Wagah Border Tourism

‘Wagah border’ is the popular name for the Indian checkpost on the border with Pakistan at the village of Attari in Punjab. The post is more widely after Wagah, a village on the Pakistani side of the border. The checkpost lies on the Grand Trunk Road, 32 km from Amritsar and 24 km from Lahore. The checkpost is popular for the ceremonial and simultaneous lowering of the flags of both countries in the evening. The ceremony is accompanied by a parade and a coordinated stand-offish display by the personnel of both countries. Large crowds gather at the stadium-like galleries that have been constructed on either side. The Indian side of the post is guarded by the Border Security Force (BSF) while the Pakistan Rangers handle the other side. BSF and the Rangers frequently discuss any changes to the routine of the ceremony, that has taken place since 1959. The ceremony is often used as a symbolic display of the state of ties between New Delhi and Islamabad. It is called off each time there are tensions. As a tourist attraction, the ceremony at the Attari checkpost has been replicated in varying forms at a number of places, most notably at Hussainiwala.

Guards who participate in the drill are carefully chosen on the basis of height, imposing stature, etc., besides their ability to perform the drill to perfection. Even though more aggressive elements of the routine have been toned down, the ostentatious and theatrical hostility is electrifying. It has become a tradition for people from both sides to converge at the border post to watch the ceremony. The crowd on Indian side is heavy on long weekends and public holidays. India and Pakistan have constructed stands to enable their citizens to watch the spectacle with comfort. With the numbers increasing, Indian government plans to develop Wagah as a tourist destination. The ceremony lasts for around 45 minutes and is over just before the sunset. The time of the flag lowering ceremony changes depending on the season. Generally, it starts at around 4.15 pm during winter and at around 4:45 pm during summer.