Sheikh Badin is a former British hill station, now a national park, on a hill of about 1,300 metres between Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat. It was the summer headquarters of the colonial-era Derajat Brigade from the 1880s, and its ruined bungalows, an old church and a hilltop shrine survive among the park's dry forest. It sits within districts the UK government currently advises against all travel to.
This guide covers Sheikh Badin's history, what remains to see there, and the access and safety picture in 2026.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Between Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat districts, KP |
| Altitude | About 1,300 metres |
| Status | National park, designated 2003 |
| Area | About 158 sq km |
| Built as | British summer hill station, from the 1880s |
| UK advice (September 2026) | Against all travel to both Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat districts |
A hill station the British built and left
The British first established a presence at Sheikh Badin around 1861, and development of the site as a proper summer hill station began in the 1880s. It became the seasonal headquarters of the colonial Derajat Brigade, and civil officers from both Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan districts spent part of the hot season there, escaping the extreme summer heat of the plains below.
What remains from that period includes the ruins of bungalows, a small colonial-era church, and other structures scattered across the hilltop. Unlike Murree or the Galiyat, which grew into full hill resorts after independence, Sheikh Badin was largely abandoned once the British left, and its buildings have fallen into ruin rather than being maintained or redeveloped. The site also takes its name from the shrine of Sheikh Baha-ud-Din Zakariya on the hill, which still draws occasional pilgrims.
The national park today
Sheikh Badin was formally designated a national park in 2003, covering roughly 158 square kilometres of dry subtropical forest and scrub that is unusual for this part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along with the wildlife it supports. The elevation gives noticeably cooler air and wide views over the surrounding plains compared with Dera Ismail Khan or Bannu below.
In recent years the provincial government has added basic camping infrastructure, including camping pods intended as simple overnight shelters, tents, and basic bathroom and cooking facilities, part of a wider push to develop camping-based tourism sites across southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Development has been intermittent, and facilities should not be assumed to be fully staffed or maintained year-round; check locally before planning to camp.
Getting there
Sheikh Badin is reached from the Indus Highway near the town of Pezu, by a road up the hill that has historically been poor and unpaved in sections. There is no public transport network serving the site directly, and it is realistically only accessible with a private vehicle and local knowledge of current road conditions.
Is it safe to visit Sheikh Badin?
Sheikh Badin sits on the boundary between Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat districts, both of which the UK government's Pakistan travel advice, updated 22 September 2026, advises against all travel to. Lakki Marwat saw a bomb attack on a crowded market in the town of Sarai Naurang in May 2026 that killed at least nine people, and Dera Ismail Khan saw a suicide bombing at a wedding in January 2026 that killed at least seven. Both districts also border areas with a longer history of militant activity.
This is not somewhere to attempt independently as a tourist in 2026. If you have local hosts or family who know the current road and security situation, go with them, travel by day, and check recent local news before setting out. Visitors from overseas should check their own government's current advice, which may say not to travel there, and note that doing so anyway can void travel insurance.
Who is Sheikh Badin for?
On its own merits, it is an interesting, little-visited colonial ruin with real historical texture and cooler air than the plains around it, the kind of place that would interest anyone drawn to Pakistan's abandoned British-era hill stations. Given the current advisory covering both districts it sits between, it is not a trip to plan independently in 2026, and it belongs firmly in the category of places for people with strong local connections and current, on-the-ground knowledge, not for a general visitor's itinerary. Our guide to places to visit in Dera Ismail Khan covers the wider district and its current situation.
Frequently asked questions
What is Sheikh Badin?
A former British colonial hill station, now a national park, on a hill about 1,300 metres high between Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat districts in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It has old British ruins, a hilltop shrine and dry forest.
How do you get to Sheikh Badin?
Via a hill road from Pezu on the Indus Highway. The road has historically been poor and there is no public transport serving the site, so a private vehicle and local knowledge of current conditions are needed.
Is Sheikh Badin safe to visit?
It sits between Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat, both of which the UK government advises against all travel to. It is not a trip to attempt independently in 2026; go only with local hosts who know the current situation.
Are there camping facilities at Sheikh Badin?
The park has had basic camping pods and tent facilities added in recent years as part of a provincial tourism push, but development has been intermittent, so check locally before planning to camp there.
