Wagah Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Wagah (or Wagha) is a border town straddling the line between Pakistan and India, 29 km from the city of Lahore on the Pakistani side and 27 km from Amritsar on the Indian side. This is the only open and direct crossing point between Pakistan and India.

The border has become famous for its daily flag raising and lowering ceremony, which is done with pomp and ceremony. It involves some of the tallest members of the Indian Border Force and the Pakistani Rangers marching and closing the many gates. It has become a tradition for people from both sides of the border to gather and see this. Both sides synchronise their parade and the entire event is meant to create a feel-good/patriotic fervour amongst the crowd. It is called the beating retreat ceremony. Since 2010, the Wagha ceremony has begun to tone down so one might see less of the flourishing of Peacock helmets and goose-stepping.

The closest significant cities to Wagah are Amritsar in India (28 km) and Lahore in Pakistan (25 km).

Please note that because of border skirmishes in Kashmir and the tensions between the two nations, the governments of India and Pakistan are not going to allow visas to be given in Wagha. Also, the people who can cross/the times of crossing will be restricted if the skirmishes continue.

The Samjhauta Express from Lahore to Delhi passes through Wagah. The last station on the Indian side is Attari. This train runs twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays. As of December 2022, it is not operating.

• 31.590574.57581 Wagah railway station. (updated Jun 2022)

From Amritsar, Wagah is about 45 minutes away by car, rickshaw, or taxi.

• By bus – There are public buses directly to the border from Amritsar Bus Station, taking about 1–1¼ hr. In case you got a non-direct one that turns around at Attari, take a rickshaw from there for the last 3 km, or just walk. The bus is ₹50 one-way. The last bus from the border back to Amritsar usually waits for 40 min after the end of the ceremony before taking off, but it will definitely go when full—though you won't have big problems passing by the slow Indian crowd to be one of first at the bus.

• By rickshaw – Shared rickshaws from nearby the Golden Temple are ₹100–150 per person return. You won't have problems finding them. Make sure to remember your vehicle and location at the border. Offer a deposit and ask if you can pay the rest on your return.

• By Hop-on/Hop-off bus– There exists a tourist hop-on hop-off double-decker bus, leaving around 3PM from the roundabout northeast of the Golden Temple. The return trip is ₹350.

• By taxi – A taxi round trip, which includes the waiting time at Wagah from Amritsar was about ₹800 in 2009.

When driving from Islamabad, it should take 4½ hr minimum.

From Lahore Station, take a bus, taxi or the Metro and a shared rickshaw. Minibus No. 4 might leave from outside Lahore Railway Station every 15 minutes for about 50 Rs while a taxi should cost 1,900 Rs. For a cheaper ride, use auto rickshaws: when leaving the train station, go left and find the departing point for shared rickshaws where they are waiting until they're filled up. There will be one going to Wagah, or more likely Jallo More (about 150 Rs), from where you will find another one towards Wagah border (50-100 Rs). Expect the whole ride to take around an hour.

Another more comfortable option (especially in summer) is to use the modern Orange Metro Line until its Eastern terminus, Dera Gujran (20-40 Rs depending on where you board) and take a shared rickshaw from the station exit towards Wagah border (about 100 Rs).

If you're planning to cross the border, you should aim to get there as early as possible. As of 2022, the border is open every day 8:30AM–3:30PM. Border formalities can take from 30 minutes to over two hours, and you will need to arrange a proper visa before you arrive. E-visa don't entitle the holder to cross here.

Regular buses or taxis are not allowed into the no-man's land between the countries, so unless you're on one of the few deluxe international buses, you'll have to walk across the 500 m between the border posts yourself. Porters ― Indian porters wear blue coats and Pakistani porters wear green coats ― can carry your belongings for a fee.

Note the following is a description of the Indian side of the border and ceremony. But the Pakistani side should be similar.

Since 1959, the border crossing has become famous for this ceremony, which includes the closing of international gates, a lot of nationalistic cheering, a Monty-Pythonesque silly walk, and the lowering of the flags of both the countries. The flag code of India mandates that the national flag shall be flown only from sunrise to sunset. The guards who perform are chosen carefully among those who have great height, ability to perform, and imposing stature. The crowd on weekends is heavy.

The flag lowering ceremony has become the main event for tourists visiting Amritsar. In addition, there is now a short cultural program also done by local folk dancers (Bhangra) for the waiting crowd before the flag lowering. The border gates have a visitor gallery on each side, basically concrete steps created around the border main road. This allows most people in the crowd to get a seat. A peak crowd of up to 2,000 people can assemble on the Indian side and up and over 1,000 people on the Pakistani side. There are metal fences to help direct and control the crowds in and out of the seating areas. The crowd consists of tourists & locals. The noise (bring earplugs if you are sensitive) and atmosphere of the assembled crowds on both sides of the border is similar to that of a sporting match and very entertaining.

The seating area in the gallery is as follows:

• VIP seating – closest to the gates and requires a special pass which can be made from the BSF station near the Amritsar bypass road a couple of days in advance.
• Ladies exclusive – a section where only women and small children are allowed. This comes after the VIP seating and is little further from the gates (about 80 m away)
• General seating – tends to get very crowded and congested during rush days. Occasional pushing/jostling may happen.

When you are let in, there are separate queues for men and women, and Indian women are kept separate for the women section. Foreigners of both sexes are kept together in the same area after going through the separated security lines. They have a reserved section (partly shaded) so make sure you bring your passport with you so that you can skip the queue and get the best seats available. Most of the seating is exposed to the sun. It gets pretty hot and sweaty unless you go in the winters. Be prepared for that. Not everyone can manage it. If you plan to be there very early, better bring an umbrella to protect yourself, or head up to the shaded and covered seat. Even though there are some gates controlled by soldiers, if you are keen, you can just walk around freely. Later just before the start of the ceremony, you can always move back down seats for closer views.

There are no tickets to see this event, it is free for viewing for anyone on the Pakistani as well as the Indian side. However, VIP seating can by inquired from the BSF station near the Amritsar bypass road.

Do not bring any bags. No covered bags, including women's purses & handbags, are allowed inside the visitor areas. As of July 2023, a fanny pack does not seem to pose a problem. The restrictions are usually dependent on the crowd and perceived security alertness on that day. In any case, there are paid lockers provided by the merchants and stalls along the road 500 m before the border.

Mobile phones, cameras and men's wallets are allowed, but leave the camera bag. However, border personnel allow clear plastic bags with few snacks, water, children's food etc. Cigarettes might be confiscated.

Taxis and cars must be parked about 500 m away from the entry gates to the border area—see #Get in. You will need to walk in and reach the visitor gallery. Stay to the right side until you reach the grandstands. Be prepared for minor traffic jams when the ceremony has finished as up to 200-300 vehicles try to exit around the same time.

There are stalls nearby the parking, organized to buy food and bottled water. On the Indian side, a free drinking water station is right before the entrance to the seating gallery.

Ideally, one should reach the border 45 min before the start of the parade latest, on Saturdays at least 1–1½ hr before would make sense.

The whole ceremony including the cultural pre-program takes 45 min to 1 hr.

• In July 2023, the cultural pre-ceremony started at 6PM, with the main ceremony of the soldiers starting at 6:30PM.
• As of December 2022, the border closes at 3:30PM. On a normal day, there is no need to be there before the gates open, which should be between 3:30PM and 3:45PM. The Indian part, however, seems to fill up more quickly so it is a good idea to be there in advance.
• Other sources stated that 4:15PM is the time during winter and 4:45PM during summer.

Relax at nearby Jallo Park, or enjoy in Suzo Water Park.

• You can buy some snacks/drinks at the entry gate and also along the roadside as you are walking the ca. 500 m to the seating area.
• There are many local male children who sell DVDs of the ceremony, costing around ₹20.
• Be careful of pickpockets.

There is an official tourist centre, called "Aman Umeed" at the entry gate. It is a nice clean facility with toilets etc. and has comfortable seating, although food options are very limited inside.

However, there are 2-3 large local food stalls outside the gate opposite the tourist centre which serve food, offer packaged snacks and soft drinks. You can take these inside when you watch the ceremony.

Water bottles were not allowed after the checking point of entry to Wagah border, but are apparently now, but this might depend on the day of week. If necessary, buy them at the stalls just near the gate.

On the Indian side, a free drinking water station is right before the entrance to the seating gallery.

Mobile phones will not work here, as calls/SMSs are jammed.

• Amritsar
• Lahore