Khewra Salt Mine: facts about the world's 2nd largest salt mine
Khewra Salt Mine in Jhelum district, Punjab, is one of the oldest and largest salt mines in the world and the main source of pink Himalayan salt.
Khewra Salt Mine is in the Salt Range of Jhelum district, Punjab, about 160 km from Islamabad. It is widely described as the second-largest salt mine in the world.
Khewra Salt Mine facts
- Location: Khewra, Pind Dadan Khan tehsil, Jhelum district, Punjab
- Operator: Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC)
- Salt type: rock salt, sold worldwide as pink Himalayan salt
- History: local tradition says the salt was found around 320 BC, in the time of Alexander the Great; mining grew under the Mughals and later the British
- Inside: tunnels, salt-brick structures including a small mosque, and pools of brine
Why the salt is pink
The pink and red colours come from small amounts of minerals such as iron in the rock salt.
Visiting Khewra
The mine is a popular tourist site with guided tours and a small train into the tunnels. The air inside is cool and dry all year.
Related
- Pakistan's 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Deosai Plains: facts about the Land of Giants
Save this for your next trip to Jhelum.