Attari-Wagah Border

The Attari-Wagah border is the road crossing between India and Pakistan west of Amritsar, on the old Grand Trunk Road between Amritsar and Lahore. The joint check post was set up after Partition beside Border Pillar No. 102, at the start of National Highway 1.

Its best-known event is the Beating Retreat ceremony, begun in 1959 with the agreement of both governments. Every evening India's Border Security Force and the Pakistan Rangers march in a vigorous parade, the gates open and the two national flags are lowered together. After the flags are folded the soldiers shake hands and the gates close, to loud cheering from crowds on each side. On festivals such as Diwali, Bakr-Eid and the Independence Days, the two forces exchange sweets. Attari was the home village of Sham Singh Attariwala, a general under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and Wagah formed part of his jagir.