Wagah Border- the final frontier of India is about 27 kms. from Amritsar which is the only road border crossing between India & Pakistan. It lies on the Grand Trunk Road between the cities of Amritsar, India & Lahore, Pakistan. The Wagah Border can only be visited via Amritsar.
Wagah itself is a village where the controversial Radcliffe Line was drawn through. Before 1947 the village was unified. Today, the western half of Wagah village is in India whilst the other half is in Pakistan.
This is a ceremonial border where each evening, armed soldiers from each side of the border enact a parade while lowering their respective flags combined with the closure of gates at the international border. It is carried out with great pomp to the sound of bugles. The BSF (Border Security Forces) represents the Indian Side of the Border. To enjoy a close look of the border one can be a part of the frenzied atmosphere at Wagah with people from both the sides of the border shouting slogans to bolster the morale of their respective country's army personnel.
It used to be a particularly hostile parade earlier but over the past few years it has become much more moderate. Now soldiers from both sides of the border shake hands before closing the border gates. This is seen as the result of dialogues and improved relationship between India & Pakistan. It is also called the 'Retreat' ceremony.
The checkpoint has now become a place for celebrating the sovereignty of both the nations with the impressive Retreat ceremony every evening at sunset. Today there are some officers who walk to the headquarters on the other side for some day to day affairs. There is a bus service also operating within the split state of Punjab between Amritsar (India) and Lahore (Pakistan) further emphasizing improving relations between the two countries. One can also walk along the paved path to the main gates and take pictures of the crowd lining the pathway beyond the gate, before or after the ceremony.
The Tarred & well-kept roads, border gates painted in the colours of the two nations flags, barbed wire fencing on the Indian side with modern buildings that house the border security, customs and immigration counters of both the countries that are now part of this check post, make this an all important destination to visit while visiting Punjab.
For many people coming here from the Indian side, a visit is nothing less than a pilgrimage. Visitors on the Indian side generally outnumber those on the Pakistani side even though the enthusiasm on both sides is the same.
The languges spoken here are Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi & English.
Amritsar in Punjab experiences extreme type of climate. The summer is too hot and winter is too cold. The best time to visit Wagah/Amritsar is between the months of October and March. Heavy woolen for winter & light cotton for summer are recommended clothing.
Wagah is best known for the Border which in itself is a huge tourist attraction. Amritsar, the base point for Wagah Border is famously known apart from its Golden temple for woolens like blankets, shawls, jackets etc.
All foreign visitors are required to carry a passport valid at least for 6 months. Visa exemptions include Bhutanese and Nepalese who are staying for less than 3 months & Special restrictions apply to Pakistani and Afghan nationals.
To reach Wagah, one has to stop at Amritsar. Rail, Road & Airways have connections to Amritsar & from here tourists can proceed towards the border. Car/Taxi is the most comfortable option to reach the border. One can also take a bus from Amritsar city and then catch an Auto/Rickshaw to reach the parade location. Communication network to and from the city is quite convenient. By Air: Amritsar is the only international airport of Punjab. Daily flights are available from Delhi to Amritsar. Delhi in turn is well connected to the rest of the country.
By Rail: Amritsar has a Railway Station which is regularly serviced by important Express, Mail & Passenger Trains linking it to the different parts of the country making it approachable by rail from any part of India. It is also connected to Lahore in Pakistan by Rail.
By Road: Only private transport is available to reach Wagah from Amritsar. Taxis and Vans are the most common mode of transport. Buses can also be availed which drop passengers at a certain point & from there tourists can avail the Auto/Rickshaw services. Amritsar is well connected by road to major cities of north India. Amritsar is few hours drive from Delhi & is considered as the base for exploring further within northern India by road. Local Transport: Taxi, Rickshaws are the most used forms of Local transport. Tourist buses are few. Also seen in Amritsar are the ‘Tangas’( Horse driven carts), though now few, they make an interesting mode of transport to move around the city.
Hundreds of people come to watch the Retreat ceremony every evening. Even VIPs make a beeline for the Border ceremony regularly. Some people just visit Wagah Border in nostalgic mood to remember the partition but many visitors come to Wagah only to witness the ceremony. However, Amritsar city, where the tourists halt to visit Wagah, has quite a few attractions of its own.
Nearby Places:
Close to Wagah is the holy city of Amritsar which has an interesting history to explore.
Amanat Khan Serai: 38 Kms from Amritsar, this is famous for its ornamental gateway and glazed tile decorations.
Dharamsala: Located at a distance of 200 kilometres from Amritsar in the state of Himachal Pradesh is a popular hill station. It is also famous as the present home of Dalai Lama.
Tarn Taran: Located at a distance of 25 kilometres from Amritsar, Tarn Taran is a famous excursion point. One of the important spots to see here is the sacred tank which is believed to have curative powers.
Where To Eat:
An increasing number of 'dhabas' (eateries) and other shops just outside the customs gate at the check point (nearly 1 km before the actual border gates) provide ample options to eat. This has also changed the outlook of Wagah in the 60th year of India's independence & partition.
Where To Stay:
Tourists have to make a halt at the city of Amritsar when visiting Wagah. A few good Hotels in the city are: Hotel MK, Hotel Mohan International, Hotel Royal castle, Hotel Austin, Hotel Grand Legacy, Ranjit's Svaasa, Grand Hotel & Hotel Blue Moon.
Wagah Border can only be visited via Amritsar. Amritsar is a well visited destination for the Golden temple. It is recommended to visit Wagah along with a tour covering other places of Punjab.
