Chakwal Things to Do

3 more images

Khewra salt mines are located in the Salt Range, 45 Kms south of Chakwal and are one of the oldest and biggest rock salt deposits in the world.
Rock Salt deposits in this area were known to humans from prehistoric times and it is often quoted that during the invasion of Alexander of Macedonia (around 326 BC) people settled here dug salt from the mountains.
The salt mines in the area were owned and operated by the Janjua tribe when the British Government took over the administration of these mines in 1849. Scientific mining operation started under the supervision of Dr. Warth, a renowned Mining Engineer of UK in 1872.
There are seven thick salt seams with cumulative thickness of about 150 meters and an estimated 6.687 Billion Tons of rock salt deposits. Cumulative length of mine is more than 40 km. There are 19 working levels in the mine and only 50% of salt is excavated from the working seam while the remaining 50% is left as pillars.
At places rock salt is 99% pure and is transparent, white, pink or beef red in colour. Inside the mine there are beautiful alternate bands of red and white color salt.
Khewra Salt Mines Tourist Resort has been developed by PMDC and the main tunnel at ground level developed by Dr. Warth in 1872 has been converted into Tourist Resort. Inside the Mine a beautiful mosque made of different shades of rock salt bricks has been constructed. The hollow walls of salt bricks when lighted gives a beautiful look. There are certain chambers filled in with saturated brine solution.
Electric train has been made available for tourists to have a joy ride up to main juncture inside the Mines where kiosks have been fitted, having sufficient capacity for tourists to relax and enjoy light refreshments. There is a Restaurant and a Souvenir Shop where souvenirs made from hard rock salt are available. Mine is open for tourist from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day including Sunday and gazetted holidays. Guided tours are also available.

It is located in the salt range mountains 30 kms from Chakwal city near choa saidan shah, on choa –Kallar kahar road.
The Katas site houses the Satgarha - a group of seven ancient temples - remains of a Buddhist stupa, a few medieval temples, havelis (palaces) and some recently constructed temples, scattered around a pond considered holy by Hindus.
The epic poem Maha-Bharat contains its references. An annual festival was held here and the pilgrims performed bath in the waters of holy pond. The legend says that this holy pond was created by the tears of Lord Shev. Every year pilgrims (Yatrees) from India visit this place.
Ruins of a stupa belonging to Jain religion are also present in the north of present Katas.

1 more image

The Ucchali complex is an internationally well known area for wetland conservation. This site is located in the Salt Range to the south of chakwal.The Ucchali complex is a combination of three interdependent wetlands: Ucchali, Khabbaki and Jalar. The three lakes are in a closed bassin surrounded by hills which form the catchment areas. The wetlands are important for international conservation as they presently support the only wintering flock of White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) visiting Pakistan. Along with the White-headed Duck, three other bird species also listed in the IUCN Red Data Book are supported on these lakes: the Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus), the Imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) and the Sociable plover (Vanellus gregarius). Other important avian species visiting the wetlands include flamingoes (Phoenicopterus ruber), pied harrier (Circus melanoleucos), greylag goose (Anser anser) and the ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca) besides many others.The Ucchali wetlands cover about 1243 hectares.
Plz be noted that these lakes are worth visiting and are located in beautiful "Soon Sakesar valley" .The landscape is more beautiful than kalar kahar but the drawback is that approach is difficult....although the road is metalled but it will take a whole day for this trip from chakwal and located at the most remote tip of the road.
Chakwal>kalar kahar>chakwal-khushab border...turn right to talagang> about 10Kms> turn left to nowshera> to ucchali lake complex.

1 more image

Fort Nandna
According to the map, Fort Nandna is towards the Southeast of Chakwal at a remote tip of Potohwar plateau. This plateau is at an altitude of 1500 ft to 2000 ft from sea level. Baghanwala—is a crescent shaped small valley at the base of ruins of Nandna Fort. Two structures of Fort are still standing with their structural details.
According to the legend, this Fort was built during Nandna Dynasty, dated back to about 360-321 BC. And as the legend has it, Kautiliya Chankyia- the intelligent political science graduate from Famous Taxila University of antiquity-- had an important post in the office of Raja Nandna. He was terminated on some charges and was declared wanted. He vanished in the jungle, in the mean time a commander of Raja Nandna named Chandragupta Mauryria too was dismissed and declared wanted.
The meeting of intelligent Chankyia and the acclimatized military commander made a winning combination against the Raja Nandna. Together the two gathered a small army to use it against the Raja. To their luck, Alexander was coming that way and already he had conquered Gandhara in 326 BC. Gandhara was located east of the Khyber Pass, which was the main route through the mountains into India for the armies invading from the West.
Chandragupta Mauyria met Alexander and wanted favour against the Nanda ruler but the meeting didn’t bear any fruit. Alexander, however, while on its way to conquer the world crossed the river Jhelum somewhere near to the Fort and defeated local prince, Raja Porus. Alexander left India in 325 BC and died two years later which weakened his vast Macedonian empire. In 321 BC, Chandragupta Mauryia with the help of Chankyia led a successful rebellion against the Nandna ruler. They defeated him, founded the Mauryian Dynasty, and defeated the Seleucids-- the successors of Alexander ruling this area.