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| Margalla Hills | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Margalla Hills | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Tilla Charouni |
| Elevation | 1,604 m (5,262 ft) |
| Coordinates | 33°46′33.7506″N73°7′26.4822″E / 33.776041833°N 73.124022833°E /33.776041833; 73.124022833 |
| Naming | |
| Native name | مارگلہ پہاڑیاں |
| Geography | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Territory | Islamabad Capital Territory |
| Region | Punjab |
| Range coordinates | 33°44′40″N73°2′30″E / 33.74444°N 73.04167°E /33.74444; 73.04167 |
| Biome | Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
TheMargalla Hills[a] is ahill range ofsubtropical moist broadleaf forest within theMargalla Hills National Park in the northwesternPunjab region inPakistan, forming the northern edge of theIslamabad Capital Territory, just south ofHaripur District,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They are part of theHimalayan foothills on theHimalayanbiodiversity hotspot. The Margalla range has an area of 12,605 hectares.[1] It is a range with many valleys andrainforests as well as high mountains.
This region falls in theHumid subtropical climate zone.[2] The average annual rainfall in theIslamabad area is 1,457 millimetres (57.4 in).[3]
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 theMiocene epoch. The dominantlimestone of the Margalla is mixed withsandstone and occasional minor beds ofshale. The archaeologists of the project have also found two human footprints over one million years old here, preserved in sands.
TheShah Allah Ditta Caves are also part of its ancient history. This cave is about 2500 years old and is believed thatAlexander 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 theHindu godShiva.[4]
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.[5]
There are several species of trees in these hills likebombax ceiba,ficus benghalensis,ficus lacor,ficus racemosa,ficus religiosa,cassia fistula,pinus roxburghii,Alstonia scholaris,bauhinia variegata,butea monosperma,syzygium cumini,erythrina suberosa,woodfordia fruticosa, and many others.[2][6]
There is high diversity of the other plants as well includingcannabis,adhatoda vasica andfabaceae[2] as well asbamboo.[7]
Some of the bird species includePsilopogon asiaticus,Psilopogon haemacephalus,Psittacula cyanocephala,Psittacula krameri,pitta brachyura,Terpsiphone paradisi,Gracupica contra,Erythrogenys erythrogenys,niltava sundara,Eumyias thalassinus,Cyornis rubeculoides,aethopyga siparaja,Lophura leucomelanos,Eudynamys scolopaceus and others.[8]
There are around 30 or more mammal species here, some of the notable ones include therhesus macaque,Indian boar,Northern red muntjac,Indian leopard,Indian flying fox,jungle cat andgrey goral[9] as well as theleopard cat.[10]
There are many butterfly species in and around these hills like thepapilio protenor,papilio polyctor,vagrans egista,graphium sarpedon,hypolimnas bolina,pseudergolis wedah,symbrenthia lilaea,arhopala rama,catopsilia pomona,charaxes agrarius[11] as well as theTajuria cippus.[12]
The Margallas are an excellent place forbird watchers. The area is home to a large number of birds, includingrobins,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 andbuntings.[13]
Thecheer pheasant, indigenous to theKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, was being reared in Margalla Hills as a part of conservation campaign by the World Pheasant Association andCapital Development Authority.[14]
The ecology of Margallas faces threats from quarrying by stone-crushing plants,[15] deforestation,[16] illegal encroachments,[17] and buildings, and poachers.[18] Crush plants situated around the hills nearTaxila are busy eroding the hills for extracting building material.[19]Deforestation is resulting from fires and illegal felling of trees.[20]
The Margalla Hills Society[21][22] was established in 1989.[23][24]
TheWWF-Pakistan's 'Green School Programme', in collaboration with theCapital 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.[25]
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