Day 01
Khewra Salt Mines and Katas Raj Temples Excursion
- Pick up at 8:00 am from Islamabad and travel to Khewra and Katas Raj on a fairly comfortable drive of around 3 hours. The route is mostly smooth, with a few rougher patches after leaving the motorway at the Lillah interchange.
- First, visit the Khewra Salt Mines, which were first discovered, according to legend, by Alexander the Great's horses in 326 BC when they licked stones in the area. This Himalayan salt is famous in European countries, where it is sold at ten times the cost. Khewra Salt Mines is the second-largest salt mine in the world and is renowned for its production of pink Khewra salt. It is also a major tourist attraction, drawing up to 250,000 visitors a year. Alexander's troops explored the mines for the first time in 320 BC, and visitors are taken into the mine on the Khewra Salt Mines Railway.
- The last stop of the day is Katas Raj Temple, a complex of ancient temples. The temples are considered the second most sacred site in the historical Punjab region. Katas Raj is the second holiest site of the Hindu religion and is believed to be the place where Shiva shed a tear for his beloved Sati. Katas Raj is a religious complex with a Buddhist stupa erected by Asoka and a Sikh gurdwara. There is only one Hindu temple that is active now. The current shape of Katas Raj dates back about 1,500 years.
- Later, return to Islamabad at 7:00 pm to conclude the tour.
