How to go Karachi to Hingol | Guide Map

We went on bike 125 (Donot go on 70) always choose a high performance bike or car. Fuel: Filled complete tank first before leaving and then at Hingol. Food : Small hotels / dhaba / tuc shops are available on way but it is recommended to bring home made eatables.

What is HINGOL NATIONAL PARK ?

Hingol National Park is a natural surrounding along the Makran coast in southwestern Balochistan Province, southwestern Pakistan. It lies within sections of Lasbela District, Gwadar District, and Awaran District. The Gulf of Oman of the Arabian Sea are to the south. The provincial capital of Quetta is approximately 717 km. The provincial capital of Sindh is 190 km to the southeast on the coast.

Hingol National Park also includes famous Kund Malir Beach and Princess of Hope. In the past due to the political situation, people didn't prefer to go there. But now things have changed and many people go to Kund Malir on weekends from Karachi and other areas of Sindh to explore the beach. Hingol National Park is known to support at least 35 species of mammals, 65 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 185 species of birds. The park forms an excellent habitat to wild Sindh ibex, Baluchistan urial, and chinkara gazelle. Ibex is found in all steep mountain ranges and are numerous in the Hinglaj and Rodani Kacho Mountain areas. The population is estimated over 3000. The adventure lovers of Pakistan are clearly having a low day. For with the mountainous north being too dangerous to venture into few places remain hospitable. Well here might just be the solution. Hingol national park is one of the most exotic and hospitable places in the country. This beautiful park gloating over a portion of the country’s most delightful landscape could just hold the cure to tourism starved Pakistan for it is a place teeming with wildlife, mud volcanoes, rugged rock formations and most importantly its adjacency to the beach only further ensures that it’s a place hard to miss.

If you haven’t heard about the Hingol National Park and judging by being a Pakistani myself, you probably haven’t than this is one of the biggest national parks of the country and only 190 Km away from Karachi. The park’s beauty rivals that of the likes of Yellow stone park in US and with a rugged climate along the Makran beach, the park is as perfect as it can get for all sorts of adventure seekers, hikers, cyclists along with the beach lovers.

And if you are a wildlife photographer than this is the perfect place for you for this park not only contains a serene landscape but its vast reservoir of the rarest of wildlife creatures too makes it a place of global significance. The noble bird Houbara, marsh crocodiles, green marine turtles, threatened species of fish including Mahasheer, Plumbeous, dolphins, ibexes, Urials and Chinkaras all add to the beauty of the park.

Moreover astonishing rock formations make it a paradise for those who desire natural beauty. One unique rock formation in the park includes the Princess of hope whose special name was given by none other than the great Angelina Jolie of Hollywood fame, mesmerized by her very first look at it. The unique formation of this rock ensures that it has the potential to rival the Sphinx of Giza; if only our policy maker knew how to market tourism well.

The availability of Hindu Shrines too guarantees that if one day finally tourists from India manage to sneak in than this just might be the spot for them for the shrine of Devi Hinglaj in the park is considered among the 51 shakti peeths of Hinduism.

This valley has a phenomenal landscape of towering precipices, zeniths and braces with the river winding between. Some 350 miles in length, the river of Hingol is Balochistan’s longest waterway with streaming water in it.

Recently a decision has been taken to slice a part of the park and allocate it to Air force and other defense related organizations. Certainly Pakistan facing a major external threat needs to maintain a strong defense and needs land for such yet one can only hope that this is done with maximum care to preserve the unique internal environment of the park.

For now it’s highly important that we immediately chalk up a strategy to not only protect the irreplaceable environment and phenomenal landscape of this park but also the rarest wildlife creature present here for these should long have been a major tourist attraction of Pakistan and undoubtedly are a great national asset.

(This post was written by Muhammad Aurang Zaib, LEAD's Associate for Cohort 18 and was first posted on viewstorm. The views expressed here are those of the author, and not necessarily those of LEAD Pakistan.)

HOW WE VISITED HINGOL & KUND MALIR BEACH

We visited Hingol / Kund Malir Beach in October 2020 . Karachi to Kund Malir Distance is 260 KM. We left our places at 6am , had breakfast break and reached Hingol Park at 11am. It took us around 2.5 hours to reach the ZERO POINT and 2 more hours on Makran Coastal Highway. Drive on Makran Coastal Highway is full of adventure. It has fields, desert, river, beaches, wind carved mountains, animals and peace. The last fuel station is at HUB , and it advisable to fill your car's fuel tanks . Security condition is good and multiple check post were located , we stopped there and they just ask for identification. After zero points few road side restaurants with Desi toilet facilities were present. Restaurants also located at Kund Malir, We didnt try but families and groups were enjoying food. At Kund Malir beach huts are available for 5000 per room, few tents (Jhugi) were also available for 300-500 rs. From the Huts beach is at some distance but tents are on or near the beach. Beach is very beautiful but its getting polluted . If you are going to Kund Malir , leave only foot prints! The mountains of Hingol are worth watching. And the travel experience from Karachi to Hingol is amazing, especially when you are with friends! Hope you enjoy the guide / vlog! Source : http://www.lead.org.pk/lead/postDetail.aspx?postid=201