Bo Klua (Salt Wells)

📍 Location of Bo Klua (Salt Wells) 🚘 Directions to Bo Klua (Salt Wells)

About Bo Klua (Salt Wells)

The attraction in question is a place that has been the subject of much advertising and recommendation, but unfortunately, it doesn't quite live up to the hype. The journey to this place is long and arduous, involving a drive through the mountains. It's not a destination that one would recommend for a specific visit, but rather a place to drop by if one is already touring the area and passing by.

The place is not easy to find, with no clear signage at the main road junction. Even with the help of Google maps, it can take several attempts to locate it. Upon arrival, visitors may be surprised by the small size and disorganized appearance of the place. Parking is limited, with space for only four or five cars in an area that isn't really a car park.

The main attraction is a salt well and some boiling pots in a couple of shanty huts, which can be seen in just about five minutes. There are also a few stalls selling the same salt products, including foot spas, face and shower scrubs, and soaps. However, the prices are quite high. The overall experience may not match the expectations set by the advertising, leading to some disappointment.

Despite these drawbacks, the place does have some interesting aspects. There are a few salt mines, or wells, and a row of stalls selling rock salt and related items. There's also a nice river nearby where visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll.

The place is actually an ancient salt pit on a mountain, which is quite rare. It has been serving as an inland salt producer for over 800 years. Today, only two salt ponds remain, but there were many more in the past. The salt here is made naturally and traditionally, not in factories. Villagers collect the salt water from the ponds, transfer it through bamboo rails, and then boil it for about four to five hours. After it dries, the table salt is ready and moved into baskets.

After watching the salt-making process, visitors can stroll around the village and shop at the many stalls selling table salt and other products, including spa salt, salt soap, and salt toothpaste. Some stalls also sell local foods and snacks, such as grilled pork with Makhwaen, a local spice. Visitors can also buy boiled eggs to feed the many fish in the stream.

The village is charming and full of tourists and shops. Visitors can see a worker drawing up water from a salt well and visit several places where big kettles of water are boiling to produce the salt. However, the accommodations in the area are basic and overpriced.

The area has two wells that are 1000km away from the ocean but contain concentrated salt water. In ancient times, this was the only source of salt in the area. Visitors can still see the ancient way of producing salt and can even buy it.

The technology used to produce the salt is primitive but highly effective. The process involves bringing very salty water out of a well, boiling it for a long time, waiting for the water to evaporate, and then putting it in bags to sell. It's a fascinating process that produces amazingly white salt.

The journey up the mountain from NaN city takes about an hour and a half. It's a pleasant drive up winding mountain roads to visit this interesting place and see how they produce salt from the salt water. Despite some of the drawbacks, it's a unique experience that some may find worth the trip.