CLIFF PATHS

If it does not have the same energy as Lahore or Karachi, Islamabad has the advantage of having the Margallas! These lush hills that green and embellish the capital are located in the foothills of the Himalayas. There are two stories about the origin of their name. The first explains that it is a combination of Mar, which means snake, and Galla, which means herd. According to the second, Margalla was the name of a gang that ruled these lands. The Margallas, an extension of the Himalayan chain, offer very good hiking trails, which will suit both Sunday walkers and the most experienced. The Margallas Hills became a national park in 1980. They are home to more than 600 varieties of plants, 250 species of birds and 13 species of reptiles. They also serve as a refuge for deer, gorals, rhesus monkeys, jackals, etc. Unfortunately, this biodiversity is increasingly compromised by water contamination, road construction, excavations, etc.

Trail No. 1: Not very popular, especially because the trailhead is difficult to find. Trail no. 1 takes you to the top of the ridge, from where you can reach the Pir Sohawa road by turning right. To reach the entrance, go to the back of the Faisal Mosque parking lot. Look for a kind of gate, pass it, take the first right, then turn right again through a small clearing and turn left. Walk towards the large water tank and turn right. Here you are on the path. It takes about two hours to walk.

Path 2: The beginning of the path is to the right of the entrance to Islamabad Zoo. This two-hour hike will take you to the panorama of Daman-e Koh, which offers a panoramic view of the capital.

Trail n°3: it is one of the most popular trails. It is a little difficult and steep but remains accessible to the average walker. It will take you about 40 minutes to get to a first point of view. One more hour and you will arrive in Pir Sohawa, where the famous Monal restaurant is located. The starting point is in sector F-6/3, on Margalla Road.

Trail 4: It connects trails 3 and 5.

Trail #5: Parallel to trail #3, trail #5 is a little easy to climb and follows a stream in some areas. It takes you to the top of the Pir Sohawa Road in about 3 hours. You can reach trail #3 via trail #4.