{{Short description|Himalayan foothills in Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan}}{{Infobox ecoregion|name=Margalla hills|biome=Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest|country=Pakistan|image=File:Margalla_Hills_Islamabad.jpg|map=File:Pakistan Islamabad Capital Territory adm location map.svg|bird_species=431|state=Islamabad Capital Territory|elevation=1,604 m (5,262 ft) of Tilla Charouni|climate=Humid subtropical climate|protected=71<ref>https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/668362-can-margalla-be-saved-from-commercial predators#:~:text=The%20Rawal%20Lake%20and%20Shakarparian,army%2C%20all%20departments%20remained%20tightlipped.&text=Share%20this%20article:</ref>|biogeographic_realm=Indomalayan|area=|border1=Western Himalayan broadleaf forests|border3=Baluchistan xeric woodlands|mammal_species=38|coordinates={{coord|33|44|40|N|73|2|30|E|type:mountain_scale:300000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}|geology=Early Eocene Limestone formations.|map_caption=The Margalla hills are above the main city of Islamabad|border=Himalayan subtropical pine forests}}The '''Margalla Hills'''{{efn|Punjabi, {{Langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|مارگلہ پہاڑیاں}}}}}} is a hill range within the Margalla Hills National Park in the northwestern Punjab region in Pakistan, forming the northern edge of the Islamabad Capital Territory, just south of Haripur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They are part of the Himalayan foothills on the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot and form a subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion. The Margalla range has an area of 12,605 hectares.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-05-27 |title=Another fire breaks out on Margalla Hills |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1625856 |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref><ref>[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350632175_Vegetation_classification_of_the_Margalla_foothills_Islamabad_under_the_influence_of_edaphic_factors_and_anthropogenic_activities_using_modern_ecological_tools Vegetation classification of the Margalla foothills, Islamabad under the influence of edaphic factors and anthropogenic activities using modern ecological tools- Majid Iqbal, Shujaul Mulk Khan, Zeeshan Ahmad, Murtaza Hussain.] - Retrieved 11-4-2026</ref> The biodiversity in these hills is significantly higher than the drier areas to the south and the colder areas up north, primarily due to its high rainfall and subtropical heat.{{citation needed|date=May 2026}}
== Climate == This region falls in the Humid subtropical climate zone.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350632175|title=Full article: Vegetation classification of the Margalla foothills, Islamabad under the influence of edaphic factors and anthropogenic activities using modern ecological tools|website=ResearchGate}}</ref> The average annual rainfall in the Islamabad area is 1,457 millimetres (57.4 in).<ref>{{Cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613053217/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/cdpc/Climate/Islamabad_Climate_Data.txt | title=Mean FOR THE PERIOD 1961 - 2009 | url=http://www.pakmet.com.pk/cdpc/Climate/Islamabad_Climate_Data.txt | format=TXT | archive-date=2010-06-13}}</ref> Much of the high rainfall is delivered here from the moisture laden air of the bay of Bengal hitting the lower Himalayas.<ref>[https://www.pmd.gov.pk/rnd/rndweb/rnd_new/journal/vol10_issue20_files/3.pdf#:~:text=Northeastern%20Monsoon%20Region%20of%20Pakistan.%20Northeastern%20monsoon,of%20the%20country%20as%20southwest%20monsoon%20currents. An Analytical Study of Variations in the Monsoon Patterns over Pakistan. 20-1-2014, Retrieved 3-4-2026]</ref>
== Paleontology and archeology == According to the research carried out by scientists and archaeologists of the project "Post-Earthquake Explorations of Human Remains in Margalla Hills", the formation of the Margalla Hills dates to the Miocene epoch. The dominant limestone of the Margalla is mixed with sandstone and occasional minor beds of shale. The archaeologists of the project have also found two human footprints over one million years old here, preserved in sands.thumb|Panoramic view of Margalla hillsThe Shah Allah Ditta Caves are also part of its ancient history. This cave is about 2500 years old and is believed that Alexander The Great as well as several other emperors used this route to either pass by or pass into this area. The cave also have Buddhist-era murals dating to at least 2400 before present. The cave has seven alcoves of different sizes for lamps which are still conserved today. Furthermore, one of the paintings found within the cave is of the Hindu god Shiva.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-07-28 |title=1m-years-old footprints found at Margalla Hills |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/258474/1m-years-old-footprints-found-at-margalla-hills |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref>
== Flora == thumb|Dense vegetation of the forest There are around 250 to 300 species of plants on the Margalla Hills. As many as two-thirds of them are used by the people for their medicinal effects to treat or cure various diseases.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-12-17 |title=64 per cent plants on Margalla Hills used for treatment of diseases - thenews.com.pk |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-148526-64-per-cent-plants-on-Margalla-Hills-used-for-treatment-of-diseases |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217102946/http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-148526-64-per-cent-plants-on-Margalla-Hills-used-for-treatment-of-diseases |archive-date=17 December 2012 |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=The News International}}</ref>
There are several species of native trees in hills, some of the trees in the lower slopes include species like the bombax ceiba, ficus benghalensis, ficus lacor, ficus racemosa, ficus palmata, ficus religiosa, ficus auriculata, cassia fistula, Alstonia scholaris, bauhinia variegata, prunus cerasoides, butea monosperma, syzygium cumini, erythrina suberosa, sterculia diversifolia, melia azedarach, morus alba, toona ciliata, flacourtia indica, lannea coromandelica, mallotus philippensis, phyllanthus emblica, pyrus pashia and many others, the upper slopes are dominated by pinus roxburghii and dodonaea viscosa.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web | title=D7BL1MHP Ecological Baseline Margalla Hills National Park | PDF | Grazing | Habitat | url=https://www.scribd.com/document/524093296/D7BL1MHP-Ecological-Baseline-Margalla-Hills-National-Park }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-22 |title=Everything About Cherry Blossoms Season in Pakistan - Exploria.pk |url=https://www.exploria.pk/cherry-blossoms-in-pakistan/ |access-date=2026-02-22 |language=en-US}}</ref>
There is high diversity of the other plants as well including cannabis ssp., adhatoda vasica, Rhododendron arboreum, Hypericum oblongifolium, ajuga ssp., Tulipa clusiana, Woodfordia fruticosa, fabaceae ssp., Nelumbo nucifera, Gloriosa superba, Sauromatum venosum, Malva sylvestris, Hedera nepalensis<ref name="draft_report">{{Cite web |title=Margallah Hills National Park: Ecological Baseline: Draft Report |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/524093296/D7BL1MHP-Ecological-Baseline-Margalla-Hills-National-Park |access-date=2026-03-07 |website=www.scribd.com}}</ref><ref>[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242734062_Indigenous_uses_of_economically_important_flora_of_Margallah_Hills_National_Park_Islamabad_Pakistan#:~:text=from%20natural%20habitats.,similarity%20index%20as%2046%25. Indigenous uses of economically important flora of Margallah Hills National Park, Islamabad, Pakistan- Asma Jabeen, Mir Khan, dr mushtaq Ahmad, Muhammad Zafar] March 2009. Retrieved 2026-03-12</ref> as well as the bamboo species Dendrocalamus strictus.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Prospects of Bamboo cultivation in N.W.F.P.|url=https://researcherslinks.com/current-issues/prospects-of-bamboo-cultivation-in-n-w-f-p/41/5/9511|website=researcherslinks.com|access-date=2025-11-29|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250318165856/https://researcherslinks.com/current-issues/prospects-of-bamboo-cultivation-in-n-w-f-p/41/5/9511|archive-date=2025-03-18|first=Smith and|last=Franklin}}</ref><gallery> File:Classic tree.JPG|Ficus religiosa in the Margalla hills File:Trail 5 Hiking Track-05.jpg|ficus benghalensis in Margalla hills. File:Margalla Hills Islamabad 03.jpg|Old Banyan tree in the hills File:Fig Tree with Figs coming out of the trunk in Islamabad.jpg|Fruiting ficus racemosa tree near the hills. File:Trail 5 (Margalla Hills) small waterfall.jpg|Forested stream. File:MMSham ISb 001.jpg|Humid lowland forests along a trail. File:Trekking trail in Margalla Hills.jpg|Open highland forests. </gallery>
== Fauna == There have been 431 bird species recorded in and around Margalla hills,<ref>[https://ebird.org/region/PK-IS/bird-list Bird checklist - Islamabad, Pakistan]. ''ebird.org''. Retrieved 2026-04-09.</ref> some of them include the blue-throated barbet, coppersmith barbet, great barbet, plum-headed parakeet, rose-ringed parakeet, slaty-headed parakeet, Indian pitta, Indian paradise flycatcher, spotted forktail, Indian pied myna, rusty-cheeked scimitar babbler, rufous-bellied niltava, verditer flycatcher, blue-throated blue flycatcher, crimson sunbird, Mrs. Gould's sunbird, purple sunbird, kalij pheasant, Asian koel, orange-headed thrush, rufous treepie, Indian pond heron, scarlet minivet, wire-tailed swallow, Himalayan bulbul, Indian white-eye, brahminy starling, white-capped redstart, Oriental magpie-robin, red-vented bulbul and others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Margalla Hills National Park bird checklist - Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World |url=https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=PKis01 |access-date=2025-11-22 |website=avibase.bsc-eoc.org}}</ref><ref name=draft_report />
There are around 30 or more mammal species here, some of the herbivores include the rhesus macaque, Indian boar, Northern red muntjac, Indian flying fox, Kashmir flying squirrel, Indian crested porcupine, and grey goral, carnivores include the Indian leopard, Indian wolf, golden jackal, yellow-throated marten, masked palm civet, small Indian civet, red fox, jungle cat and leopard cat.<ref>{{cite web | title=Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona: Scientific journals | url=https://museucienciesjournals.cat/en/amz/issue/19-2021-amz/vertebrate-diversity-at-margalla-hills-national-park-pakistan }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ecological Baseline of Margalla Hills|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/524093296/D7BL1MHP-Ecological-Baseline-Margalla-Hills-National-Park |access-date=2026-01-07 |website=www.scribd.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Seasonal-indices-in-prey-species-of-the-leopard-cat-in-Margalla-Hills-National-Park_fig3_353067266|title=Seasonal indices in prey species of the leopard cat in Margalla Hills... | Download Scientific Diagram}}</ref>
There are many butterfly species in and around these hills like the papilio protenor, papilio polyctor, vagrans egista, graphium sarpedon, hypolimnas bolina, pseudergolis wedah, symbrenthia lilaea, arhopala rama, catopsilia pomona, charaxes agrarius<ref>{{cite web | title=Observations | url=http://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=33.7957077&nelng=73.3837337&swlat=33.4455975&swlng=72.78873370000001&taxon_id=47157&view=species }}</ref> as well as the Tajuria cippus.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Archived copy | url=https://rewildinginduslibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/PBSQB-Spring-2025.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250514112739/https://rewildinginduslibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/PBSQB-Spring-2025.pdf | archive-date=2025-05-14}}</ref> <gallery widths="130" heights="130"> File:Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis rubeculoides) (46511242922).jpg|Blue-throated blue flycatcher in the Margalla hills File:Blue-throated Barbet (Megalaima asiatica) (20550172874).jpg|Blue-throated barbet in the hills. File:Beauty Butterfly in Pakistan.jpg|Papilio polyctor, one of the butterfly species in the hills. File:A monkey enjoying his snack in Daman-e-Koh.jpg|Rhesus macaques near the Daman-e-Koh tourist area. File:Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja) (15273084804).jpg|A crimson sunbird in the hills. File:Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos) (45679487285).jpg|Kalij pheasant in the undergrowth. </gallery>
== Bird watching == {{See also|Birds of Islamabad}} The Margallas are an excellent place for bird watchers. The area is home to a large number of birds, including robins, sparrows, kites, crows, larks, paradise flycatchers, black partridge, shrikes, pheasants, spotted doves, Egyptian vultures, falcons, hawks, eagles, Himalayan griffon vulture, laggar falcon, peregrine falcon, kestrel, Indian sparrow hawk, white cheeked bulbul, yellow vented bulbul, cheer pheasant, khalij pheasant, golden oriole, collared dove, wheatears and buntings.<ref name="wildlifeofpakistan1">{{cite web|url=http://www.wildlifeofpakistan.com/ProtectedAreasofPakistan/Margalla_NP.htm |title=Margalla Hills National Park |publisher=Wildlife of Pakistan |access-date=2017-05-23}}</ref>
The cheer pheasant, indigenous to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was being reared in Margalla Hills as a part of conservation campaign by the World Pheasant Association and Capital Development Authority.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-06 |title=Cheer pheasant reintroduced successfully into the wild |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2328230/cheer-pheasant-reintroduced-successfully-into-the-wild |access-date=2022-02-23 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>
== Environmental conservation == The ecology of Margallas faces threats from quarrying by stone-crushing plants,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anwar |first=Shahzad |date=2014-12-28 |title=Environmental hazard: Stone-crushing plants nibbling away Margallas |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/813790/environmental-hazard-stone-crushing-plants-nibbling-away-margallas |access-date=2022-02-23 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref> deforestation,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anjum |first=Shakeel |date=11 September 2018 |title=Encroachers causing deforestation on Margalla Hills |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/366839-encroachers-causing-deforestation-on-margalla-hills |access-date=2022-02-23 |website=The News International |language=en}}</ref> illegal encroachments,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Iqbal |first=Nasir |date=2021-11-10 |title=IHC orders survey of damage caused to Margalla Hills National Park |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1657052 |access-date=2022-02-23 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref> and buildings, and poachers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-30 |title=Experts call for halt to poaching of pangolin |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2341199/experts-call-for-halt-to-poaching-of-pangolin |access-date=2022-02-23 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref> Crush plants situated around the hills near Taxila are busy eroding the hills for extracting building material.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-04-23 |title=Stone crushers pose threat to Margallas: World Earth Day observed |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/890839/stone-crushers-pose-threat-to-margallas-world-earth-day-observed |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref> Deforestation is resulting from fires and illegal felling of trees.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-03 |title=CDA fails to control Margalla Hills fire |url=http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C05%5C16%5Cstory_16-5-2009_pg11_6 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203225508/http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C05%5C16%5Cstory_16-5-2009_pg11_6 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=Daily Times}}</ref>thumb|324x324px|Forested road next to the hills. ===Margalla Hills Society=== The Margalla Hills Society<ref>{{cite web|url=http://roedad.com/mhs.php |title=Roedad Khan - Margalla Hills Society |website=Roedad.com |access-date=2017-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Aurangzaib |date=2015-02-25 |title=Herald Exclusive: The whole Roedad |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1165632 |access-date=2022-02-23 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref> was established in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salam |first=Afia |date=2013-10-07 |title=A tunnel without vision |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1048073 |access-date=2022-02-23 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-12-20 |title=PM's intervention sought to halt work on Margalla Road |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1664710 |access-date=2022-02-23 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref>
===World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Pakistan=== {{main|WWF-Pakistan}}
The WWF-Pakistan's 'Green School Programme', in collaboration with the Capital Development Authority (CDA), carries out 'Eco-Adventure Activities' on the Margalla hills to raise awareness in the school children regarding the conservation of natural environment and about the importance of being environmentally responsible.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-12-26 |title=Eco-adventure activity launched on Margalla Hills - thenews.com.pk |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-150132-Eco-adventure-activity-launched-on-Margalla-Hills |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226080244/http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-150132-Eco-adventure-activity-launched-on-Margalla-Hills |archive-date=26 December 2012 |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=The News International}}</ref>thumb|right|upright|Tilla Charouni, highest peak with {{Convert|1604|m|ft}} ==Events== * On 28 July 2010, Airblue Flight 202, an Airbus A321 operating a domestic flight from Jinnah International Airport in Karachi to Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad, crashed into the Margalla Hills, killing all 152 people on board.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/7913795/Passenger-plane-crashes-outside-Islamabad.html | title = Passenger plane crashes outside Islamabad | date = 28 July 2010 | work = The Daily Telegraph | access-date = 28 July 2010 | location=London | first=Rob | last=Crilly}}</ref> * On 6 January 2012, snowfall over Margalla Hills.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-02 |title=Margalla Hills receive snowfall after 6 years |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/08-Jan-2012/margalla-hills-receive-snowfall-after-6-years |access-date=2022-02-26 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202232553/http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/islamabad/08-Jan-2012/margalla-hills-receive-snowfall-after-6-years |archive-date=2 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> * On 11 February 2016, snowfall over Margalla Hills.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-02-11 |title=Margalla Hills turn snowy after a decade |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1238845 |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref> [[File:Damn-e-Koh, Margalla Hills.JPG|thumb|right|Daman-e-Koh lookout park in the Margalla Hills, Islamabad]] == <span id="places in Margalla hills"></span>Places in Margalla Hills == *Daman-e-Koh *Pir Sohawa *Shahdara, Islamabad
== See also == *Margalla Hills National Park *Birds of Islamabad *Airblue Flight 202 *Faisal Mosque *List of ecoregions in Pakistan *Indomalayan realm *Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests *Terai–Duar savanna and grasslands *Meghalaya subtropical forests *Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests *Western Himalayan broadleaf forests *Aravalli West Thorn Scrub Forests
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{Commons category|Margalla Hills}} {{Margalla Hills National Park |state=expanded}}{{Islamabad}} {{PunjabGeography}}
Category:Hill stations in Pakistan Category:Hills of Pakistan Category:Landforms of Islamabad Category:Climbing areas of Pakistan Category:Mountain ranges of the Himalayas Category:Mountain ranges of Punjab (Pakistan) Category:Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests Category:Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests Category:Ecoregions of Pakistan Category:Ecoregions of the Himalayas Category:Indomalayan ecoregions Category:Subtropical rainforests