Salt heritage
White gold of Sambhar
Salt pans, evaporation and a railway built for salt.
How the salt is made
Brine from the lake is let into shallow pans, where sun and wind evaporate the water over weeks. The crystallised salt is then raked, heaped and dried before transport.
Sambhar Salts Limited
Sambhar Salts Limited, formed in 1964, is a joint venture of Hindustan Salts Limited (Government of India) and the Government of Rajasthan, and manages salt production on the lake.
The salt railway
Narrow-gauge tracks were laid across the salt works to move salt from the pans. Remnants are a favourite with photographers; entry to working areas may need permission.
Livelihoods and environment
Salt work supports many local families. Unregulated extraction and reduced inflow affect the wetland and its birds, so visitors should stay on tracks and avoid disturbing flocks.
Based on public sources and subject to local verification. Spotted an error? Tell us and we'll correct it.
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