Hingol National Park, also known as Hungol National Park (Urdu: ہنگول نیشنل پارک), is one of the largest national parks in Pakistan. It is found in the Makran coastal area along and to the north of Pakistan's Arabian Sea coast. The park covers an area of about 6,100 square kilometers (2,400 square miles) and is located 190 kilometers from Karachi. It spans three districts in Balochistan: Gwadar, Lasbela, and Awaran. Hingol was declared a national park in 1988.

The park is named after the southern part of the Hingol River, which flows along the Arabian Sea shore. This area is home to many waterfowl and a variety of marine life. Hingol National Park includes six different ecosystems and features both desert and plains regions, making it unique among Pakistan's national parks.

The park is bordered by a dense forest to the north, a barren mountain range to the south, and the Hingol River tributary, which supports thousands of migratory birds and marsh crocodiles. To the south of the park lie the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

The park's unusual rock formations have attracted visitors from across Pakistan, especially since the completion of the Makran Coastal Highway in 2004.

Wildlife

Hingol National Park is a protected area in Pakistan that helps keep many animals safe. It has about 257 types of plants and 289 kinds of animals, such as 35 different mammals, fish, frogs, snakes, and birds that visit from far away. Marsh crocodiles are often seen near the park’s coastline, and there are about 60 crocodiles living in different places nearby.

Hangul Bay has many other sea animals, including dolphins from the Indo-Pacific region, green and olive turtles, and rare kinds of fish and turtles. These turtles come to the beach every night during August to lay their eggs. However, too much plastic waste on the beaches made it hard for the female turtles to dig, so they left without laying eggs. Because of this, the number of these turtles along the coasts of Sindh and Balochistan has decreased a lot.

Rock formations

The University of Geneva and the University of Tehran worked together on a study about the special features of a coastal area in Iran and Balochistan. During this study, researchers observed 36 rock formations. The research shows that erosion and sedimentation have shaped these rocks over many years. Waves from the sea carry soil and other materials to the shore. Layers of soil up to 10 meters thick were found on the rocks, with the thickest layers near the beach. Tidal waves and strong winds have shaped the coastal area and nearby cliffs, making the region look like an ancient archaeological site. Two of the most famous rock formations are called the Princess of Hope and the Balochistan Sphinx.

The most striking feature of Hangul National Park is a hoodoo called the Princess of Hope. From a distance, it looks like a tall statue of a woman. In 2004, actress Angelina Jolie visited Pakistan on a UN mission and named the rock "Princess of Hope" because it reminded her of a hopeful figure. Although it looks like a statue, the shape of the rock is caused only by natural forces like wind and erosion.

The Balochistan Sphinx, also known as the "Lion of Balochistan" or Abul-Hol, is a natural rock formation that looks like a sphinx. It can be seen from the Buzi Pass section of the Makran Coastal Highway.

In Hangul National Park, there are many mud volcanoes called Hingol, which range in height from 800 to 1500 feet. These are mostly found in the Mid-Hor area. In 2010, Muhammad Hanif Bhatti, a traveler from Karachi, visited the Chandra Gupta mudflat in Hangul National Park and praised the natural process that created it. At that time, the area was hard to reach, but after a highway was built, more visitors have been able to see the mud volcanoes.

Hinglaj Mata mandir

Hinglaj Mata Mandir, also known as Nani Mandir, is an important Hindu shrine in Pakistan. Each spring, more than 250,000 pilgrims visit the shrine, which is located at the center of Hingol National Park.

The Kali Mata temple, found in a cave in the Hanglaj Valley, is believed to be 200,000 years old. During the annual festival, 20,000 to 30,000 people gather at the site. A group of leading Hindus from Sindh and Balochistan organizes the event. Because there are only four sections for passengers, most pilgrims sleep in tents. Some must stay under trees or in the sun. The greatest challenge for pilgrims is climbing Chandra Gup Mountain.

Makran beaches

The beach near Kand Malir, located at the last corner of Hangul National Park and also called "Virgin Beach," was added to Asia's 50 Most Beautiful Beaches in 2018. Nearby deserts, high mountains, and volcanoes along the coast make the area more interesting for visitors. However, unlike other beaches in Pakistan, there is not much tourist activity here yet. Traveling along the Makran Coastal Highway, visitors can easily reach Sapat Beach in Boji Koh, another beach in Balochistan. The Hangul National Park Team includes more than 20 members from organizations such as Wildlife Pakistan and the Provincial Department of Livestock, Environment, and Tourism. However, since the Government of Balochistan manages the park, many areas still need improvements. Kand Malir beach, also known as the "Golden Beach," is considered one of Pakistan's most beautiful beaches because of its clear water.

Natural history

Hingol National Park has many different types of land shapes and environments. These include dry, warm forests in the north and dry, mountainous areas in the west. Large parts of the park have sand that moves with the wind, making these areas similar to a coastal desert. The park also includes the mouth of the Hungol River, which is home to many types of birds and fish.

During early studies, scientists found 250 types of plants in the park. Seven of these plants have not yet been named. Scientists believe there are even more plant species that have not been discovered yet.

The park is home to at least 35 types of mammals, 65 types of amphibians and reptiles, and 185 types of birds. It provides a good living space for animals such as the Sindh ibex, Baluchistan urial, and Chinkara. The Sindh ibex lives in steep mountain areas and is most common in the Hinglaj and Rodani Kacho Mountain regions. Scientists estimate there are more than 3,000 Sindh ibex in the park.

Mammals found in the park include:
• Persian leopard
• Caracal
• Jungle cat
• Asiatic wildcat
• Indian wolf
• Golden jackal
• White-footed fox
• Bengal fox
• Striped hyena
• Honey badger
• Afghan hedgehog
• Indian pangolin
• Balochistan gerbil
• Indian gerbil
• Hotson's mouse-like hamster
• Central Asian boar
• Sindh ibex
• Urial
• Chinkara

Reptiles and amphibians found in the park include:
• Marsh crocodile
• Olive ridley
• Green sea turtle
• Desert monitor
• Yellow monitor
• Indian fringe-fingered lizard
• Indian sand-swimmer
• Carrot-tail viper gecko
• Melanophidium bilineatum

Birds found in the park include:
• Houbara bustard
• Spot-billed pelican
• Dalmatian pelican
• Bonelli's eagle
• Imperial eagle
• Golden eagle
• Tawny eagle
• Griffon vulture
• Egyptian vulture
• Cinereous vulture
• Laggar falcon
• Red-necked falcon
• Kestrel
• Brown-necked raven
• Lichtenstein's sandgrouse
• Grey francolin
• See-see partridge
• Stone-curlew
• Crowned sandgrouse
• Lichtenstein's sandgrouse
• Painted sandgrouse
• Eurasian stone-curlew
• Indian eagle-owl
• Sind woodpecker
• Siberian stonechat
• Long-billed pipit
• Grey hypocolius
• Crested lark
• Hoopoe
• Shrike
• Black bittern
• Goliath heron
• Black ibis
• Variable wheatear

Amphibians found in the park include:
• Skittering frog
• Indus Valley toad

Conservation

There are 14 bird species in the park that are of special importance for conservation because they are in danger of disappearing, very rare, or play a key role in the ecosystem (as listed in the IUCN Red List 2005).

• Sociable lapwing (critically endangered)
• Saker falcon (endangered)
• White-backed vulture (vulnerable)
• Spot-billed pelican (vulnerable)
• Dalmatian pelican (vulnerable)
• Eastern imperial eagle (vulnerable)
• Pallas's fish eagle (vulnerable)
• Houbara bustard (vulnerable)
• Black ibis (near-threatened)
• Black-tailed godwit (near-threatened)
• Sooty falcon (rare)
• Goliath heron (vagrant)
• Desert owl (found only in the Makran Coast region)
• Brown fish owl (very rare)

Management

According to reports, 20 staff members, 18 game watchers, and 2 deputy rangers help manage the park. These individuals are led by the park manager, who reports to the conservator and the Secretary of Wildlife, Forest, Livestock, Environment and Tourism.

Photo gallery

• Canyons located within the national park
• Chotok Waterfalls
• Hingol mud volcano
• Hungol River estuary wetlands and mesas
• Rock formations and dunes
• Rock formations
• Chotok Waterfalls
• The nickname "Princess of Hope" refers to a specific area within the park