350mMountainWildlifeNational parkScenic

Kirthar National Park

About

One of Pakistan's largest and most ecologically significant national parks, stretching over 3,087 km² of rugged limestone hills along the Kirthar range on the border of Sindh and Balochistan. Home to the Sindh ibex (Capra aegagrus blythi), the urial, the chinkara gazelle, and the leopard - with ancient cave paintings, Neolithic ruins, and the fortress of Khar Mori embedded in its wilderness.

History

The Kirthar range has been inhabited since the Neolithic period - rock carvings and cave paintings in the park's interior depict animals and human figures dating back thousands of years. The region was part of the greater Indus Valley Civilisation zone, and several Indus-era sites have been identified within and around the park boundaries. The area came under Talpur Mir and later British control, with the British using the Kirthar hills as a buffer between Sindh and the tribal territories to the northwest. Kirthar National Park was established in 1974 to protect the severely depleted populations of Sindh ibex and urial from hunting, and has since become Pakistan's premier wildlife reserve for large mammals in the arid south.

Nearby Places

Viewpoints, food, and stops nearby (approximate distances).

Park20.0 km
Sindh Ibex Viewing Area
The rocky ridges of the central Kirthar range - best area for spotting Sindh ibex, urial, and chinkara in early morning.
Viewpoint30.0 km
Taung Gorge
A dramatic limestone canyon cutting through the Kirthar range, with seasonal waterfalls and a perennial stream - one of the most scenic spots accessible from the park.
Landmark35.0 km
Kirthar Rock Art Sites
Neolithic and Bronze Age rock carvings on limestone outcrops within the park - one of Sindh's most important prehistoric heritage sites.
Landmark40.0 km
Khar Mori Fort
A remote hilltop fort deep in the Kirthar hills - a Talpur-era garrison commanding the pass between Sindh and Balochistan.
Landmark60.0 km
Ranikot Fort
The world's largest fort by perimeter (26 km of walls) - a Talpur-era fortification in the Kirthar hills, a UNESCO tentative World Heritage Site.
Viewpoint80.0 km
Hub Dam
Large reservoir on the Hub River at the edge of Kirthar, a major wintering ground for migratory waterfowl.