Khewra As a Tourist Resort

Khewra salt mine ahas been converted in to a tourist resort. Thousands of tourists visit Khewra Salt Mines every year generating a revenue of more than 4.2 Million. They are amazed by natures sight and its creation inside the mountain. more than 240,000 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. Khewra Salt Mines Tourist Resort has been developed by PMDC with its own resources. Beauitiful stuructures have been made inside the resort,hollow walls of salt bricks when lighted gives a beautiful lookOther attractions such as salt mountain, minar-e-pakistan are present.There are certain chambers filled in with saturated brine solution. These when lighted 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.

• CREATION OF RECEPTION/BRIEFING HALL: A reception has been created as a reception center for tourists.
• WALKWAY: The walkway connect to other lacalities in the mine.
• 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.
• ILLUMINATION: Mines asre illuminated by extra lightining that gives out beauty to the salt present.
• ELECTRIC TRAIN: Electric train has been made for people who cant walk long distances and are in need of the following facility.
• 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.
• MINE GUIDE: Trained guides are present that guides people and provide vital information about the salt mine.

CHARGES

1. Entry Fee: - Foreigner Adult US$ 10.00 - Foreigner Student US$ 5. - Pakistani Adult Rs. 100.00 - Pakistani Student Rs. 50.00 - Senior Citizens & Children Rs.50.00 2. Trolley Charges - Pakistani Adult Rs. 50.00 - Student Rs. 25.00 - Senior Citizens & Children Rs. 25.00 - No fee will be charged for infants upto the age of two years or less. - A group of 12 person and above Rs. 50.00 per head 3. Parking Fee - Motor Cycle Rs. 10.00 - Car/Jeep/Taxi/Rikshaw Rs.30.00 - Hiace Van 18 seater or below or any other van Rs. 45.00 - Coaster 28 seater / 30 seaters or below Rs. 70.00 - Bus/Truck Rs. 80.00

• MINE VISITING TIMES: Mine is open for tourist from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Every Day including weekends and holidays.

History Of Khewra Salt Mines

Khewra Salt Mines is located at the distance of 160 km from Islamabad and 260 km from Lahore in Pind Dadan Khan District Jhelum. It has easy approach via Lahore to Islamabad Motorway through Lilla Interchange. Discovery of Rock Salt dates back to days of Alexander the great. A complete history along with date as follows.

326 BC: It was in 326 BC. when khewra salt mine was discovered by licking of out crop salt by the soldiers of Alexander the Great who fought battle with Raja Pourus.

1500 AD: ASP Khan local leader of khewra informed the king akbar the extensive amount of salt deposits in khewra. Initial mining got started.

1809: Sikhs took over the mines from the mughals and made use of the salt present.

1849: British government took over the khewra salt mine from the sikhs and continued its rule over it.

1853: A spring of drinkable water was discovered and conveyed through khewra through a woden tunnel.

1856: Motorable road was built between khewra and P.D Khan

1872: Dr. Warth first cheif mining engineer who surveyed the complete mines. He introduced the advanced scientific mining system. He laid out main tunnel at the ground level.

1886: 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 the miners and workers working in the salt mine.

1914: Production reached to 80,000 metric tonnes.

1918: For the very first time two steam engines were used in the mines to extract rock salt.

1924-25: Power house with two electric diesel generating sets of 500 Hp were installed.

1932: Chain cutter machines were improved further.

1933: Automatic laoding plant was installed in the mine.

1971: Mines were switched over to wapda electricity.

1974: Mines taken over from P.I.D.C

1998:Mining tub system switched over to tractor trolley system.

2002: Khewra Salt mines tourist resort was established.

2006: Extraction of salt halted and this is now being used as a torist visiting place.No more mining is done in khewra.