Machiara National Park is a protected area in Pakistan located near the city of Muzaffarabad. It was officially named a National Park in 1996 and is found at 34°31’ N latitude and 73°37’ E longitude. The Neelum River and Neelum Valley lie to the east of the park, while the Kaghan Valley is to the west.

Geography

The park covers an area of 33,437 acres. It includes forests with broad leaves that stay green all year and woodlands with broad leaves that change color and fall in winter. These forests are part of the Western Himalayan Broadleaf forest region, which is a Global 200 Ecoregion. The park receives about 1,526.7 millimeters of rain each year. July is the rainiest month, while November has the least rainfall.

Machiara National Park has high biodiversity and is home to many important mammals, birds, and plants. Some species found here include snow leopard, Kashmir musk deer, western tragopan, cheer pheasant, lammergeier, Himalayan vulture, Himalayan quail, hoary-throated barwing, white-cheeked bushtit, white-throated bushtit, Scaly-breasted cupwing, orange bullfinch, and Kashmir nuthatch. The park has been recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International.