Last updated: 17 July 2026.

Somewhere on the road between Karachi and Gwadar, the land stops behaving. Cliffs rise out of the desert in shapes no cliff should hold, a woman gazing toward the sea, a sphinx crouched above the highway. A volcano of cold grey mud gurgles on the horizon. A river full of crocodiles winds through one of the driest landscapes on Earth. And in a canyon of the Makran ranges, pilgrims have been walking to the same shrine for longer than anyone can document.

This is Hingol National Park, at over 6,000 square kilometres, Pakistan's largest national park, and the single most extraordinary place in Balochistan you can visit on an ordinary weekend.

What to see inside the park

The Princess of Hope

A natural rock tower shaped uncannily like a robed woman looking out over the desert. Wind and rain carved her over millions of years; the name came in 2004, when Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie, visiting as a UN Goodwill Ambassador, saw the figure from the highway and called her the Princess of Hope. She stands minutes from the main road, you will see her before you reach her.

The Balochistan Sphinx

A short distance away crouches a formation international visitors compare instantly to Egypt's Sphinx, a lion-bodied figure watching the highway. Locals call it the Lion of Balochistan. The two formations together are the park's signature photograph.

Chandragup mud volcano

An active mud volcano, a smooth grey cone rising from the plain, breathing cold bubbling mud instead of fire. Chandragup is sacred to Hindu pilgrims, who climb its flank barefoot to offer coconuts into the crater before continuing to Hinglaj. Climbing the crater rim at sunrise, with the desert glowing pink around you, is one of Pakistan's strangest and finest travel moments.

Hinglaj Mata temple

Deep in a gorge of the Hingol River lies Hinglaj Mata, among the most sacred Shakti shrines in all of Hinduism, and the largest Hindu pilgrimage site in Pakistan. Every spring, the Hinglaj Yatra draws tens of thousands of pilgrims through the desert. The shrine has been protected by local Baloch and Hindu communities together for generations, a story of coexistence Balochistan rarely gets credit for.

The Hingol River and its crocodiles

The park's namesake river holds year-round water, and one of Pakistan's last populations of marsh crocodiles, along with ibex, urial, chinkara gazelle and pelicans on the estuary. Dawn and dusk near the river are the wildlife hours.

Kund Malir beach

The golden-desert-meets-blue-sea beach at the park's edge deserves its own guide, we cover it separately, but no Hingol trip skips it. It is the natural lunch stop on any itinerary.

How to reach Hingol

• From Karachi: roughly 240 kilometres, 3.5-4 hours, on the Makran Coastal Highway (N-10). Leave at dawn: you clear Karachi traffic, catch the best light at Buzi Pass, and reach the Princess of Hope before the heat.
• The route: Karachi → Hub → Zero Point (last reliable fuel and food, fill the tank) → Aghor (park entry) → Kund Malir → Buzi Pass → Princess of Hope and the Sphinx.
• Vehicle: the highway itself suits any car. Tracks inside the park, to Chandragup, the river, or Hinglaj, need high clearance, ideally 4x4, and a local guide.

Entry fee, permits and rules

• Park entry is around Rs. 500 per person [VERIFY current fee], paid at the park checkpoint.
• Permits/registration are handled at the park office (Kund Malir side) or the District Forest Office, Lasbela [VERIFY current process]. Organised tours from Karachi handle this for you.
• Carry your CNIC, checkpoints on the coastal highway ask for it. Foreign nationals should confirm current NOC requirements before travelling. [VERIFY]
• Take every piece of litter back out with you. The park has no waste collection, and plastic left at Kund Malir ends up in the sea.

When to go and what to bring

Season: October to March is ideal, warm days, cool nights. April to September brings serious heat; if you must go, travel at dawn and rest through midday.

Bring: more water than you think you need (there are no shops past Zero Point apart from basic huts at Kund Malir), food, sun protection, a printed or offline map (mobile signal disappears for long stretches), a torch, and a full tank plus reserve fuel for exploration off the highway.

A one-day itinerary that works

1. 05:00, leave Karachi
2. 08:30, breakfast stop at Zero Point, fuel up
3. 10:00, Princess of Hope and the Sphinx (best light before noon)
4. 12:00, Kund Malir beach: lunch at the huts, swim if the sea is calm
5. 14:30, Chandragup mud volcano (4x4 track; guide recommended)
6. 17:00, golden hour at Buzi Pass on the return
7. 21:30, back in Karachi

With two days, add the Hingol River and Hinglaj Mata, and camp at Kund Malir, the night sky there, with zero light pollution, is worth the trip alone.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hingol National Park safe to visit?

The coastal highway corridor, Zero Point to Kund Malir to Ormara, sees regular tourist traffic from Karachi year-round, with police and Levies checkpoints along the route. Deeper park areas are best visited with a local guide. Check current conditions before you travel. [VERIFY, add your current assessment]

Can I visit without a tour company?

Yes, the highway attractions (Princess of Hope, Sphinx, Kund Malir) are a straightforward self-drive from Karachi. For Chandragup, the river and Hinglaj, go with a guide or an organised group.

Where do I stay overnight?

Camping at Kund Malir is the classic option (bring your own gear); basic huts serve food. There are guesthouses at Ormara, 1.5 hours further west. There are no hotels inside the park.

Why is it called the Princess of "Hope"?

The name was given by Angelina Jolie during her 2004 visit with the UN, she said the figure looked like a princess standing with hope. The name stuck worldwide.

This guide is part of our series on every great destination in the province, see 25 Places to Visit in Balochistan. Coming next in the series: Kund Malir in full, and the legend of Hinglaj. For our visual reporting from Hingol, see Photo Essays.