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. 

K2 National Park | 2nd Highest Peak

K2 is the 2nd highest mountain in the earth located in Pakistan. It is also known as Mount Godwin Austen. The highest peak of K2 is 8611 meters which is 8.5 km in length mostly the peak is covered with snow and clouds. It is also known as Savage Mountain due to high fatality rate and difficulty of ascent. K2 has never been climbed in winter if four hikers climb one of them may die due to hard weather and lake of oxygen. The name K2 is derived by the Great Trigonometric Survey on which firstly K1 is discovered locally known as Masherbrum. The local name of K2 is known as Kechu and Chogori in Balti language which is combination of two words "chogo" and ri which means "big mountain".

K2 lies in Karakorum Range from the northwestern side. Some of its border touches the basin of north Tarim and Lesser Himalayas on the south. Some part of K2 is disputed between Pakistan and India on which the world highest battle is going on. It also has some of part in China from the border of Gilgit Baltistan. From the Indian side it is started from the middle means no need to hike too much because the level of ground is already equal to the middle and if you attempt from Pakistan you need more climbing and hiking to reach the peak.

There are few attempts to reach at the top peak of K2 on which first attempt was in 1856 which was the survey type tour they dedicate the name K2 to the 2nd peak of Karakorum and the other peak named as follows, Masherbrum as K1,  Gasherbrum IV as K3,  Gasherbrum II as K4, and Gasherbrum I as K5. After that in 1892 a British expedition has reached at Baltoro Glacier and turn back due to very tough track and weather. In 1902 there was much batter attempt to reach at the top by Oscar Eckenstein and Aleister Crowley due to less transportation facility they just consumed 14 days to reach at the foot of the K2 after that they start climbing. After many attempts the successful reached is only 6525 meters which is almost 3000 meters short from the peak.

In 1953 Charles Houston returned to reach the top of the K2 that was his 2nd attempt due to high tendency of storm they turn back from the height of 7800 meters they almost done their job but the weather force them back they also have shortage of food and their camps are not perfect to resists the storms.

After many attempts the successful attempt to reach the top peak of K2 was in 1954 by Ardito Desio, and the two climbers. The team included a Pakistani member, Colonel Muhammad Ata-ullah, who had been a part of the 1953 American expedition and Pakistani Hunza porter Amir Mahdi, who both proved vital to the expedition's success in that they carried oxygen to 8100 meters.

Now a days due to high technology and experience it is easier to lead the top peak of K2 if you are coming from out of Pakistan you may get flights to Islamabad from where you can get domestic flight to Gilgit after that you may find jeeps and animals to reach at the foot of K2. There are many local guides and porter available at very cheap cost that can very effective and helpful for leading the K2. It is highly recommended that do not try to lead until you get experience and all necessary kits for leading the great peak of K2.