Visiting the third-largest park in the world has always been on my bucket list. Khunjerab National Park, the greatest national park in Pakistan!
The breathtaking Karakoram range near Khunjerab Pass nestles it. It is the Pakistan-China border in Gilgit Baltistan on Northern Pakistan Highway N-55. The park has been artfully crafted adjacent to the Tax Korgan Natural Reserve in China by skilled builders.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, established the park in 1975. Now, it is home to a variety of wildlife, including some of the most endangered species in the world!
As a wildlife enthusiast, I had an intense urge to visit this national park. So, after planning with my friends, we wasted no time flying to Pakistan. And stepped into the beautiful valley of Gilgit-Baltistan, Hunza.
While staying in Hunza, my friends and I, we decided to commence a journey to the stunning Khunjerab Pass. The route to Khunjerab Pass was quite steep and rocky. But the view was worth all the bumps we got to experience during our almost 4-hour drive.
Witnessing the beauty and hospitality of the citizens of both countries moved me so much. And the majestic mountains and crystal-clear streams surrounding the Khunjerab Pass created a striking scenery to bask in.
We visited some of the popular spots there like the highest ATM and more. Then finally we took a 30-minute drive to reach the enthralling Khunjerab National Park. To venture into the Khunjerab National Park, there are some integral instructions to keep in mind before trekking there. Some of the rules were to get a permit from the park authorities, follow the park’s rules, and stay on the designated trails.
After getting briefed with instructions by our tour guide, we entered the Khunjerab National Park. With a 10 US dollar ticket we entered the enchanting park. Just being inside a park at an elevation of around 4,500 meters felt surreal.
Right when we entered the Khunjerab National Park, I was instantly captivated by the scenic beauty before my eyes. The park was encircled by majestic snow-capped mountains, lush green meadows, and turquoise lakes. WWF (World Wide Fund) Pakistan even supports and funds the park to protect the flora along with the fauna of this park. Since the park includes Alpine meadows, Juniper forests, Shrubs, and wildflowers like Edelweiss and forget-me-nots are also available here that add vibrant colors to the beautiful landscape.
Moving further into the Khunjerab National Park, the first animal we got to see was the wild Yaks. They were blocking the paved road for us. Typically, one encounters them amidst the elevated realms of the park, alongside the Himalayan Ibex. Owing to their superb adaptation to the formidable terrain and frigid climate, their resilience becomes apparent.
Traversing past the Yaks, we continued our drive to hopefully encounter more astounding animalis. In the open grasslands there lay an enigmatic Tibetan Wolf, just looking at the beauty fascinated me. While we were taking pictures of the Wolf one of my friends caught sight of a Red Fox in the lush meadows, the wolf’s reddish-orange fur contrasted beautifully with the green of the fresh grass.
As soon as our crew started losing hope in finding another animal during our trip to Khunjerab National Park, we got the privilege to witness a rare sighting in the park, a Snow Leopard. The white-furred species was leaping from one rocky cliff to another. Just when we were admiring the Leopard in its natural habitat, a Golden eagle soared into the foggy sky.
During our drive to the forested area near the water sources, we encountered many birds. The Himalayan Snowcock blessed us with its striking presence as it was sitting on a high cliff, the vibrant Himalayan Monal, a Bearded Vulture scavenging for food, the ethereal White-Winged Redstart, the Himalayan Griffon Vulture, and many more. We finally reached the forested area after almost a 10-minute drive, and we were in awe of what was in front of us. Its large size and shaggy brown fur make this magnificent creature well-known.. While watching the bears the day was gently fading away, so we decided to bid farewell to the magical park.
On our drive back to the gates of the Khunjerab National Park, we got insanely lucky by witnessing the sole reason this Park exists in the first place, the Marco Polo Sheep. They primarily established the Khunjerab National Park as a means to protect the Marco Polo Sheep, Snow Leopards, and Bharal.
People know the Marco Polo Sheep, also known as Argali, as strikingly stunning creatures because of their impressive size and appearance. Witnessing them with my own eyes was an awe-inspiring moment. Encountering such animals in the National Park depends on the weather conditions and luck. And luckily, we were fortunate enough!
Although we did not get to see some of the animals like the Himalayan Marmot usually found in the grassy meadows, the Eurasian Lynx, or an Altai Accentor, this trip was all I could wish for!
We finally left the park, reveling in the natural beauty of the Khunjerab National Park and carrying nothing but great memories that will forever remain in our hearts.
Here’s a guide for everyone opting to visit Khunjerab National Park: A Resourceful Guide On Having A Trek To Khunjerab National Park
