Pakistan Museum of Natural History
Have you ever visited the Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMHN) Islamabad? If you haven’t, you’re missing out on a fantastic opportunity to learn about the natural history of Pakistan! The Pakistan Museum of Natural History is one of the country’s most famous tourist attractions, and for a good reason. It is full of displays and artifacts that will take you on a journey through Pakistan’s natural history with exhibits on the country’s diverse flora and fauna. The museum is home to various exhibitions, including geological specimens, stuffed animals, and fossils. Kids will love the interactive exhibits, and adults will appreciate the informative displays.
So if you’re looking for a fun and educational day out, check out the Pakistan Museum of Natural History next time you’re in Islamabad!
History of Pakistan Museum of Natural History
Pakistan has a wealth of minerals, a diverse biosphere, and a lot of resources and natural reserves. To preserve and gather these remains for research, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology established the Pakistan Museum of Natural History Islamabad in 1976. It is one of the best museums of its kind in Pakistan.
What is the role of the History Museum in Historical Study and Research at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History?
History study and research are integral to understanding the past and how it has shaped our present. It helps us understand the different factors that have come into play over time and how people have reacted. People can find out what life was like in different times and places by looking at objects, reading documents, and viewing other displays. This knowledge can help us to understand ourselves and those around us better. Many natural history museums, like the one in Pakistan, are dedicated to preserving this knowledge for future generations.
The museum is also a vital part of ongoing research. Researchers have made many discoveries in the museum’s laboratories by meticulously examining and studying objects collected over time.
So if you’re interested in history or want to know more about your country and its origins, visiting the Museum of Natural History is a must.
Galleries Inside Pakistan Museum of Natural History
If you’re interested in exploring the natural history of Pakistan, then the Pakistan Museum of Natural History Islamabad is a great place to start. The museum is home to various exhibits spread across Six Galleries. The galleries offer a comprehensive overview of the natural history of this region.
There’s the Gallery, which is full of fossils and rocks from all over the country. Then there is the Gallery, where you can learn more about the plants that grow here. My favorite is the Gallery, which contains information about the different animal species in Pakistan. Let’s dive into the details of each Gallery.
Biological Gallery
You’ll love the Biological Gallery at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History because it is a treasure trove of information. The Biological Gallery is home to various plant and animal specimens. You could spend hours here just browsing through all of the exhibits. The diversity of Pakistan is truly on display here because the exhibition features species from both the southern beaches and the northern alpine ranges.
Just take a look at fossils! They date back millions of years and give us a glimpse into the prehistoric world. It is incredible to think about the changes that have taken place on this planet over the centuries.
Ecological Gallery at Pakistan Museum of Natural History
Have you ever wondered about the lifecycle of flora and fauna? No? Well, you’re in for a treat because the ecological Gallery is home to various fascinating exhibits that will take you on a journey through the country’s ecosystems. The lifecycles of plants and animals and the formation of rocks are the main topics of the Eco Gallery. It displays animal food chains and geological formations. It even has a sizable Deodar tree trunk with rings indicating the tree’s age and a detailed description of the weather the tree experienced throughout its lifetime.
Tethys Gallery
The “Tethys Gallery” offers data and visuals related to the Salt Range, Ocean, Minerals, and Rocks. This Gallery features images of Pakistan’s salt range and rocks and minerals discovered there. Several fossilized Rocks are also on display. Also included in this Gallery is a 3-D diorama of the Khewra Salt Mines, which persuades locals and travelers from abroad to visit Punjab’s actual tourist hotspot.
Gemstones Gallery at Pakistan Museum of Natural History
You’re going to love the Gemstones Gallery. The Gemstone Gallery is a permanent exhibition showcasing gemstones’ beauty and diversity. The display includes all of Pakistan’s naturally occurring gems from every province. Both polished and unpolished versions of the Gems are on display. Quartz, aquamarine, ruby, emerald, garnet, and other precious stones are popular.
Palaeontology Gallery
The Palaeontology Gallery showcases some of the most important finds from the Paleontological Survey of Pakistan. The prehistoric era serves as the basis for Palaeo Gallery. This Gallery showcases the fossil collection from all over Pakistan; some of the specimens date back as far as 650 million years. Fossils, artwork, and writings tell the tale of human intelligence and evolution. Elephant and giraffe skeletons from recent or living animals are displayed in the center to add to the hall’s opulence. Kids and historians alike will love this Gallery.
Virtual Orientation Gallery
The PMNH’s innovative information technology project, the Virtual Orientation Gallery (VOG), contains educational software on Pakistan’s natural history. The Pakistan Museum of Natural History Display Center houses a network of VOG computers. It is a program that provides interactive learning through touch screen technology. It is a significant initiative of the Pakistan Museum of Natural History based on informal education about Pakistan’s natural history. For students and the general public, VOG aims to provide an interactive electronic-based information kiosk on natural resources, such as flora, fauna, minerals, and fossils. In addition to dioramas in various galleries, movie screenings, lectures, seminars, workshops, brochures, and posters, VOG complements the PMNH’s existing information- and awareness-related features and activities.
Exhibits at Pakistan Museum of Natural History
The PMNH is a very educational place to visit. It has exhibits about natural history, geology, and paleontology. One enjoys the earth sciences exhibit and its many types of rocks! They also had great information about fossils found in Pakistan. The museum also has many dinosaur fossils and displays with beautiful pictures, models, and illustrations. The museum contains fascinating exhibits that will take you through Pakistan’s natural history. You’ll see everything from ancient fossils to the latest in wildlife technology. Below, we’ll talk about these and other well-liked exhibits at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History:
Display of Blue Whale Fossil
Have you ever seen a blue whale fossil? No? Well. The Pakistan Museum of Natural History Islamabad features a fossilized whale at the entrance. It’s a blue whale, one of the largest animals in the Ocean. This Blue Whale skeleton discovered in 1967 along the Pasni, Baluchistan, has been on display for visitors for over three decades.
Giant Baluchitherium Statue
Imagine coming face to face-with a giant Baluchitherium statue! This massive creature once roamed the Earth, and you can see it towering over you at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History. The Baluchitherium was a hornless rhino that lived nearly 30 million years ago and was one of the giant mammals. The words “Baluchi,” which stands for Balochistan, and “Therium,” which means beast, are the source of the name. It is because cooper first found it in Balochistan’s Bugti Hills. The mammal was reportedly about 18 feet tall. Cooper discovered giant bones in Balochistan. He described the mammal as the size of a dinosaur and gave it the name Baluchitherium, which means “the beast of Balochistan.” However, the creature remained a mystery for almost a century due to the lack of further research.
Famous French paleontologist Jean-Loup embarked on a journey to Balochistan in the early 1990s, searching for the creature’s fossils. He followed Cooper’s lead and eventually learned that Dera Bugti was the location of Cooper’s initial discovery of the bones of Baluchitherium. An additional participant in that project was the Pakistan Museum of Natural History.
Giant Dinosaur Statue
So there’s this giant Dinosaur statue in the Pakistan Museum of Natural History courtyard. It is a sight to behold and one of the most popular attractions. There are skeletons and fossils on display, as well as stuffed animals and models. It’s cool to see all these different creatures from the past. PMNH Islamabad is a must-see for any dinosaur fan!
Volcano Model
Pakistan Museum of Natural History has a replica of the Volcano on display! This Volcano model explains how a volcano forms, why it erupts, and what kinds of mineral deposits, such as gold, copper, iron, and travertine marble in volcanic regions. It is an excellent example of how volcanoes form, and it’s perfect for kids who want to learn more about this geological phenomenon.
Earthquake Model
In this animated exhibit, you can stand on shaky ground and experience what it’s like to feel an earthquake. This site also includes information on earthquake history and preventive measures.
Crocodile Statue
A Model of a Gharial Crocodile is also on display at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History Islamabad. The species, a fish-eating crocodile, is found in Pakistan’s northern River Indus. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed this species as Critically Endangered. It has long, thin jaws that catch fish and has light or dark olive skin.
Whale Shark display
A Whale Shark fossil is also on display in PMNH Islamabad. The whale shark is a rare species whose population is rapidly declining. This specimen was 50 years old when it was discovered dead on the coast close to Karachi in 2012; it is nearly 40 feet long and is known as a whale shark because of its size and feeding habits. This specimen is the largest ever discovered in the world and weighed close to 16 tons when people found it. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization eventually assisted in mounting it at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History.
Research Center
The museum has a research center where 30 scientists research the various species in this area. Through research publications, displays, exhibits, and dioramas, they work on multiple projects to popularise natural history.
Multiple Events
To raise public awareness of the value of protecting and conserving wildlife, natural resources, and native plants, the public services division organizes workshops, seminars, lectures, and other events.
Pakistan Museum of Natural History Entry Ticket & Timings
The PMNH is open daily from 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM from April to November during the summer and from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM from December to March during the winter. The museum is closed every day between 1 and 1:30 pm for prayers and lunch. The break is from 12:45 PM to 2:15 PM on Fridays.
If you plan to visit the Pakistan Museum of Natural History, you can reserve a specific time slot to avoid the crowd. Call 0334-5524915, 051-9249239, right away to schedule your visit!
The Pakistan Museum of Natural History Tickets cost PKR 30 for locals, PKR 20 for students, and PKR 100 for foreign visitors. The museum is free to enter for children under the age of five.
Location of Pakistan Museum of Natural History Islamabad
The Pakistan Museum of Natural History is located on Shakarparian Hills within the Shakarparian National Park. After taking the Shakarparian Interchange on the Islamabad Expressway/Faisal Avenue, you can access it via Garden Avenue. Suppose you want to continue your exploration of Islamabad. In that case, Garden Avenue will also take you to the Pakistan Monument and the nearby Lok Virsa Museum before it meets Murree Road at the other end of the park.
FAQs
Is PMNH a good place for History Students?
The Pakistan Museum of Natural History is an excellent place for history students to visit and better understand the world around them. It offers the chance to learn about the natural world, which has been happening since ancient times. For many people, it can be difficult to imagine what it was like before there were any Man-made objects in sight. But the PMNH provides an opportunity to step back in time and see what it was like before humans began making their mark on Earth.
Why is PMNH famous?
The Pakistan Museum of Natural History Islamabad is famous because it is a great learning facility for children and adults with a 1.5 million collection size. There are many sections where one can learn about different species of animals, and human history includes much scientific information along with some general data. Also, it has a statue of Baluchitherium and an extensive fossil collection.
Conclusion
Pakistan is home to a fantastic variety of plant and animal life, and the Pakistan Museum of Natural History is the perfect place to learn more about it.
PMNH Islamabad is full of exhibits showcasing everything from the country’s mountain ecosystems to its coral reefs, so if you’re interested in learning more about Pakistan’s natural history, it’s worth a visit.
Come and explore Pakistan’s fantastic world of natural history!