Wagah Border, Amritsar

Wagah Border is an army outpost situated between the cities of Amritsar in Punjab, India and Lahore in Punjab, Pakistan. The only road borderline between the two countries, Wagah Border is marked by elaborate buildings, roads and barriers on its both sides. The entry gate of the outpost, called the Swarna Jayanthi Gate, commands a view of the lush environs. What makes Wagah Border a must-visit place in Amritsar is the colourful ceremony known as Beating the Retreat. Conducted at the border gate every evening with pomp and pageantry, the ceremonial parade of Indian and Pakistani forces and the Change of Guard grabs a large gathering of locals and tourists. As the sun goes down, the 30-minute ceremony comes to an end with beatings of drums and beguiles and thunderous applause.

History
The ceremony was started in 1959 and was agreed by the government of both the countries. Since then, the ceremony has been conducted with much pomp and splendor. The ceremony started decades ago as a gesture of good will among the two countries. However, the ceremony took an aggressive turn after a few years. The border place comprises of a huge arch and has gates of both the countries. Seating arrangements are enabled for spectators to watch the ceremony. Exclusive seats are reserved for women. General seating is allowed only for men. There is also a VIP seating close to the gate and requires a special pass.

How to Reach
There are various ways by which you can reach Wagah Border. It is accessible by road through buses and cars. Buses and other mode of transport are not allowed near the gate. It is also possible to reach the Wagah border by train. The railway station in Amritsar is a junction. Various trains from all parts of the country halt here. One can get down in Amritsar and get into a taxi or bus to reach the place. The airport is around 35 km from Wagah border and is located in Amritsar. The total travel time by road to reach Wagah border is 40 minutes. The fare can be anywhere around Rs. 700 to Rs. 800. Various flights from other parts of the city land in Amritsar. So it is easy to visit Wagah border even by air.