Pind Dadan Khan: Jhelum Riverside Town Near Khewra

Pind Dadan Khan is a river town on the Jhelum in Jhelum district, about 24 km east of the M2 motorway and about 6 km south of Khewra Salt Mine. Most visitors only pass through it on the way to Khewra, but it was once a major grain and salt market, and it still has the character of an old trading town. It makes a practical stop or base for the salt mine, Nandana and the temples of the eastern Salt Range.

This guide covers what the town is, its history, what there is to see, and whether to stay. For the mine itself, see our Khewra Salt Mine history.

Where is Pind Dadan Khan?

The town is the headquarters of Pind Dadan Khan tehsil, one of the subdivisions of Jhelum district, and sits on the bank of the Jhelum. The tehsil lies along the Salt Range and includes Khewra and Jalalpur Sharif among its union councils.

Distances differ by source. Wikipedia says about 24 km east of the M2 and gives a figure of about 85 km from Jhelum city, while the tehsil article says about 22 km from the M2. Another guide puts the town about 220 km from Lahore. Check the exact route on your navigation app: the M2 exit near Lilla is the usual approach, and our guide on how to reach Khewra Salt Mine covers the road.

A short history

The area's recorded history is tied to the battle between Alexander and Porus in 326 BC, with Wikipedia placing Alexander's camp at nearby Jalalpur Sharif. Under Maharaja Ranjit Singh the town was reported as the second most important town after Amritsar and the largest grain market in western Punjab.

The salt trade was central. The British writer James Abbott, visiting in 1848, recorded the salt mines supplying about 600,000 maunds a year. Under British rule the town was a tehsil headquarters and later a subdivision, and its importance faded in favour of Jhelum city. The municipality was established in 1867.

The boatbuilding past

Pind Dadan Khan was known for building river boats, and its boats were in demand along the whole course of the Jhelum. It was also known for brass vessels and weaving. These trades fell back after the Mangla Dam reduced the Jhelum's flow, except in flood season. Do not expect to see active shipyards: today the economy runs on farming, salt extraction and two cement factories, according to Wikipedia. We found no verified list of surviving workshops, so ask locally if craft is the reason you are visiting.

What to see in and around the town

The town is mostly a place to walk and eat, not a checklist sight. The reasons to come are nearby.

• Khewra Salt Mine, about 6 km away, is the headline attraction. Our Khewra guide has ticket details.
• Nandana, a village near the town where the scholar Al-Biruni is said to have calculated the Earth's radius. The site is in need of restoration. See our Nandana Fort guide.
• Tilla Jogian and Katas Raj, two major sites of the Salt Range, each within reach as a day trip. See our Tilla Jogian and Katas Raj guides.
• Local food. One guide mentions chicken karahi, channa dal with rice, tandoori naan and halwa puri as local staples. Treat that as a general pointer, not a recommendation of particular shops.

Should you stay in Pind Dadan Khan?

We could not verify a reliable list of hotels in the town, so we do not name any. For most visitors, the practical choice is a day trip from the motorway or from Lahore or Islamabad. If you want to overnight, ask about guesthouses near Khewra or in Pind Dadan Khan before you arrive, and confirm the rate directly. Our Lahore to Khewra Salt Mine guide covers the day trip from Lahore.

Is it worth a stop?

Yes if you like old towns and want to understand why this region mattered. Allow an hour for a walk and some tea. No if you hope for monuments or a polished riverfront: the river is much reduced outside flood season and the town is lived in, not restored.

Frequently asked questions