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History of Kartarpur Saahib

This blog is a ready reckoner for Kartarpur Corridor and provides you the best updates regarding the pilgrimage of Kartarpur Saahib. India as a nation was divided in 1947. A new nation Pakistan was created. There was a mass exodus of humanity in August 1947. The Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan traveled to India in this process the people sure came over to the Indian side but the important historical and religious places stayed back in Pakistan.

Significance of Kartarpur Corridor

In Sikh religion, the birthplace of the first Guru Nanak Ji situated at Nankana Sahib remained in Pakistan and is probably the most sacred of all Sikh Shrines. Now you need a visa to visit Nankana Sahib from India. Another very important Sikh Shrine related to Guru Nanak Sahib went to Pakistan, this was the Gurudwara of Kartarpur Sahib. The government of India and the Pakistan Government tried to fulfill the demands of the Sikh masses of India by opening the Kartar Pur corridor in 2019. This has proved a good move for those pilgrims who want to visit the famous gurudwara in Pakistan.

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Inaugural of Kartarpur Corridor

This Gurudwara is just 4 km from India and Sikhs in India used to see this Gurudwara from the border of Dera Baba Nanak through a telescope. Lately, the Government of India and Pakistan got together and a corridor has been constructed to facilitate the visa-free movement of the pilgrims to visit the Gurudwara of Kartarpur Sahib. Indian residents having an Indian passport can visit this Gurudwara and pay their obeisance to the Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib had lived last years of his life in Kartarpur (Narowal district of Punjab) Guru Sahib professed the vocation of a farmer while living in Kartar Pur Sahib.

How to apply online for Kartarpur Sahib?

The application for a visit to Kartarpur Sahib can only be done online. You can click at this link and fill the requisite details and file for an application. The offline mode registration is not available and the pilgrims have to only go for the online mode.

• The applicant should have a valid Indian passport. Overseas residents of India can also apply if they have the OCI card.
• You need to have a working mobile number and email for applying.
• There is no fee to be paid for the application process.
• The electronic travel authorization is an electronically enabled authorization slip containing all the vital details like name, date of travel and confirmation of registration, etc.
• The ETA should be carried along with at the time of travel.

How to approach the integrated check post?

The  Integrated check post on the Indian side is nearly 53 km from Amritsar city. You can take the local bus from Dera Baba Nanak Gurudwara(Free of cost) or hire local transport to approach the Integrated check post, If you are driving you can park your vehicle free of cost at the Integrated check post.

Read the more related blog:- Amarnath Yatra 2020

Time of opening and closing of Integrated check post

The check post opens at the sunrise and closes by sunset(the timings differ in different weather conditions)In December the opening time was 7:30 AM and the last time to report from the other side was 3:00 PM.

What Documents are required at the Integrated Check post?

This is visa-free travel between the two nations no visa stamping is done by the Pakistani authorities on your passport. You are required to present just these documents at the Integrated check post.

• Indian Passport
• Electronic Travel Authorisation
• 20 USD in cash or equivalent INR

What to do and things to keep in mind?

At the integrated check post, you are allowed inside if you have the required documents and you will have to go through a security check and simple immigration where they will stamp your ETA you also have to fill a Custom declaration about what all you are taking along with to Pakistan.

• Only 25000 INR /5000 USD are allowed to be taken to Pakistan.
• You can take only 7 Kg of load along with you.

Remember to take polio drops and get your ETA form stamped for the same from the Punjab Health Department.

What is done after the security clearance?

After getting the requisite clearance you will alight a golf cart taking you to zero lines situated just 100 meters from the Integrated check post(Pakistan). Here you will cross over to the Pakistani side on foot and will be greeted by the Pakistani soldiers. The earlier travelers tell about a very warm welcome at the Pakistani side. Another electronic golf cart will take you to the Immigration terminal Pakistan.

Upon reaching the Pakistan Immigration terminal first pay the 20 USD fees and get a receipt for the same(if you don’t have USD then get the same after converting the INR) .

Required Documents at Pakistan Immigration Terminal

• Indian Pass Port
• Payment receipt of 20 USD

The Pakistani immigration authority will stamp your 20 USD fee receipt. You will be given Identity cards that are to be worn by the visitors. After the immigration check you can ride a bus all the way (around 3 km) to the Gurudwara.

Read More blog:- Get To Know Before Visiting Taj Mahal

History Of Kartarpur Gurudwara

 Though the entire campus is very well made , the Gurudwara building is the best, This Gurudwara is the biggest Gurudwara of Pakistan. You are greeted by Pakistani authorities at the Gurudwara who give you all the detailed information including the time you can spend at the Gurudwara. First, submit your shoes and accouterments at the “Joda Ghar”.Then you can go across these places in the Gurudwara.

What you can see in Kartarpur Gurudwara?

• Deewan hall (a place where Sri Guru Granth Sahib is embodied and read out to the congregation)
• Langar Hall(Dining hall where free of cost food is served)
• Sarowar sahib (Bathing pond for the devotees  )
• Kheti sahib(the place where Guru Sahib had his farms)
• Khoo sahib (well used by the Guru sahib to irrigate his farms)

Shopping at Kartarpur Sahib

After the visit, you can go on to visit a small makeshift market where you can buy some souvenirs from your Pakistan visit. Here you can buy (exchange the INR for Pakistani currency at the designated counters in the market) Dry fruit, sweets, ladies wear, chappals, sandals, Punjabi jooti, (Remember you will only be allowed to take 7 kg back to India).

The same bus will take you back to Pakistan immigration terminal and further to zero points and then upon crossing over to the Indian side, your documents will again be checked.