Crossing the Wagah Border from Amritsar, India to Lahore, Pakistan.

Are you wondering how to get from India to Pakistan and thinking about crossing the Wagah Border from Amritsar to Lahore?  

The Wagah Border is currently the only crossing-point open to foreigners to travel by land between India and Pakistan.

We have crossed the Wagah Border twice from Lahore to Pakistan and had a great experience each time crossing the India-Pakistan border as a family.

This post shares our experience crossing the Wagah Border the first time with tips to ensure a smooth crossing for you too.

• About the Wagah Border
• Can I cross the Wagah Border? 
• About Amritsar
• How to get to the border (from Amritsar)
• Crossing the Wagah Border
• How to get to Lahore (from the border)
• Know before you go
• What is it like?

About the Wagah Border

Between Amritsar, India and Lahore, Pakistan is the Wagah Land Border.  It is a complicated border with an even more complicated history. 

Although India and Pakistan are neighbouring countries with a historic brotherhood, due to the current political situation there are no direct flights between the two (in either direction).  

This in turn makes crossing the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan a unique point of entry. However due to limited information about who can actually cross the Wagah Border it does make even experienced travellers question the ease of how it will be on the day.  

Crossing the Wagah Border: Am I allowed to cross? 

Despite complicated tensions between India and Pakistan the Wagah Border is in fact quite a straightforward border crossing.  

Many travellers cross the Wagah Border every year in both directions.  As long as you are pre-prepared with a correct visa you are allowed to cross the Wagah Border with a foreign passport. 

• Note: Although it is allowed to enter Pakistan with an e-visa/tourist visa at the Wagah Border it is not possible to enter India with the Wagah Border as your first port of entry.  (You must enter India by air at the moment with an e-visa).  

If you have a multiple entry visa for India that is a different story.  But the Wagah Land Border is currently not allowed as a first port of entry with a tourist e-visa for India. 

About Amritsar

Amritsar is a city in the north-western Indian state of Punjab, not far from the border with Pakistan.  

• Tip: It’s ideal to spend 1-2 days in Amritsar and visit the famous gilded Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) at the centre of the walled old town.  

The Golden Temple is the holiest gurdwara (religious complex) of the Sikh religion. 

Crossing the Wagah Border

First things first you need to get yourself to the Wagah Border crossing point known as Attari on the Indian side. 

Getting to the Wagah Border (from Amritsar)

This takes about 40 minutes and is best done by taxi.  (It is supposedly possible by bus but I recommend forking out for a taxi for the most relaxing crossing prep).  

For our border crossing a taxi from Amritsar to the border for our family cost 1300Rs ($16 USD). Your hotel or guesthouse in Amritsar can help book a taxi for you.

Your driver will park in the line to the first passport check and drive you right through to the passport control terminal.  

About the border crossing (a step by step guide)

1. Entering the border area. Your driver will park in a line of cars prior to entering the Indian passport control grounds.   Your passport is checked here (you will need to get out of the taxi) and your driver’s licence checked.  The driver can enter and will drop you outside the Indian passport control building. 

• Exit the Indian side.  The building is similar to a small airport terminal with immigration and customs checks before you are stamped out of India.  

• Bus to the border.  Depending on the amount of people crossing at the same time you might need to wait for a full bus load before it departs.  The bus is only a 2-3 minute drive to the Wagah Border line. 

• Crossing the border.  This is the fun part!  Grab your bag and walk across the border line between India and Pakistan.  Your passport will be checked again here on each side.  And it is possible to take a few minutes here and enjoy being right in the middle of two countries (this is literally the same road the Wagah Border parade marches up and down each evening). 

• Entering Pakistan.  The Pakistani passport control building is smaller and more laid back than the Indian side.  You will process through more passport checks, immigration and customs and be warmly welcomed to Pakistan!   

Getting to Lahore from the Wagah Border crossing

Taxi is the easiest/only option for getting from the Wagah Border crossing to Lahore. When we crossed there were a few taxis lined up waiting at the Pakistani side of the border having dropped people off going in the other direction.  

Do be sure to negotiate and agree on a price before you hop in a taxi.  Our taxi cost 3200Rs ($16 USD) from the border to our hotel in Lahore. 

[Oh, and make sure they actually know where you are going!

• Tip: Some drivers do not have smart phones with a map so if you don’t have data this makes directions by taxi rather trickier! 

Good things to know before you go 

• Timing: Opening times are from 10:00am to 4:00pm but don’t wait until the afternoon as traffic gets busy prior to the Wagah Border ceremony (from 3:00pm onwards). 

• Visas for Pakistan: Pakistan Online Visa System is now open for citizens of 191 countries.

• Visas for India: Apply for eVisa to India by Bureau of Immigration here.  

• Come prepared with supplies: It’s hot; like seriously hot (albeit we crossed the first time in June). 

There are small shops/cafes on the Indian side you can buy a cold drink or chai before crossing.  And be sure to get enough water as you won’t have cash on the Pakistani side to re-stock if you need to (see below). 

Can I exchange money crossing the Wagah Border? 

There are no money changing facilities at the border (don’t get your hopes up on spotting the dilapidated ATM on the Pakistani side exit either).

However there are sometimes money changers (or porters that will offer to change your Indian rupees). Best to get a taxi to Lahore and ask them to stop at an ATM on the way.

• Tip: Albeit it still isn’t quite that simple. See our complete travel guide for Pakistan here which better explains about ATM’s in Pakistan.

But long story short the only two ATM’s (of many, many we tried) that worked with our international card were HBL and Standard Chartered Bank. Request your driver to stop at one of these on the way.

Driving distances to each border 

• Amritsar to the Wagah Border: 32 km
• Lahore to the Wagah Border: 23km 

See our YouTube video of the entire Wagah Border crossing!

Where to stay before and after crossing the Wagah border

Where to stay before and after crossing the Wagah border from India to Pakistan:

• Before crossing the Wagah border: Amritsar, India
• After crossing the Wagah border: Lahore, Pakistan

Accommodation in Delhi and Amritsar

These are the hotels where we stayed in Delhi and Amritsar, Lahore and Islamabad before crossing the Wagah border.

• Delhi: Taurus Sarovar Portico Hotel (mid-range); Smyle Inn (budget); Hotel Hari Piorko (budget).
• Amritsar: Hotel Regency Amritsar (mid-range); Hotel Sapphire (budget).

Where to stay in Lahore and Islamabad

These are the hotels where we stayed in Lahore and Islamabad and can recommend for after crossing the Wagah border.

• Lahore: Rose Palace Hotel (budget); Grand Millennium Hotel (mid-range)
• Islamabad: Regalia Hotel Islamabad (mid-range); Grand Peace House II (basic); Shelton Mellton (basic). 

The verdict? What is it like to cross the Wagah Border? 

Border crossings are often demanding travel days (and rare; when you come from an island country).  But as far as crossing the Wagah Border it is actually in fact pretty straightforward.  

Assuming you have everything in order (passports, visas etc) there is nothing to worry about crossing the Wagah Border to Pakistan.  

Be sure to remember that it is a land border between two countries that have a complicated history and as foreigners able to cross that border it is a real privilege.  

Happy crossing at the Wagah Border! 

More about travel planning for India and Pakistan

These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel. 

• Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally. 
• Skyscanner – This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.  
• GetYourGuide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
• SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country. 
• World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). 

More information for your India Pakistan itinerary

• Taking an overnight train in Pakistan from Islamabad to Karachi. 
• How to apply for a Pakistan e-Visa: And can you use it at the Wagah Border?
• Crossing the Wagah Border from India to Pakistan. 
• Pakistan with kids: A complete guide to travel in Pakistan. 
• Money in India: Using ATM’s, withdrawing and carrying your money safely.
• How to use a squat toilet: Everything you didn’t want to ask…
• Our complete packing list for travel in India.