Ayub National Park
{{confused|Ayubia National Park}}
{{Short description|National park in Pakistan}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Ayub National Park
ایوب نیشنل پارک
| alt_name = Topi Rakh Park
| iucn_category = II
| photo =File:Ayub national park garden.jpg
| photo_width =
| photo_caption =
| photo_alt =
| map = Punjab Pakistan#Pakistan | relief = 1
| map_width =
| map_caption =Location in Punjab##Location in Pakistan
| label =
| label_position =
| coordinates = {{coords|33|34|15|N|73|04|50|E|region:PK|display=inline, title}}
| type =
| location = Grand Trunk Road, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
| nearest_city = Rawalpindi
| area ={{convert|313|acres|hectare}}
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| visitation_ref =
|website={{URL|https://ayubpark.com/}}|elevation=505 meters|governing_body=Army Heritage Foundation}}
Ayub National Park, commonly known as Ayub Park or, historically, Topi Rakh Park (Rakh lit. reserve in Potwari), is a national park located on the Grand Trunk Road, not far away from the old presidency in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.{{Cite web |title=Rawalpindi – Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab |url=https://tdcp.gop.pk/rawalpindi/ |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=tdcp.gop.pk}}
The park was established before the creation of Pakistan and covers an area of {{Convert|313|acre|ha}}. It was named after the former President of Pakistan Field Marshal Ayub Khan. It is the largest park in the Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area,{{Cite web |date=2020-11-15 |title=Ayub National Park offers sports facilities |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2272401/ayub-national-park-offers-sports-facilities |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} and is claimed to be one of the largest in Asia.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-06 |title=Ayub National Park, One of Asia's Largest Parks |url=https://www.economy.pk/ayub-national-park-one-of-asias-largest-parks/ |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=Economy.pk |language=en-US}}{{cite web |date=19 August 2011 |title=Brazilian ambassador visits Ayub Park |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=63537&Cat=6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819100713/http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=63537&Cat=6 |archive-date=19 August 2011 |access-date=2012-01-15 |website=The News International |publisher=}}
History
The park was established during the British Raj as the Topi Rakh Park as a popular picnic spot. In 1959, it was converted into a national park during the reign of Ayub Khan, with Rawalpindi Cantonment Board tasked with its administration.{{Cite web |date=2019-07-30 |title=Pakistan's National Parks |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/pakistan-s-national-parks.html |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=WorldAtlas |language=en-US}} The park's open air theater, the only one in the then-capital Rawalpindi, used to host top cultural and social gatherings. However, the park was neglected over the years,{{Cite web |last=Yasin |first=Aamir |date=2014-09-07 |title=Ayub National Park's 'dramatic' secret |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1130398 |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Dawn |language=en}} almost falling into disuse in the early 1990s.{{Cite web |last=Asghar |first=Imran |date=2022-02-05 |title=Rawalpindi's Ayub National Park welcomes twin Bengal tiger cubs |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2342130/rawalpindis-ayub-national-park-welcomes-twin-bengal-tiger-cubs |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}
In 2001, President Pervez Musharraf handed over its control to the Army Heritage Foundation, which oversaw extensive development work there, establishing play areas, jogging tracks, and lawns.
On 16 November 2021, a 'Miracle Garden' was inaugurated at the park, along with a waste recycling plant and chairlift.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-16 |title='Miracle Garden' opens for public |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2329617/miracle-garden-opens-for-public |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}
Features
= Cricket ground =
The south side of the park, once covered with mud and wild growth, was developed into a cricket facility in 2014. A flood-lit cricket ground and practice nets were established. The ground soon became a hub for night tournaments in Ramadan, with a dozen clubs and thousands of players availing it every night.{{Cite web |last=Yasin |first=Aamir |date=2018-05-27 |title=The national park that never sleeps |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1410174 |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Dawn |language=en}}
The ground also hosted the PCB U16 National One-Day Tournament in 2021.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-02-02 |title=Rawalpindi to stage PCB U-16 one-day event from 13th |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1604959 |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Dawn |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=PCB National U-16 One Day Tournament 2020/21 {{!}} Cricket Scorecard {{!}} Official Pakistan Cricket (PCB) |url=https://www.pcb.com.pk/tournament-reports.php?action=tournament_matches&tournament_id=1247&sort_by=date_start&sort_order=asc |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Pakistan Cricket Board |language=en-US}}
= Hockey ground =
An AstroTurf hockey ground was inaugurated by Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa at the park on 21 January 2022.{{Cite web |date=21 January 2022 |title=COAS Bajwa inaugurates hockey stadium in Ayub National Park Rawalpindi {{!}} Dunya News |url=http://video.dunyanews.tv/index.php/en/mustwatch/119053/COAS-Bajwa-inaugurates-hockey-stadium-in-Ayub-National-Park-Rawalpindi- |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Dunya News}} The ground was developed by Army Heritage Foundation and Mari Petroleum.{{Cite web |last=Altaf |first=Arhama |date=2020-01-21 |title=COAS attended the hockey match between Pakistan greens, whites |url=https://www.bolnews.com/pakistan/2020/01/coas-attended-the-hockey-match-between-pakistan-greens-whites/ |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=BOL News |language=en-US}}
= Jungle Barracks =
Former barracks present in the park have been converted to resorts which can be rented for overnight stays.{{Cite web |last=Yasin |first=Aamir |date=2016-02-14 |title=The new face of Ayub National Park |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1239395 |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Dawn |language=en}}
= Jungle World =
The Jungle World theme park contains an animal-themed amusement park and a zoo.{{Cite web |date=2011-04-28 |title=Two tiger cubs draw crowds to Rawalpindi park |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/158477/two-tiger-cubs-draw-crowds-to-rawalpindi-park |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2011-07-23 |title=Feature: Adventures in A yub National Park |url=https://www.dawn.com/2011/07/23/feature-adventures-in-a-yub-national-park/ |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Dawn |language=en}}
In September 2020, 44 animals were shifted from Islamabad Zoo to the Jungle World after the zoo was shut down due to lack of adequate facilities. They included three wolves, four black bulls, four blue bulls, four urials, five rabbits, seven monkeys, and seventeen rabbits.{{Cite web |last=Yasin |first=Aamir |date=2020-09-27 |title=44 Marghazar Zoo animals temporarily shifted to Ayub Park |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1581826 |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Dawn |language=en}}
As of 2022, the zoo houses 130 species of animals and more than 200 birds.{{Cite web |last=Asghar |first=Imran |date=2022-05-17 |title=Heatwave crisis declared at zoo |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2357019/heatwave-crisis-declared-at-zoo |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Protected areas of Pakistan|national parks}}
{{authority control}}
Category:National parks of Pakistan
Category:Tourist attractions in Rawalpindi
Category:Protected areas of Punjab, Pakistan
{{Pakistan-protected-area-stub}}