Gumot National Park, also spelled Ghamot, is a high-altitude protected area in the Surgan valley above Sharda in Neelum district, Azad Kashmir. It was established in 2004 to protect a population of the threatened Himalayan brown bear, along with musk deer and a large number of bird species, and reaching it means a paved road followed by a jeep track, not a roadside stop.
This guide covers where the park is, what lives there, how to get in from Sharda, and how to visit without disturbing the wildlife it exists to protect.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Location | Surgan valley, Neelum district, above Sharda |
| Established | 2004 |
| Area | Roughly 270 sq km |
| Terrain | Alpine meadows, coniferous and broadleaf forest |
| Key species | Himalayan brown bear, musk deer, more than 125 recorded bird species |
| Access | Paved road Sharda to Surgan, then jeep track to Ghamot village |
| Best months | June to September |
Where Gumot National Park is
The park sits in the Surgan valley, a side valley that branches off the main Neelum road at Sharda. It is a separate protected area from Musk Deer National Park further up the main valley near Neelum town; the two are sometimes confused because both sit within Neelum district and both protect overlapping species, but they cover different ground and were established in different years.
Within the wider Neelum Valley, Gumot National Park is the protected area travellers pass through, or skirt the edge of, on the jeep track that continues up the Surgan valley towards Noori Top and, eventually, the multi-day route to Saral Lake.
Getting there from Sharda
From Sharda, a paved road runs about 7 km up the Surgan valley to Surgan village. From there, a jeep track continues a further 16 to 18 km to Ghamot village, the small settlement on the park's boundary. A normal car can usually manage the paved stretch to Surgan in good weather; the onward track to Ghamot needs a 4x4 and a driver who knows the route.
There is no public transport running this route on a fixed schedule. Arrange a jeep and driver in Sharda or Surgan, and confirm current road conditions locally before setting out, since the track can be affected by rain or landslip in the same way as the rest of upper Neelum Valley.
What the park protects
Gumot National Park's main conservation purpose is the Himalayan brown bear, a threatened subspecies found across a scattered range in northern Pakistan. The park forms part of a corridor of connected protected areas, together with Deosai National Park and Musk Deer National Park further up the valley, intended to let bear populations move between habitat patches rather than being cut off in isolated pockets.
Musk deer are also present, alongside a recorded bird population of more than 125 species across the park's forest and alpine meadow habitat. Researchers have also studied the park's reptile and amphibian life as part of wider biodiversity surveys, though detailed population figures are not something a visitor can verify or expect to see for themselves.
Conservation work in the park has been funded through the Global Environment Facility's Small Grants Programme and carried out by the Himalayan Wildlife Foundation, focused on protecting bear and musk deer habitat and reducing conflict with grazing and settlement in the surrounding valley.
Your realistic chances of seeing wildlife
Treat any wildlife sighting here as a bonus, not the point of the trip. Himalayan brown bears are shy, keep well away from human activity where they can, and are genuinely difficult to see even for people who spend extended time in the field. Musk deer are similarly elusive, active mostly at dawn, dusk and at night, and quick to disappear into forest cover.
What you are more likely to notice is birdlife, along with the alpine meadows and forest of the Surgan valley itself, which are worth the drive regardless of what wildlife you do or don't see on the day.
Visiting responsibly
- Go with a local guide or driver who knows the current track and park boundaries. This is remote terrain without marked trails or a visitor centre.
- Keep noise down and keep your distance from any animal you do encounter. Do not approach or attempt to feed anything.
- Stay on the jeep track and established paths rather than pushing into forest cover, both for your own safety and to avoid disturbing habitat.
- Take all rubbish back out with you. There is no waste collection this far up the valley.
- Time your visit for June to September. Snow closes the higher ground outside this window, and the jeep track becomes unreliable well before winter sets in properly.
Is it worth visiting?
For travellers with a genuine interest in wildlife and conservation who already have time built in for Sharda and the Surgan valley, yes, on the understanding that this is an undeveloped park with no guarantee of sightings. It is not a destination to build a short Neelum Valley trip around, and it is not suited to a family day trip with young children, given the rough track and lack of facilities.
If your main interest is scenery and an easier outing, the walk up Sharda's riverside paths or a shorter trip into the lower Surgan valley covers similar ground with far less driving. Our guide to places to visit in Neelum Valley sets out the full range of stops along the road for planning a wider trip.
Frequently asked questions
What is Gumot National Park known for?
It was established in 2004 to protect the Himalayan brown bear, and it also supports musk deer and more than 125 recorded bird species in the Surgan valley above Sharda.
How do I get to Gumot National Park?
By road from Sharda: about 7 km paved to Surgan village, then 16 to 18 km of jeep track to Ghamot village at the park boundary. Arrange a jeep and driver locally rather than attempting the track in an ordinary car.
Is Gumot National Park the same as Musk Deer National Park?
No. They are separate protected areas within Neelum district, both linked to a wider brown bear and musk deer habitat corridor, but Gumot sits in the Surgan valley above Sharda while Musk Deer National Park is further up the valley near Neelum town.
Will I see a brown bear or musk deer if I visit?
Unlikely on a casual visit. Both species are shy and avoid human activity, and sightings are rare even for researchers who spend extended periods in the field.
When is the best time to visit Gumot National Park?
June to September, when the jeep track from Surgan is reliably clear and the alpine meadows are at their greenest. Snow closes the higher ground outside this window.
Is this part of Neelum Valley safe to visit?
Sharda and the Surgan valley lie within the section of Azad Kashmir close to the Line of Control that the UK government's Pakistan travel advice currently advises against all travel to. Pakistani visitors travel this route regularly. Foreign passport holders should check their own government's current advice before travelling, since it can affect travel insurance, and everyone should confirm local conditions before heading up the jeep track.
