Khewra Salt Mines are located in Jhelum District, Punjab Province, Pakistan. They are the second largest salt mines in the world. The mines have a long history dating back to 326 BC and have been an important economic resource. Today, they attract around 250,000 visitors annually who can tour the mines and see artistic carvings made of salt stones. Salt mining continues to be a major industry in the region.

1. Khewra Salt Mines
Home / Punjab / Jhelum / Khewra Salt Mines
September 29, 2012
Khewra Salt Mines Enterance
Khewra city famous for having world’s second largest salt mines (Khewra Salt Mines) is
located in District Jhelum of province Punjab, Pakistan. The city is situated about
200 kilometres (124 miles) fromIslamabad and 245 kilometres (152 miles) from the city
of Lahore. Khewra Salt Mines are located 945 feet (288 meters) above sea level. The
mountains containing Khewra Salt Mines are part of mineral-rich mountain range called
Salt Range. Total length of Salt Range is 300 kilometres (186 miles), extending from
Beganwala near River Jhelum to Kalabagh near River Sindh. Width of Salt Range varies
between 8 kilometres to 30 kilometres.
Contents:
1. Overview
2. History of Khewra Salt Mines

2. 3. Rock Salt Properties Khewra Salt Mines
4. Photos
5. Map
Overview:
Khewra Salt Mine is a very popular tourist attraction with nearly 250,000 visitors each
year. There are several artistic carvings of salt stones placed in different areas of Khewra
Salt Mines for amusement of tourists. There is an electric train available to take visitors
inside the mine. It is told that engine of this train belongs to 1930. Male and female guides
are available to guide tourists about the Khewra Salt Mines.
There are several small ponds of thick salty water in different areas of mine. When light
is projected on the liquid in these pools it is refracts and produces different colors that
look very beautiful. Most popular carvings of salt stone among tourists are a replica of
Minar-e-Pakistan made with colorful salt bricks, a model of the Great Wall of China, a
statue of national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal, a beautiful mosque made up of colorful
bricks of salt stone, a model of Sheesh Mahal made up of pink salt bricks, and a model
of Mall Road of Murree.
There is cafeteria for visitors that meet immediate refreshment needs. There are also two
souvenir shops offering decoration pieces and lamps made up of salt stones of Khewra
Salt Mines. Inside the mine is a tunnel named crystal valley by tourists. It is a tunnel with
shining salt crystal in the roof and walls illuminated by colourful lights. There are some
rooms inside the Khewra Salt Mines that were mined during the Mughal times.
History of Khewra Salt Mines:
Year Event
326 BC Salt was discovered by the licking of out crop salt by the horses of Alexander The Great’s arm
who was here to fight a battle against Raja Porus.

3. Year Event
1500 AD ASP Khan local leader of Khewra informed Akbar The Great about existence of salt deposit in
Khewra. Mining was initiated by the orders of King Akbar.
1809 Sikhs taken over the Khewra Salt Mines from Mughals.
1849 British ruler taken over the salt mines.
1853 Aspiring of drinkable water discovered and conveyed to Khewra through a wooden tunnel.
1856 Motorable road was laid down between Khewra and P.D. Khan.
1872 Dr. Warth first Chief Mining Engineer surveyed whole mines and introduced scientific mining
system.He laid out main tunnel at ground level.
1886-87 Railway Bridge (Victoria) was constructed over the river Jhelum between the Railway Junction
Malikwal and Khewra.
1889-90 Salt production crossed 50,000 Metric Tonnes.
1902 Hospital established to provide medical facilities to miners and workers of the Khewra Salt
Mines.
1914 The production was reached 50,000 Metric Tonnes.
1918 Two steam engines were used in the mines for carriage of rock salt.
1924-25 Power House with Two Diesel Electric Generating sets, 500 HP were installed.
1932 Chain cutter machines were imported.

4. Year Event
1933 Automatic loading plant was installed.
1971 Khewra Salt Mines were switched over to WPIDC.
1974 PDMC (Pakistan Mining Development Corporation) taken over the mines from PIDC.
1998 Minning tub system switched over to tractor trolley system.
2002 Khewra Salt Mines Tourist Resort established.
2003 Inauguration of Khewra Tourist Resort.
2005 Khewra Asthma Clinic was established.
2010 Renovation of Khewra Tourist Resort.
Rock Salt Properties Khewra Salt Mines:
Chemical Properties
Chemical Name Sodium Chloride NaCl
Mineralogical
Name
Halite
Hardness 2.5
Specific Gravity 2.16

5. Chemical Properties
Sulphate Usually includes traces of Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2), Magnesium Sulphate (MgSO4),
Calcium Sulphate (CaSO4), Potassium Chloride (KCl) and Magnesium Bromide (MgBr2)
Common Use Seasoning agent, preservation of food and edible purpose.
Salt Derived from the Latin word “Salarium” which means Salary, it served as amon in ancient
Ethiopia and Tibet.
Industrial Uses 1. Chlorine and its principle compounds
2. Sodium and its compounds
Chlorine
Compounds
Hydrochloric Acid, Chloroform, Carbon Tetra Chloride, Bleaching Powder.
Sodium
Compounds
Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Sulphate, Baking Soda i.e Sodium Bicarbonate.
Uses Preservations for meats, Refrigeration process in Dyeing, Manufacturing of soap and glass,
Salt Crystal are also used in study of infrared radiations.