Destination: Wagah Border [Location on Map]
State: Punjab
Distance by road: It is around 477kms away from Delhi.
Nearest Railway Station: It is at Amritsar, at a distance of around 30kms.
Nearest Airport: Raja Sansi
Best Season: October-March
Wagah Border is situated between Amritsar and Lahore. At the sunset time, Wagah Border is famous for its ‘Retreat’ ceremony. Both the Indian and Pakistani armed soldiers fully decked in their uniforms closes the border gates by enacting a particularly hostile parade marked by lowering their respective flags. The ceremonial lowering of the flags and the changing of the guards is done with great enthusiasm and pomp.
On both sides of Wagah Border, there is an elaborate complex of buildings, roads and barriers. From both the countries, soldiers march in perfect drill and bring their respective national flags downward going through the steps. As the lights are switched on, the marking of the end of the day at the time of sunset amidst the thunderous applause raises nationalistic fervor.
Significance of the border: The India-Pakistan border is also called ‘Attari-Wagah’ border. It is an interesting experience to visit the Wagah Border at the time of sunset, when the Retreat ceremony takes place with the Border Security Force on the Indian side and on the Pakistan side, the Sutlej Rangers putting up a spectacular and a well coordinated display of changing guards.
Today to approach Pakistan and Central Asia, this border is the only land route. It paints the past on the canvas when India and Pakistan were one, when the sounds and bugles are blown together and the flags of both nations are blown simultaneously and ceremoniously.
At Wagah Border, the evening with the Retreat ceremony is very colorful and charming. The changing of guards, pageantry and the pomp grabs a large gathering which makes an appealing spectacle. Bringing down of the national flags of both the countries is the most important segment of the evening. To see the ceremonial parade, a large number of tourists and local people throng to the border. The entire ceremony takes around thirty minutes when the sun sets and the soldiers take their departures.
In an electric ambience, the national pride swells with a frenzied people cheering on their country’s soldiers through the squashing parade of their ritual giant-bug. Wagah Border, the international borderline is always in news headlines of both India and Pakistan. The border is fenced with the high voltage electricity on both the sides. The entry gate of the outpost which is Swarna Jayanthi gate commands the magnificent scenery of verdant landscapes.
How to reach the border: One can reach Wagah Border by Road transport from Gurgaon. You can take a bus or a taxi to reach Amritsar. If Gurgaon doesn’t suit you, then you can take a bus from Delhi. The bus will drop you at Amritsar. From there you can take a taxi or another bus to reach Wagah border. Wagah Border is around 30 km far from Amritsar.
To go by rail transport, take the required train from Nizamuddin or Old Delhi station. It will drop you at Amritsar railway station. Take a bus or a taxi to cover up the distance to your destined place.
For Air Transport, take your flight from Indira Gandhi Airport which will drop you at Amritsar airport. Take a bus or a taxi to reach Wagah Border.
23 responses so far
1 Salil ~ Dec 24, 2008 at 2:30 am
Wagah border is not the only place where this happens. A similar ceremony also happens at Hussaniwala border near Ferozpur, Punjab.
2 satish bharadwaj ~ Jan 19, 2009 at 1:46 pm
sir i want to visit wagha border from mysore karnataka, can u ppl guide me to reach over ther. reply awaited..
3 rahul ~ Feb 16, 2010 at 12:36 am
Satish….You can reach to delhi…from delhi to Amritsar and its 28 km from Amritsar.
4 sarfraz ~ Mar 2, 2010 at 4:21 pm
i dont want to do this but just asking that if you can go from pakistan border to india if you show them your passport
5 sarfraz ~ Mar 2, 2010 at 4:21 pm
please reply me back
6 Delhi ~ Apr 20, 2010 at 12:44 am
You need a Visa to visit India from Pakistan. Do not do some thing as stupid as Ajmal Kasab.
7 Ponam ~ Jun 15, 2010 at 5:59 am
I want to travel from Waqa border to Delhi by road,what transportation facilitis are available at the border and what is the cost.please respnd
8 vishnu verma ~ Aug 21, 2010 at 8:27 am
realy so gourgeous
9 vishnu verma ~ Aug 21, 2010 at 8:31 am
very honourable place icann’t belive this so beautiful place.i can’t see any place wagah border
10 Santosh Ghaste ~ Sep 10, 2010 at 1:26 am
What things can be carried and what not…
11 Santosh Ghaste ~ Sep 10, 2010 at 1:27 am
cameras and mobiles are allowed there??????
12 ABHINAV ~ Sep 25, 2010 at 7:28 am
I VISTED WAGAH BORDER LAST WEEK. IT WAS AMAZING. THE WAY SOLDIERS WERE MARCHING OUT. I REALLY FELT SO POWERFUL AND PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN. JAI HIND. VANDEEEEEEEEEEEEE MATRAM.
13 ABHINAV ~ Sep 25, 2010 at 7:30 am
I WAS REALLY HAPPY WITH THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT AND ATTITUDE OUR MAGICAL SOLDIERS HAVE. NOW I FEEL SAFE THERE CAN’T BE ANY KASAAB ENTERING. ATLEAST NOT THROUGH ROAD HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
14 vijay yadav ~ Oct 23, 2010 at 3:05 am
i know my country is great.but after seeing this place i can judge that every people love their country. like we indians loves india as same pakistani loves pakistan. i salute to all the soldiers of all countries….
Jai Hind…….
15 chiranjibi ~ Mar 25, 2011 at 1:13 am
This is really great to see this place,I am feeling lucky and proud be an Indian .
16 Chandra mouli ~ Jun 21, 2011 at 11:29 am
Could u tell the timing of marching.how many times it will there?
17 Tejprakashsingh ~ Jul 4, 2011 at 8:49 am
I like bagah border
18 vinay ~ Jul 8, 2011 at 1:02 am
Awsm place to go,planning to go secnd tym on dis independence day.jai hind
19 sumesh ~ Sep 19, 2011 at 1:19 am
I have been here and it was the most patriotic experience of my life….it was awesome.Both countries arise with a same patriotic feeling…I9 was touched.
20 Siddharth ~ Oct 28, 2011 at 2:49 am
What are the timing of Change of Guard of Wagha Border
21 Shivani ~ Dec 19, 2011 at 5:55 am
i am going to visit wagah border. really excited…..
22 Shivani ~ Dec 19, 2011 at 6:01 am
when is the visiting time….plz tell anyone….waiting for the reply..
23 priya ~ Jan 19, 2012 at 12:54 pm
at what time we should reach border to see drill. . . .
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