#hingol

Hindu pilgrims bath in the holy Hingol River before reaching the main shrine. Relatives often pour water over each other's heads as a sign of respect.

Mountains of the Hingol National Park with the Makran Coast in the background, Balochistan, Pakistan.

Makran is the coastal region of Baluchistan, Pakistan. The diversity in landscape is prominent especially in the Hingol National Park region of Makran, which is the largest National Park of Pakistan. It is full of mesmerizing rock formations, beautiful beaches, and mud volcanoes.

If you ever live in the largest city of Pakistan, or arguably “the largest in the world” which is Karachi, you will not have access to lush green mountains or waterfalls as portrayed in the usual travel diaries about Pakistan. In most cases, urban centers have access to other forms of entertainment to keep the balance like Dubai. Attractions such as theme parks, preserved natural lands, man-made nature parks, or clean beaches.

Unfortunately due to being the most diversified city in Pakistan, Karachi has been the center of conflict for many claimant, which ultimately overshadowed the importance of extracurriculars and non formal activities. Nature falls into the least of the bothers for those in power. It is proven during the recent floods that Karachi’s natural habitat has been obliterated. Illegal constructions also played a big part in destroying the ecological system of Karachi.

Ultimately this is the definition of a Graveyard for Nature Lovers

So, what should a Karachi’s Nature Boy do to satisfy the urge? What should you do if you are sick of outdoor food, farmhouses, and overcrowded polluted beaches? Where to find those beautiful destinations having mountains, sceneries, vast landscapes, clean beaches, and wilderness to fill up the appetite?

The answer is; A drive through the Makran Coastal Belt.

This is what I have been doing for the last 15 years and in quite recent years at least three times a year. Fortunately I have been working with some global YouTube Travelogue Creators as their Video Editor. So when I took my trip this time, I filmed it with the intention of creating a story as I have learned during my editing experiences. I have also created English subtitles as I narrated the story in Urdu. You can check out the video below if you prefer watching rather than continue the read.

The Journey

The first major stop that you will make during your journey from Karachi towards Hingol National Park, Makran is Kund Malir Beach. It is located approximately 250 km west of Karachi. Depending on the season when you are driving through the Makran Coastal Highway, you will experience sand storms and low visibility reminding us of the powers of nature as you start the journey on the Makran Coastal Highway towards Kund Malir Beach.

The most unique thing about Kund Malir Beach is that it is located near Buzi Pass Mountain range. Just at the beginning of Buzi Mountain Range there is  a newly built viewing platform that provides scenic views of the Kund Malir beach, a heaven for photography lovers.

Continuing on to the Makran Coastal Highway towards the Buzi Top you will witness some of the most strangest rock formations which are similar to the Grand Canyon Arizona in the United States. There is a unique experience of its own at the Buzi Pass at different times of the day and seasons. If you are there on a dark night with clear skies, it would be some of the most astonishing stargazing experience. The night sky looks like a dome instead of a roof. When you look towards the ocean from the top, the vast star formations just dips into the dark ocean. On a night with bright moonlight the ocean and rock formations looks just dazzling with moonlight reflecting off the ocean and mountains. Being a frequent visitor, I am fortunate enough to witness all the seasons and times.

Princess of Hope

In Buzi Pass you will come across Princess of Hope which was named by Angelina Jolie during her visit to Pakistan in 2004.

Natural Rock Formations Depicting an Ancient Civilization

The rock formations depicts the remains of an ancient civilization but it is hard to believe that these formations were result of erosions through the ocean winds. Continuing on to there will be some amazing views of the ocean and mountains.

Hingol National Park

Just before the Kund Malir beach, there is a gate towards Hingol National Park. It is largest nation park in Pakistan. There are many animal species that are found there including Persian leopard, Ibex, Marsh crocodile, and Houbara bustard.

Temple of Hinglaj Mata

Hinglaj temple is located approximately 12 km inside the national park when entered from the Makran Coastal Highway. The road to the temple follows the Hingol River. There are some of the most beautiful landscapes with the combination of mountains and river. The temple is surrounded by huge cliffs with a stream of water flowing beneath.

Don’t forget to check this montage I made during my recent trip