Panjal Mastan (

Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...

پنجال مستان) is a picturesque location in the Bagh Valley of

Azad Kashmir Azad Jammu and Kashmir (), abbreviated as AJK and colloquially referred to as simply Azad Kashmir ( ), is a region administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entitySee: * * * and constituting the western portion of the larger ...

. The Panjal Mastan National Park, located in the

Bagh District Bagh District () is a district of Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir in the Kashmir#Dispute, disputed Kashmir region. The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported ...

, sits at an average elevation of above sea level, making it one of the highest plateaus in the region. Covering an area of 300 square kilometres, the park is renowned for its diverse flora and fauna, part of the

Pir Panjal The Pir Panjal Range ( ; ) is a range of mountains in the Lower Himalayan region located in the Western Himalayas of northern Indian subcontinent. It runs southeast to northwest between the Beas and Neelam/Kishanganga rivers, in the Indi ...

ecoregion. During spring, the plains are adorned with wildflowers, adding to the park's scenic charm.

Climate and ecology

Panjal Mastan has a

subtropical highland climate An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate or maritime climate, is the temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification represented as ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring c ...

(Cwb) according to the

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

. Located in the western part of the outer

Pir Panjal range The Pir Panjal Range ( ; ) is a range of mountains in the Lower Himalayan region located in the Western Himalayas of northern Indian subcontinent. It runs southeast to northwest between the Beas and Neelam/Kishanganga rivers, in the Indi ...

, its high altitude results in cold, snowy winters and relatively cool summers with significantly more rainfall compared to lower elevations. The area frequently experiences fog and receives precipitation year-round, with peaks in winter and summer (July–August). The average annual precipitation is 1,789 mm (70.4 in). Panjal Mastan is home to a variety of rare species, including leopards from the nearby Galiyat region. Common wildlife includes

Rhesus macaque The rhesus macaque (''Macaca mulatta''), colloquially rhesus monkey, is a species of Old World monkey. There are between six and nine recognised subspecies split between two groups, the Chinese-derived and the Indian-derived. Generally brown or g ...

Wild boar The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a Suidae, suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The speci ...

, fox, and numerous bird species, such as the cheer pheasant and kalij pheasant. The area is also known for the Panjal vole, a rodent species endemic to Pakistan.

References

National parks of Pakistan Protected areas of Azad Kashmir Bagh District Tourist attractions in Azad Kashmir {{AzadKashmir-geo-stub