Visitor Hub

Visit essentials

Start by confirming opening hours and visitor access. PMDC manages entry at the mine gate. Arrive early on weekends. The parking lot fills by 11:00 AM and the train queue grows quickly.

Check location and directions before you leave. Mobile signal is weak underground but works at the entrance. Save offline maps in case GPS drops on the Salt Range approach.

Before you go checklist

Pack for both hot surface parking and cool underground chambers. The mine stays around 18°C year-round while the lot can hit 40°C in summer.

• Comfortable closed shoes with grip. Salt floors are damp and uneven
• Light jacket or sweater for the mine interior (18°C year-round)
• Water and snacks for the surface queue area
• Phone or camera for photos (flash allowed in most chambers)
• Offline maps saved for the final 30 km from Chakwal

A standard half-day itinerary

7:00 AM: Leave Lahore or Islamabad. Allow four hours from Lahore via M-2, or three hours from Islamabad. The Kallar Kahar service area is the last reliable rest stop before the Chakwal exit.

10:30 AM: Arrive at the mine. Park in the PMDC lot and walk to the entrance counter. Check in at the gate. On quiet weekdays this takes 10 minutes. On Saturdays it can stretch to 45 minutes.

11:00 AM: Board the train. The electric train departs in batches. The ride lasts a few minutes through pink salt tunnels. Staff usually seat families together.

11:15 AM: Walking tour. You walk through lit chambers at a relaxed pace. The Badshahi Mosque replica, Sheesh Mahal, and brine lake are the main stops. Guides point out geological features but do not always speak English.

12:30 PM: Gift shop and exit. The shop sells salt lamps, edible salt, and small carvings. Use the restroom before leaving. Facilities at the mine are basic.

1:00 PM: Lunch nearby or drive to Katas Raj. Khewra town has basic food stalls. For a proper meal, drive 25 km to Kallar Kahar or 25 km northeast to Katas Raj Temples. Our plan-your-visit guide has a full-day version that covers both.

Visiting without a car

Take a train to Khewra railway station on the Lahore-Rawalpindi line. From the station, rickshaws and taxis cover the 3 km to the mine in 10 minutes. Alternatively, take a Daewoo or Faisal Movers bus to Chakwal, then a local van or taxi for the final leg. No direct bus stops at the mine gate on most routes.

See our train travel guide for which services stop at Khewra station and how to plan the last leg.