IN THIS POST:
– About the Museum
– Location of the Museum
– Galleries
– Exhibits
– Timings
– Tickets
Situated in the capital city of Islamabad, the Pakistan Museum of Natural History is a vast collection of natural history exhibits, encompassing different scientific divisions. From preserved animals in a nearly lifelike state to giant fossils, get to see it all inside the huge galleries of the museum. But first, let’s learn all about the Natural History Museum before planning a visit with your kids.
About the Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Islamabad
Considered as one of the best museums in Islamabad, the Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH) was built in 1976. It is open to the public and is operated by the Pakistan Science Foundation.
There are four sections within the museum, catering to earth sciences, botanical sciences, zoological sciences, and public services. The museum also has 6 galleries that aim to educate the people about Pakistan’s natural history. The exhibits include fossils, animal specimens, plant specimens, rocks, gems, as well as life-sized sculptures of creatures that used to live on this soil thousands of years ago and are now extinct.
Aside from functioning as a museum, the PMNH also acts as a research centre with more than 30 scientists engaged in actively researching more about the natural history of Pakistan. Meanwhile, the public services section hosts workshops, seminars, lectures, and other events to educate the masses about the importance of preservation and conservation of wildlife, natural resources, and native plants. The museum, particularly its Virtual Orientation Gallery, is ideal for kids if they want to learn more about the earth and its flora and fauna in an interactive manner.
Location of the Pakistan Museum of Natural History
The Pakistan Museum of Natural History is located within the Shakarparian National Park in the Shakarparian Hills. It can be reached via Garden Avenue after you take the Shakarparian Interchange on Islamabad Expressway/Faisal Avenue. Garden Avenue will also take you to the nearby Lok Virsa Museum and the Pakistan Monument if you’re eager to explore Islamabad some more, before connecting with Murree Road at the other end of the park.
Galleries at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History
The 6 galleries at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History include:
Bio Gallery
The gallery contains displays of animals, birds, and plants in their natural habitats. The biodiversity in Pakistan is truly showcased here, as the exhibits include species found in the northern alpine ranges, as well as the southern beaches.
Tethys Gallery
This gallery focuses on rocks and minerals collected in Pakistan, along with visual representations of Pakistan’s salt range. There are a number of fossilised rocks on display as well. A 3-D diorama of the Khewra Salt Mines is also present in this gallery, which is sure to convince locals and foreigners alike to visit the real tourist destination in Punjab.
Eco Gallery
The Eco Gallery focuses on the lifecycle of plants and animals, as well as the developments of rocks. It showcases rock formations and food chains of animals. It even has a huge tree trunk of a Deodar tree with rings showcasing its age and a detailed account of the weather conditions the tree faced over its lifetime.
Gemstones Gallery
This gallery is a jewellery lover’s galore as it displays all of the gems that are found in Pakistan naturally, from all of the provinces. The gems are on display on both their natural and polished forms. Popular gemstones include garnet, emerald, ruby, quartz, and aquamarine.
Palaeo Gallery
This gallery will be a big hit with historians and kids alike, as it contains fossils found in Pakistan from creatures that are now extinct. Some of the fossils are 650 million years old. Complete skeletons of an elephant and a giraffe are also on display in the centre of this gallery.
Virtual Orientation Gallery
Established in 2016, this is the most recent addition to the museum. This gallery is an interactive experience hoping to engage the younger visitors. Aside from learning more about the PMNH and taking a virtual tour, you can also learn more about the exhibits by playing games with creative layouts. The Virtual Orientation Gallery offers its services in both English and Urdu.
Exhibits at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History
The museum is easily identifiable by the display of a huge blue whale skeleton at its entrance as well as the large sculpture of a Baluchitherium on the grounds. Let’s discuss these and other popular exhibits at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History below:
The Gharial Crocodile Display
A fish-eating crocodile, the species is found in the northern parts of the River Indus in Pakistan. With a light or dark olive skin and long and thin jaws that are adapted to catch fish, this species has been declared as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The World of Birds
There are more than 650 bird species in Pakistan and you can witness models of them in this unique diorama. From the smallest bird, which is a Hummingbird, to the Chukar Partridge, which is the National Bird of Pakistan, to the Peregrine Falcon, which is a symbol for the Pakistani Air Force, you’ll get to see them all in their different habitats.
Solar System Exhibit
This is an animated exhibit. It provides information about our Solar System, planets, asteroids, and comets as they float around in space and rotate around the sun.
Mammalian Trophy Diorama
Hunting has made many species extinct in Pakistan. This is a one of a kind display that hopes to make people realise the effects that our actions have on biodiversity. It contains 36 trophies of 18 types of hoofed animals, out of which, many are now extinct or endangered.
Blue Whale Skeleton
As stated above, a gigantic blue whale skeleton greets guests at the entrance. The species is native to all the oceans and is among the largest animals to exist on earth. It is an endangered species due to its rapidly dying population.
Rock Garden
The rock garden provides information about the different types of rocks in Pakistan. Rock samples from all over the country are on display, including rocks from Swat, Gilgit, Hazara, Zhob, Kirthar Range, Chitral, Salt Range, and many more locations.
Lotus Pond
A Lotus Pond can be found inside the walled grounds of the museum, with a thriving lotus population. The lotus is a floating plant that grows in standing water. It can add great beauty to any garden with its beautiful pink or white flowers.
Fish Pond
You’ll also find a fish pond in the grounds with more than 250 fish specimens in the pond. Young children will love to see the fish splashing around and swimming in the water. Don’t let them get too close and disturb the happy creatures though!
Baluchitherium
One of the largest mammals to walk the earth, the Baluchitherium was a hornless rhino that lived nearly 30 million years ago. The name originated from the words ‘Baluchi’ representing Balochistan, and ‘therium’ meaning beast. This is because it was initially discovered in the Bugti Hills in Balochistan. It is said that the mammal was around 18 feet in height. A life-sized model can be found on display in the grounds of the PMNH.
Earthquake Exhibit
Stand on the shaking ground and feel what it’s like to experience an earthquake in this animated exhibit. Precautionary measures and details about past earthquakes around the world is also provided here.
Globe Exhibit
This animated globe gives detailed information about Earth’s environment and atmosphere. It also shows seasonal changes across the equator, as well as referring to old trade routes that were once used to migrate from part of the planet to another.
Volcano Diorama
This diorama or model of a volcano gives information about how a volcano is created, why it erupts, and what kind of mineral deposits can be found in volcanic regions, including copper, gold, iron, and travertine marble.
Whale Shark Display
The Whale Shark is the largest fish in the world. It is a rare species with its population decreasing at an alarming rate. Called a Whale Shark because it resembles a whale in its size and feeding habits, this specimen is nearly 40 foot long and was 50 years old when it was found dead on the coast near Karachi in 2012. It weighed nearly 16 tonnes when it was found, and this is the biggest specimen ever found in the world. It was eventually mounted at PMNH with the help of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Pakistan Museum of Natural History Timings
The PMNH is open every day from 9:30 am to 8 pm in the summer months of April to November and from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm in the winter months of December to March. The museum is closed for prayers and lunch daily between 1 pm and 1:30 pm. On Fridays, the break is between 12:45 pm to 2:15 pm.
If you are about to visit the Pakistan Museum of Natural History, you can also book your specific time slot to avoid the crowds when you are exploring it with your family or student groups. Call 0334-5524915 to book your visit today!
Pakistan Museum of Natural History Tickets
The Pakistan Museum of Natural History’s tickets are priced at PKR 30 for local visitors, PKR 20 for students, and PKR 100 for foreigners. Children below the age of 5 can enter the museum free of cost.
Now you know all about visiting the Pakistan Museum of Natural History with your family for a fun-filled and educational outing. The Taxila Museum is another museum near Islamabad that you can visit with your kids.
If you are in Lahore, a Natural History Museum has been opened in the city, which holds the honour of being the first digital museum in Pakistan. You can also visit the National Museum of Pakistan if you are living near Karachi to witness some amazing exhibits.
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* [Image Credits: All of the images for this post have been sourced from the Official Website and Facebook page of the Pakistan Museum of Natural History]
