Bansra Gali Murree Wildlife Park: What to Expect

Murree Wildlife Park, at Bansra Gali, is a 240-acre government park in the pine forest below Lawrence College, developed by the Punjab forest and wildlife department from 1986. It is a forest walk with some enclosures, not a zoo of the Lahore or Islamabad kind, and its condition has been uneven. The most detailed independent report we found, from Dawn in 2018, described very few animals and basic facilities, so go with modest expectations.

This guide sets out what can be verified about the park, where sources disagree (tickets and opening hours especially), and who it is worth a detour for.

Where is Bansra Gali Murree Wildlife Park?

The park lies at Bansra Gali, next to Lawrence College, on the hills near Bhurban. Dawn described reaching it by a narrow winding road from deer-shaped gates that are hard to spot from the new motorway. The department lists it about 70 km from Rawalpindi. From Islamabad, a travel site puts it about two hours by car via the E-75 Murree Expressway, which is a reasonable planning figure at a quiet time and too optimistic on a summer weekend.

Because the gates are easy to miss, use a navigation app and look for "Murree Wildlife Park" or "Bansra Gali". Our guides to the Murree Expressway and to Bhurban cover the road and the area around it. If you are also stopping at Lawrence College's side of the hill, see Ghora Gali.

What is there to see?

Official and encyclopedic descriptions list Siberian tigers, red deer, yaks, Asian black bears, Bactrian camels, chital, chinkara and sambar, plus peafowl, guinea fowl and pheasants. The Punjab department's own page also mentions demoiselle cranes, silver and green pheasants, and children's play areas and shelters.

That list is longer than what Dawn found when it visited. The 2018 report counted one Siberian tiger, four red deer and a stag, one yak, and dozens of peafowl and pheasants in an aviary. It said a lion once lived there but its fate was unknown. We could not find a recent independent count, so we cannot say how many species are on show now. Do not make the trip mainly to see big cats.

What you can count on is the setting: mature pine forest, hill air and tracks to walk. The department gives the climate as ranging from about minus 10 C to 22 to 25 C, with annual rainfall of roughly 1,789 mm, so it is cool and damp for much of the year.

Tickets and opening hours

Be careful with prices. The department's own page for the park gives Rs 10 for an adult and Rs 5 for a child, with no date. A Dawn visit in 2018 found entry free. Several commercial travel sites quote Rs 600 for an adult. These cannot all be right for the same date, so we will not print one number. Bring cash, ask at the gate and pay what is posted.

Opening hours are also given differently: the park is described as open from 9 am to 4 pm on one travel page and to 5 pm in another listing. Arrive before lunch so the difference does not matter. We found no clear information on weekly closing days.

If a number is important for your plan, such as a group booking or a school visit, phone the department on the number it lists, (051) 3411012, before you set out.

Condition and what to expect

Dawn's 2018 report is candid. It described decades of neglect, a small staff working in shifts, no vet on site (emergencies relied on a vet from the Rawalpindi wildlife park), broken fencing in places, a poorly kept children's play area, and no drinking water or food vendors. Officials had promised new cages and a museum. We could not confirm whether any of this has been fixed since.

Other sites describe canteens, restrooms, parking and guided tours, but those are mostly promotional pages. Our advice is to assume you will find a simple forest park and carry what you need:

• water and snacks, including for children;
• a rain jacket, because showers are frequent in these hills;
• shoes with grip, since tracks are natural and can be muddy;
• cash for entry and parking.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for walking. In summer the park is a cool escape from Rawalpindi heat but the road is busy, and the monsoon makes paths slippery. In winter, snow can close roads around Murree. Murree Police and the district administration have limited vehicle entry at peak times in 2026, and a section of the Rawalpindi to Murree Kashmir Road between Bansra Gali and Barori was reported closed from 15 to 20 July 2026. Check current conditions before leaving. Our Murree travel tips cover traffic and what to carry.

Is it worth visiting?

It suits a quiet half-day for families who like forest walks and do not expect much from the enclosures, or anyone staying at Bhurban who wants something low-key. It does not suit visitors who want a full zoo, a guaranteed sighting of big animals or a polished attraction.

If animal welfare matters to you, note that the 2018 account raised concerns about staffing and care, and we have no recent inspection to set against it. If your children mostly want animals, our guide to things to do in Murree with family has other ideas, and our experiences page lists more outings in the hills.

Frequently asked questions