Changa Manga - N-5 Highway.
The Changa Manga is a planted forest and a wildlife park in Lahore District, Punjab, Pakistan.
Forestry
The forest is entered from a road from off the N-5 Highway near Bhai Pheru. The forest covers an area of 4,860 hectares (12,000 acres) and is one of the largest man-made forests on the planet. The planting and irrigation of the land took place in the 19th century in the era of the British Raj due to the need for timber for the Indian Railways network. The most common species of trees are Dalbergia sissoo (sheesham), Acacia nilotica (kikar), both members of the Fabaceae native to the Indian subcontinent, white mulberry (Morus alba), popular in cultivation throughout South Asia, or Eucalyptus and Populus species.
Wildlife park
The wildlife park in Changa Manga covers an area of 40 acres (16 ha) and was built in 2008. The park is home to species of hog deer, Indian peafowl, jackal, mouflon, nilgai and wild boar. Changa Manga Wildlife Park is one of the three wildlife parks located in Lahore District, other two Jallo Wildlife Park and Lahore Zoo Safari, also called Woodland Wildlife Park.
Recreation
Parts of the forest have now been developed into a recreation park with a rail road which gives the visitor a 5 km ride on a miniature train through the forest. Other attractions include a water turbine, a waterfall and a children’s play area. There is also a lake called 'Lunar Lake' where boating is possible. Changa Manga Tourist Resort is situated 80 km from Lahore city. Tourist Development Corporation of Pakistan (TDCP) arranges picnic trips to Changa Manga throughout the year.
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