Kala Chitta National Park covers the low, dry Kala Chitta hills of Attock district, south of Attock city and west of Fateh Jang, and is run by the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department. It protects scrub forest and the Punjab urial, a wild sheep found almost nowhere else. It is an easy drive from Islamabad, but it is a conservation area rather than a developed park, so go for a quiet half day in the hills, not for facilities.
This guide covers what the park is, what you might see, how to get there, and what is still unclear for visitors.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Attock district, across Attock, Fateh Jang and Jand tehsils |
| Managed by | Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department |
| Size | About 91,000 acres according to the department |
| Terrain | Low hills, rocky ridges, scrub forest |
| Best months | November to March |
| Listed hours | 9 am to 5 pm |
| From Islamabad | Fateh Jang is about 40 km south-west of the city |
What is Kala Chitta National Park?
The Kala Chitta range runs east to west across the Pothohar plateau between the Indus and Rawalpindi. Kala and chitta are Punjabi for black and white, after the dark and pale rock you can see along the ridges. The hills are not high: the range tops out at a little over 800 metres, so this is walking and driving country, not mountain country.
The park takes in a large part of the range. The department gives its area as 91,342 acres, roughly 37,000 hectares, though other published figures are smaller. Sources also disagree on its start date: Wikipedia gives 1983, while the Attock district government says it was established in 2009. Either way, the land has long been reserved forest, and the department, not a private operator, is in charge.
What can you see there?
Most visitors come for the open hill landscape and the quiet. The vegetation is dry scrub forest: acacia, wild olive, shisham, sanatha bushes and similar hardy plants that stay grey-green for most of the year and turn greener after the monsoon.
The wildlife is the reason the park exists. The department lists about 180 bird species, 22 mammals and 9 reptiles. The animals that matter most are:
- Punjab urial. A wild sheep found only in the Kala Chitta and Salt Ranges of northern Punjab, listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Herds are small and shy, so a sighting needs early starts, binoculars and luck.
- Chinkara gazelle, wild boar and grey francolin, which are more widely seen in this kind of country.
- Leopard. Listed among the park's animals, but you should not expect to see one.
- Snakes. The department notes Russell's viper and Indian cobra. Wear closed shoes and watch where you put your hands on rocky ground.
The fossil connection
The hills' Eocene rocks have yielded some of the earliest whale fossils, from animals that still walked on land, and two are named after the district: Pakicetus attocki and Attockicetus. There is nothing to see on site, but it is a good story for children on the drive.
Pakistan Point and the Sumbal Pani bungalow
In January 2025 Dawn reported that the Attock district administration had developed two visitor stops inside the Kala Chitta reserve forest. Pakistan Point, on Bhetot Road, is a viewpoint over the surrounding hills. The Sumbal Pani bungalow, built by the British forestry department in 1923, was restored in its original style and opened to visitors.
These are the closest thing the park has to set sights. Facilities of this kind come and go, so treat them as places to ask about locally rather than guaranteed stops, and confirm they are open before planning a day around them.
How do you get to Kala Chitta from Islamabad or Lahore?
From Islamabad, the usual approach is the Fateh Jang road past the new airport. Fateh Jang is about 40 km south-west of the city, and the Kala Chitta hills rise to its west and south. Attock city, on the far side of the range, is about 80 km from Islamabad.
From Lahore, it is a long way for a nature outing; it makes more sense as part of a stay in Islamabad.
We could not confirm a single main entrance, a staffed gate or marked trailheads. The department's own page lists hours of 9 am to 5 pm and an online ticket option, but it does not publish a fee in rupees or directions. Before you go:
- Call or message the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department through its website and ask which entry point to use and whether a ticket is needed.
- Ask in Fateh Jang or Jand for the road to Pakistan Point if that is your aim.
- Set off early and plan to be out of the hills before dark.
The official Kala Chitta page on the Punjab Wildlife and Parks site is the place to check for any update.
When is the best time to go?
November to March is the comfortable window. The hills are dry and exposed, and Wikipedia records June highs of around 41°C, with little shade. Winter mornings are also when animals are most active and the air is clearest for views.
The monsoon months turn the scrub greener, but heat and humidity make walking hard work, and unpaved tracks can turn muddy. April to June is best avoided for anything beyond a short drive.
What to carry
- More water than you think you need; do not count on buying any inside the park
- Closed walking shoes and long trousers for rocky, thorny ground
- A hat and sunscreen, even in winter
- Binoculars if you hope to see urial or birds
- Your CNIC, and cash in case a fee is charged locally
- A bag to take your rubbish back out
Is Kala Chitta worth the trip?
It suits people who want space and silence close to Islamabad: birdwatchers, photographers, hikers who are happy to find their own way, and families who just want a winter drive into the hills. It does not suit anyone expecting a park with paths, cafés and toilets. There are none that we could confirm.
If you want history with your outing, combine the hills with Attock itself; our guide to places to visit in Attock covers the fort, the Indus bridge and the river views, and Hasan Abdal is close by on the GT Road. For other Punjab reserves of the same dry-hill type, see our overview of national parks in Punjab, and for more ideas near the capital, our day trips from Islamabad and the destinations page.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Kala Chitta National Park?
In Attock district of Punjab, spread across the Attock, Fateh Jang and Jand tehsils. The Kala Chitta hills lie between Attock city and Fateh Jang, west of Islamabad.
Is there an entry fee for Kala Chitta National Park?
The Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department lists an online ticket option but does not publish a rupee fee. Check with the department before you go, and carry some cash in case a fee is charged on site.
What animals live in Kala Chitta?
The park is best known for the Punjab urial, a vulnerable wild sheep found only in the Kala Chitta and Salt Ranges. Chinkara, wild boar, grey francolin and around 180 bird species are also recorded.
When is the best time to visit Kala Chitta?
November to March, when days are mild and the hills are pleasant to walk. Summer temperatures reach around 41°C with little shade.
Is Kala Chitta safe to visit?
Attock district is not among the areas the UK government advises against visiting. The practical risks are heat, getting lost on unmarked tracks and snakes, so go in daylight, tell someone your route and wear closed shoes.
