On November 9th, 2019, the Kartarpur Corridor, a border crossing between India and Pakistan, was opened. The Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, is linked to the Indian town of Dera Baba Nanak in the Gurdaspur area of Punjab by way of this corridor.
Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, is interred at the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan. A thorough explanation of the Kartarpur Corridor can be found on Lakeshore city.
History of Kartarpur Corridor
It is regarded as one of Pakistan’s most well-known historical sites. The partition of India into the independent states of India and Pakistan in 1947 is when the Kartarpur Corridor’s long and convoluted history began. The sequence of occasions that resulted in the creation of the Kartarpur Corridor began with this occurrence.
Sikhs hold the Pakistani city of Kartarpur, which is home to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, in high regard as a sacred location since it is the final resting place of Sikhism’s founder, Guru Nanak Dev. Kartarpur was once a component of the Sikh empire. The town is currently situated in Pakistan.
The Sikh community is currently divided along the border between India and Pakistan as a result of the partition. Pakistan is home to the majority of historically significant Sikh landmarks, including the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. Since many years ago, Sikhs from India have been prohibited from visiting these shrines due to the strong relations between India and Pakistan.
The Kartarpur Corridor was initially proposed in the early 2000s as a potential solution to ease the passage of Sikh pilgrims from India to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, located in Pakistan. Despite this, the idea did not gain traction until the governments of India and Pakistan decided it should be completed in 2018.
The corridor was built in November 2018, with Pakistan and India each operating on their respective sides of the border. In less than a year, the corridor was completed, and on November 9th, 2019, it was officially unveiled to the public.
The opening of the Kartarpur Corridor was a landmark in the two countries’ relations because it marked the first time since India and Pakistan were divided that both countries had consented to grant their citizens visa-free access to their respective countries’ territories.
It was believed that building the corridor would open the door to greater cooperation and confidence between the two nations.
Location of Kartarpur Corridor
The Punjab area, which crosses the international border between India and Pakistan, is home to the Kartarpur Corridor. The corridor’s commencement on the Indian side is the town of Dera Baba Nanak, which is situated in the Punjabi district of Gurdaspur.
On the Pakistani side of the corridor, however, the start is marked by the village of Kartarpur, which is situated in the Punjabi Narowal region. On the rim of the Ravi River, this is the Pakistani side. The Dera Baba Nanak Temple in India and the Gurdwara Temple in Pakistan are separated by around 4.5 kilometres.
To make it simpler for individuals to move back and forth between the two nations, a designated and secure corridor called the Kartarpur Corridor was built between them. On the Indian side of the corridor, it has a bridge that crosses the River Ravi and a cutting-edge passenger terminal.
Holders of Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards, as well as residents of Pakistan and India, are exempt from needing a visa to access the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.
Timings of Kartarpur Corridor
The Kartarpur Corridor is open every day from dawn to dusk, barring inclement weather and other security issues.
Following is the corridor’s schedule:
The hallway is accessible from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. For Indian pilgrims, the corridor’s entrance closes at 4:00 p.m. The corridor is closed on some Indian holidays, particularly on Mondays.
Visitors from Pakistan are welcome in the corridor from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with the last admittance at 4:00 pm. The corridor is shut on Fridays and a few Pakistani holidays.
It is important to remember that the schedule for the Kartarpur Corridor could alter. As a result, tourists are advised to verify the site’s most recent updates or speak with a travel agent. Additionally, in order to enter the corridor, visitors must register online, have their passports on them, and obtain a permit.
Visitors are urged to plan their travel well in advance to ensure they can obtain the necessary permissions and arrive in the corridor well before closure time.
How to reach Kartarpur Corridor
The following are the measures tourists traveling from India can take to get to the Kartarpur Corridor:
Get the Documents that are Required
You must have a current passport and register online on the website of the Government of India if you are an Indian citizen or OCI card holder and want to travel through the Kartarpur Corridor.
Prior to being granted access to the corridor, visitors must first complete the registration process. The Indian government is the source for this licence.
Arrive at the Designated Point
The designated site for the Kartarpur Corridor on the Indian side is the Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) in Dera Baba Nanak, which is situated in the Gurdaspur region of Punjab.
Road access to the Punjab Tourism Board (PTB) is available from nearby towns and cities like Amritsar, Pathankot, and Jalandhar. Two nearby landmarks are the Amritsar International Airport, which is located about 45 kilometres away, and the Dera Baba Nanak railway station, which is only a few kilometres away.
Immigration Process
To complete the immigration processes, which include having their documents authenticated, going through a security check, and registering their biometric data, visitors must go through the PTB. After that, travellers board a bus for the three-kilometer trip to the international border from the PTB.
Crossing of Border
The Pakistani government will greet visitors as they cross the border to the Pakistani side. They must cross the border after arriving at the Gurdwara. They can take a bus from there to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, which is about 4 km away from the international border.
Visitors can use the same route to return to the Indian side of the border after spending some time visiting the Gurdwara.
Significance of Kartarpur Corridor
One of the most sacred sites in the Sikh religion is the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan. Because the Kartarpur Corridor makes it easier for Sikhs to travel straight to this shrine, it holds important religious and cultural significance for Sikhs.
Since Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, was buried there, the Gurdwara receives daily visits from millions of Sikhs from throughout the world. Because the Kartarpur Corridor makes it easier for Sikhs to travel straight to this shrine, it holds important religious and cultural significance for Sikhs.
Before the corridor was built, the Sikh community had been requesting visa-free and hassle-free access to the Gurdwara for a number of years. The corridor has now satiated this long-standing need.
A Symbol of Peace & Goodwill
The Kartarpur Corridor is particularly significant because it has the ability to promote harmony and goodwill between Pakistan and India, two nations that have a long history of conflict over political dominance and territory. On the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev’s birth in November 2019, the tunnel linking the two nations was formally inaugurated.
It is thought to be a crucial advancement in the friendship between the two countries. The corridor, which expands opportunities for interpersonal interactions, cultural exchanges, and strengthened diplomatic ties, is viewed by many as a step in the right direction for establishing mutual understanding and trust between the two nations.
In the end, the Kartarpur Corridor stands for harmony, unity, and the freedom to practise any religion. Additionally, it has the ability to promote tolerance, respect, and peaceful coexistence across groups of people and beyond borders.
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