All About Khewra Salt Mines (Mayo Salt Mines)

 Khewra salt mines are located in the city of khewra, Punjabi. These mines were found in 320 BC while Alexander the Great’s army was taking a break nearby. Commercial production of the mines started in the Mughal era. Since the Indian subcontinent was divided, the mine has been under the management of the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC).

More About the Khewra Salt Mines

Khewra Mines are Pakistan’s largest salt resource and the second-largest salt mine in the entire world. The Khewra Mines, which draws thousands of tourists each year, is now a well-liked tourist destination for both residents and visitors from other countries. You may be curious as to why it is a popular tourist location. One look inside the mine is all it takes to find the answer, but if you need more incentive to come, there’s quite a lot to discover. The Khewra Mines have 19 levels and more than 40 kilometers of tunnels, including 7 levels above and 12 levels below ground.

Train in the Mines

This is the place where your dream of riding a mining train can come true. There is a per-person ticket fee, and it is in excellent operating order. If there are 12 or more people in your party, you can pay per trip rather than per person. If you wish to explore the mine at your own pace, you can also do it on foot.

Assembly Hall

The central chamber of the mine is an elevated assembly hall. People are often in amazement at the vastness of the hall. In this location, a natural sculpture is also present on the wall that resembles Allama Iqbal.

Badshahi Mosque

The Badshahi Mosque is probably the first item you’ll notice after leaving the assembly hall. The mosque stands out because it is totally constructed of rock salt and has salt bricks in various colors. You can understand what a wonder this construction is given that the mine is known for having salt deposits of white, pink, and red salt. This is especially true when lights hidden in pockets along the walls are shining on it. 

Salt Ponds

You can imagine what the ponds found inside the Khewra Mines are like if you are familiar with the Dead Sea and how everything there floats due to its extreme salinity. There are multiple saltwater ponds inside the mines, but no one is allowed to utilize them. To make it easier for you to cross, ponds have bridges erected across them.

Salt Bridge

The bridge spans a saltwater pond that is 100 feet deep and only 25 feet long. This bridge is distinctive since it is supported by no columns or pillars and is composed entirely of salt.

Location of Khewra Salt Mines

How to Get to Khewra Salt Mines

It is a 3 hours drive from Lahore through M-2 Lahore to Islamabad Motorway. From Islamabad, it takes 2.5 hours to get there via the same road. Moreover, there are special trains from Lahore and Rawalpindi, which operate through the Khewra railway station.