Khewra Salt Mine Resort - A hidden beauty and must tour place.

[Last Hope]

The main tunnel at ground level developed by Dr. Warth in 1872 has been converted into Tourist Resort. Thousands of tourists visit Khewra Salt Mines every year. They are fascinated by nature’s beauty inside the mountain. Nearly 35,000 to 40,000 visitors, comprising college students, general public, and foreigners visit Salt Mines Khewra every year. The Salt Mines Khewra has developed as a big attraction for the tourist. Impressed by the interest of the tourist, the PMDC Management launched “Khewra Salt Mines Resort Development Project” in February, 2002 with an estimated cost of Rs.4.2 million which now has been increased by another Rs.3 million.

Khewra Salt Mines Tourist Resort has been developed by PMDC with its own resources. Inside the Mine a beautiful mosque made of different shades of rock salt bricks has been constructed – hollow walls of salt bricks when lighted gives a beautiful look. A large chamber called “Assembly Hall” measuring more than 250 ft in height fascinates tourists. There are certain chambers filled in with saturated brine solution. These ponds when illuminated with fancy lights give splendid look. There is an area of transparent salt of light pink colour known as “Shish Mahal”. Different chambers are connected with salt bridges over water ponds and when illuminated with lights show marvelous reflection of different colours of salt. The development programme envisages creation and development of following facilities at Khewra Salt Mines in the first phase of development programme, which have since been completed.


CREATION OF RECEPTION/BRIEFING HALL: A reception/briefing hall has been constructed to serve as reception center for tourists.

WALKWAY: The walkway from receipt/briefing hall to the Mine Mouth has been constructed by fixing pavers for the smooth walk of tourist.

Mosque made with salt bricks​

SOUVENIR SHOP: For the convenience of tourist, a souvenir shop has been established in the reception/briefing hall area where tourists can find model lamps and other articles made of salt.

CLEANING THE MINES: The Main Mine area reserved for tourist has been cleaned and cleared from the unwanted materials and debris for the convenience and comfort of the tourists.

ILLUMINATION: The mines have been illuminated at a grand scale with fancy and reflector type lights to magnify intrinsic beauty
of the salient features of the mine, its interior look and texture of rock salt.

ELECTRIC TRAIN: Electric train has been made available for tourists to have a joy ride upto main juncture inside the Mines.


REFRESHMENT: Seating arrangements have been made in side the mine. Refreshments have been provided inside the mine, where kiosks have been fitted, having sufficient capacity for tourists to relax and enjoy light refreshments.

 

[Last Hope]

 

[Tayyab1796]

I hav had the honour of going into this 'wonder of the World' ... its truly an amazing place ... a planet of salt , ur floor is salt , roof is salt , walls are salt , there are even salt lakes under the mines and there are hanging bridges on those lakes ... amazing wonder .

 

[Last Hope]

I hav had the honour of going into this 'wonder of the World' ... its truly an amazing place ... a planet of salt , ur floor is salt , roof is salt , walls are salt , there are even salt lakes under the mines and there are hanging bridges on those lakes ... amazing wonder .

Seems awsome bro,
So what are your plans to upload some pictures?

WHat do you say of it. Should salt be mined and exported in large quantities or make a hot tourist spot by advertisments?

Regards.

 

[Frankenstein]

that place is just amazing, It was like I am in whales stomach, not horrifying though

 

[Frankenstein]

Khewra Salt Mines is a salt mine located in Khewra, Jhelum District, Punjab in Pakistan, about 160 kilometres (99 mi) from Islamabad and 260 kilometres (160 mi) from Lahore. It attracts up to 40,000 visitors per year and is the second largest salt mine in the world. Situated in the foothills of the Salt Range, the Khewra Salt Mines are the oldest in the South Asia.

Salt has been mined at Khewra since 320 BC following discovery by Alexander's troops, in an underground area of about 110 square kilometres (42 sq mi). The main tunnel at ground level was developed by Dr. Warth in 1872 but has since been converted into a tourist resort. Khewra salt mine has estimated total of 220 million tonnes of rock salt deposits. The current production from the mine is 465,000 tons salt per annum.

The mine-head buildings have 19 stories, with 11 below ground. Only 50% salt is extracted and 50% is left as pillars to support the mountain. The salt-mine is 288 metres (945 ft) above sea level and extends around 730 metres (2,400 ft) inside the mountains from the mine-mouth. The cumulative length of all tunnels is more than 40 kilometres (25 mi).

Salt occurs in a Precambrian deposit in the form of an irregular dome-like structure. There are seven thick salt seams with a cumulative thickness of about 150 meters. At places the rock salt is 99% pure. Salt is transparent, white, pink, reddish to beef-color red. There are beautiful alternate bands of red and white color salt.

 

[Last Hope]

 

[Last Hope]

Got some more Info on it, much like a timeline:

Discovered in 326 B.C at the time by licking of out crop salt by the soldiers of Alexander the great who fought battle with Raga Pourus.

In 1500 A.D. Asp Khan local leader of Khewra informed the King Akbar the about the existence of salt Deposits in Khewra. Initial mining was started.
In 1809 Sikhs taken over the salt mines from Mughals.
In 1849. British taken over the salt Mines.
In 1853. A spring of drinkable water was discovered and conveyed to Khewra through a wooden tunnel.
In 1856 Motorable road was laid down between Khewra and P.D.Khan.
In 1872. Dr. Warth first chief Engineer who Surveyed whole mines. He introduced Scientific Mining system. He laid out main tunnel at ground level.
In 1886-86 Railway Bridge (Victoria) was constructed over the river Jehlum between the Railway Junction Malikwal and Khewra.
In 1889-90 The salt production crossed 50,000 Metric tones.
In 1902. Hospital established to provide Medical facilities to Miners and workers of the salt mines.
In 1914. The production was reached to 80,000 metric tones.
In 1918. Two steam Engines were used in the mines for the rock salt.
In1924-25 A power house with two Electric Diesel Generating sets. 500 HP were installed.
In 1932. Chain Cutter machines were imported.
In 1933. Automatic loading plant was installed.
In 1971. The mines were switched over to the wapda.
In 1974. Taken over from P.I.D.C.
In 1998. Mining tub system switched over to Tractor Trolley system.
In 2002. Khewra salt mines tourist resort established.

 

[REHAN NIAZI FALCON]

i too had that wonderful trip. this place is worth to watch.

 

[Frankenstein]

darn I visited in 2003, wonder how changed it would be

 

[Tayyab1796]

Seems awsome bro,
So what are your plans to upload some pictures?

WHat do you say of it. Should salt be mined and exported in large quantities or make a hot tourist spot by advertisments?

Regards.

it really is awesome ... i visited in 1998 (with my college trip) , there is also a soda ash plant next to the mines owned by ICI company . Back then the workers (miners) had grievances against ICI , they were saying ICI still buys salt from the mines at the rate decided after partition , they wanted rates revised and the premium going into workers relief fund . I think they way things are in our country salt export is the only choice , only local tourists go there and mostly school/college trips . I don't see much prospects of foreign tourists coming to visit khewra because of our security and law and order condition.

 

[Nalwa]

Seems like an amazing place...!

 

[mughaljee]

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