You visiting Pakistan? What!? Our neighbouring country? Is it?
Yes, it is!
Mumbai to Pakistan - 08/01/2020 (This was my first solo international trip)
Never in my dreams I thought I would add Pakistan to the list of countries I've been. Thanks to the initiative by both the Indian government and Pakistani governments that kartarpur corridor project is open to the public. A little research, Courage and support was all that required to make this trip possible.
One can easily travel to kartarpur corridor, Punjab from all the nearby states and cities as the Indian side of the corridor is well Connected by road.
Since I've travelled from Mumbai to Kartarpur, Pakistan i.e Mumbai > Amritsar > Kartarpur > Amritsar > Mumbai.
So I'll be sharing my insights as per that
REGISTRATION PROCESS:-
Step 1:
https://prakashpurb550.mha.gov.in/kpr/
Visit Ministry of Home Affairs'website as mentioned above and Scroll down to find and read the "Instructions for Filling Registration Form"
Step 2: Click on "Apply Online" at the top panel
The best to travel from Mumbai to Kartarpur by taking halt at Amritsar city, I preferred to travel by train from Bandra Terminus to Amritsar (Paschim Express - 12925), costing around 1890 INR
I stayed at hotel in Amritsar, You can choose from variety of Hostels and Hotels depending upon one's own comfort and book them via booking.com or any other websites for best deal.
For those, just like I did, who wanted to explore wagah Border's Retreat ceremony can book a sight seeing bus near the jallianwala Bagh by paying just 270 INR to and fro. You can also book a taxi or an ola/Uber depending upon one's comfort ranging from 1500 -2000 INR Retreat ceremony starts at 4.30 PM till 5.30 PM, You get literally goosebumps while cheering for one's nation in from of their most talked about strained neighbor.
As per my experience, a day in Amritsar will cost you not less than 1000 INR (Budgeted Travel)
There are various modes of transport via which you can reach Indian side of kartarpur corridor from Amritsar.
I've researched, Explored and figured out the following modes:
1. By Road: Take bus to Dera baba Nanak which will cost you around 70 - 100INR
Book a Cab/Ola/Uber (Rental or Outstation) to and fro starting from 1500-2000 INR, depending upon one's comfort.
2. By Rail: The nearest Railway station to kartarpur corridor is Dera Baba Nanak which will cost you around 15-20 INR
3. By Air: Reach Amritsar Airport and book a cab to kartarpur corridor costing a minimum of 1200 INR
I opted to hire a cab for 1500 INR to and fro. The taxi driver had great knowledge about Punjab, It's tradition and culture.
I would surely recommend for Perfect city tour guide
Please find the contact details of cab driver
Perminder singh - +91 98031 28519
Here, are the following steps which you will have to go through.
STEP 1. DOCUMENTS CHECK (Passport + ETA)
Do keep your Passport and copy of ETA handy.
STEP 2. SECURITY CHECK
The security procedure is similar to that what you have observed in Airports
STEP 3. POLIO VACCINE
The health ministry will undergo a polio preventive drop to ensure your immunity against Polio Virus, prevailing in Pakistan.
The Health Ministry will stamp on your ETA.
STEP 4. IMMIGRATION (Indian)
Next is your immigration.
The smoothest and coolest immigration I've been through as of now. The authorities will see your Passport and ETA.
They'll take impressions of your thumbs and fingers along with an on the spot photograph.
STAMPED!!! The stamp will say your exit from Indian soil and will provide you with an Indian Yellow ID card stating you as a YATREE
STEP 5. CUSTOMS
Next is customs where you'll have to fill a yellow declaration form, declaring all your belongings such as mobile, amount of cash etc.
Once it is being stamped, you're good to exit Indian soil.
STEP 6. E-RICKSHAW TO BORDER ( Zero Line)
The battery operated e-ricks will take you all the way from corridor building to PAKISTAN'S entry gate free of cost which is around 100 meter's from corridor building.
Hand shakes are being made along with exchange of greeting from both Indian pilgrims and Pakistani Rangers. Once in a lifetime moment I must say.
You can easily spot Pakistani Nationals. Just like us, they are being provided with an ID which they'll have to wear while they are present in the premised.
The only difference is that their ID's are red in colour while ours is Yellow.
STEP 7. ENTRY FEE (20$)
From beyond the gates, Pakistani's e -rick will be waiting or you to drop you off at the pakistan's terminal building.
Before you enter the corridor building, you find foreign exchange counters.
It is mandatory to convert INRs to USDs.
An Entry fees of $20 is mandatory to enter Pakistan's kartarpur corridor
The feeling while you enter the corridor Building of Pakistan is different in it's unique way than the one at the Indian side. This side is well polished and maintained
Once you exit the corridor, pakistani low floor buses will fleet you from corridor to gurudwara sahib at a mere distance of 4.5 Kms.
Here it is. The gurudwara standing tall in white, Gurudwara Shri Kartarpur Sahib.
The Gurudwara has a huge and immense presence on land Approx to 42 acres and is being touted as the largest in the world.
Entirely clean and well sanitized.
The Gurudwara is comprised of sarovar Sahib, darbar Sahib, Dewan Sahib, museum hall and a langar hall to name a few.
just besides the langar hall building, few tuck shops can easily be sighted.
You can visit and shop souvenirs, Gifts, groceries, shawls, Multan soan halwa and pakistani samosa.
They do not accept Indian currency but they do accept dollars and pakistani rupees.
The e-ricks will drop you back to the pakistan border gate, besides which Indian BSF jawans will be there to welcome you back to India.
Indian e-ricks will take you back to the Indian corridor to carry out all the exit immigration formalities by keeping your ETA with them and allowing you free to head back.
The approximate trip costed me around 6500 INR.
This one holds a special place in my heart. Not just because it's in Pakistan and gave once in a lifetime opportunity for an Indian to experience Pakistan soil, but also the planning and execution that was involved while making this a reality was the most important part.
This was my first solo international trip and made some unforgettable memories which I can cherish for lifetime ❤️
PAKISTAN SERIES
1) EPISODE 1 ::-- MUMBAI 🇮🇳 To PAKISTAN 🇵🇰 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3yte...
2) EPISODE 2 ::-- GURUDWARA SAHIB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9L5_...
3) EPISODE 3 ::-- KARTARPUR BAZAAR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPYV9DeUhEY&t=4s
SUBSCRIBE NOW ~ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJlA...
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Step 3: Select your nationality and date of journey. Press "Continue" to proceed.
Step 4: The website will show the dates on which slots are available. Select the day you want to visit Kartarpur as per availability.
Step 5: "Part A" of the Kartarpur Corridor registration form will appear on the screen. Fill it and click on "Save & Continue". Do the same for the remaining parts as well.
Step 6: At the later stages, you will be asked to upload soft copies of your documents such as photograph and passport
Step 7: Once you complete all the stages, you will get your registration number and a pdf copy of the form. Save the pdf file and the registration number for future use.
Pilgrims will be informed by SMS and email of the confirmation of registration three to four days in advance of the date of travel. An Electronic Travel Authorisation will also be generated.
As the portal works on the 'first-come-first-served' basis, pilgrims are advised to register as soon as they can.
It's such a rare sight where you can see people from both the countries, leaving all the strained thoughts and talks for a while, are engulfed in a state of brother hood with so much passion and enthusiasm.It really felt special.
