direst flights to Quetta from whole Pakistan. 

Leopard | Snow Leopard

Leopards are the big cats belong to the cant families. Snow leopard in found in mountain ranges of central Asia. The snow leopard is generally known as Panthera uncia. It is found at the height of 10,990 to 22,000 feet from the sea level. Snow leopard loves to live in cold area his competitor are wolves who use to hunt in group some time leopard got disturbance while hunting. Snow leopard is bit smaller than big cats having weight 27 to 55 kilogram. In some special cases it is noticed that male leopard become 75 kg which is abnormal weight as ordinary leopard. The length from head to base of the tail is 30 to 50 inches in special cases it might be 50 to 60 inches but very rare. 

Due to cold weather species leopard have long thick fur which have smoky gray and yellowish colors. The snow leopard cannot roar as tiger and lion can, but the speed and quickness is more than any other species including lion and tiger. It has long tail which helps them to maintain the balance during travel in dangerous rocky areas. The snow leopard has flexible body like athleats and adjusts body temperature according to the weather. It has very strong jaws and claws to grip and bite the hunt.

The home of snow leopard is Iran and Turkmenistan’s mountain range but, it can be found in China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Russia, Tajikistan, Myanmar and Uzbekistan. If we talk about geographically it is present in, Hindu Kush in eastern Afghanistan, In Tibet it is found at Altyn Tagh in the north, the mountains to the west of Lake Baikal,  In Mongolia it is found in Gobi Altai and the Khangai Mountains, and the mountains of Pamir, Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kashmir, Kunlun. The species of different regions are bit different from each other by size and color.

Usually snow leopard loves to live in cold area so, in summer it moves to the height. Snow leopard found in mountainous meadows and in rocky regions at height of 8900 to 20000 feet. In winter due to shortage of food and water it came down into the forest at 3900 to 6600 feet high from the sea level. Snow leopard can easily travel in snow but usually he likes to walk in already made track by the other animals. Like other cats snow leopard does not allow other leopard to hunt and walk in his territory male leopard like to live alone.

Snow leopard only take meat meal by hunting before eat it sucks the blood of hunt from throat like other hunter species do. The hunted animals are Markhor, Argali, Hares, Birds, Himalayan Tahr, Bharal, Plus deer, wild boars, and languor monkeys. The young Yak is also in range of snow leopard. Snow leopard prefers ambush hunting although he has very fast speed equally on rock and snow.

For exploration of snow leopard it found in Khunjerab national park, Gilgit baltistan, and Chitral national park, in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan by getting flights to Islamabad  you can manage flight to Gilgit or by road to access snow leopard ares. Gobi Gurvansaikhan national park, Mongolia to access this national park it is recommended to get flights to Ulan Bator after that you can further get domestic flights and buses. The other regions for snow leopard hunting are Qomolangma national nature preserve, Tibet, China, Hemis national park, in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India.