We left Lahore for the Pakistan India border early in the morning, hoping to make it to the border and clear the Pakistan Customs / Immigration formalities in time. We arrive at the border at 9.50am and it took a little over an hour to get our Passports and Carnet stamped.
We entered India at 11.10am and it took an hour and a half to clear the India Custom / Immigration formalities. We left the border at 1pm and went in search of lunch near Attari village. There isn't any freshly cooked food, we made do with simple sandwiches we made ourselves and fruits for lunch.
We hang around for a few hours as we waited for the Wahga Border Closing / Flag Lowering Ceremony at 5pm.
Leaving Lahore on the Grand Trunk Road (GT Road) to Wahga Border.
16km to Wahga border
Buffaloes on the move
Arriving at the Pakistan gate after clearing Pakistan Custom / Immigration formalities.
Border patrol checking our documents before allowing us to leave Pakistan
India Border Gate.. a few metres away
Crossing into India
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Wahga Border Closing Ceremony
The Wahga Border Closing Ceremony takes places daily in the evening on both the Pakistan and India sides. The atmosphere is electric, music blaring, locals running up and down the length of the podium carrying the national flags with pride displaying their patriotism. The crowd quietened for a while when the official ceremony begins but soon starts to cheer again when the soldiers begin their elaborate energetic march. The border closing ceremony ends when the flags of both countries are lowered and the gates closed.
We watched the ceremony on the India side.
Locals carrying their national flags with pride while waiting for the Wahga Border Closing Ceremony to begin
Even kids dance along to the music
Mum standing next to an Indian Border Guard in their ceremonial dress. They are very tall!
Wahga Border Closing Ceremony in progress
Video of Wahga Border Closing Ceremony:
Iindia and Pakistani Border Guard lowering their respective Flags.
India and Pakistan flags being lowered simultaneously on both sides
The final march-past of the closing ceremony
The end of the Wahga Border Closing Ceremony. Gates on both sides are now closed.
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