The Kartarpur Corridor| An initiative by the Ind and Pak governments
The Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib is the place where Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji had spent the last 18 years of his life. After the Partition of India and Pakistan, there was no access to the Gurudwara. Currently, the Indian government and the Government of Pakistan have coordinated to give access to the Gurudwara to the Indian pilgrims via the Kartarpur Corridor.
Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib
The Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib is the place where Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji had spent the last 18 years of his life. After the Partition of India and Pakistan, there was no access to the Gurudwara. Currently, the Indian government and the Government of Pakistan have coordinated to give access to the Gurudwara to the Indian pilgrims via the Kartarpur Corridor.
The Kartarpur corridor is a passageway that connects two Gurudwaras, one in India and another in Punjab. It connects the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab, India with the Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib in the Narowal district of the Punjab province in Pakistan. The Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak is approx 1 km inside India from the border and is located in the east bank of the river Ravi. On the other hand, the Gurudwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib has located around 4.5 km from the border in Pakistan.
Kartarpur is a small town in Shakargarh tehsil in the Narowal district of Punjab province in Pakistan. Kartarpur is located on the west bank of the river Ravi in Pakistan. When Sri Guru Nanak Dev was in Kartarpur, he lived the most important phase of his life. Sri Guru Nanak Dev was the founder of Sikhism and he was the first one of the ten gurus of the sect. He had laid the foundation of Sikhism on the banks of the River Ravi. He had come to Kartarpur to spend his last 18 years of his life between the years 1520 and 1522.
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji had practiced the three pillars of Sikhism in the town of Kartarpur. These are as follows -
- Kirat Karo (It means that one should work hard for any task that comes his way and live an honest life)
- Vand Chhako (Be able to share your wealth, possessions and talents with others) and
- Naam Japo (Practice meditation by reciting, chanting and singing)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE KARTARPUR CORRIDOR
The Kartarpur corridor is only made for visiting the Gurudwara. The pilgrim will not be allowed to leave that area and go any further inside.
The foreigners will not be allowed to visit Kartarpur. This corridor is especially for the Indian passport holders and the OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) holders.
Not just the Sikhs but Indians from all religions can use the Corridor and visit the Gurudwara. Pakistanis can easily visit Kartarpur Sahib without having to use the corridor.
There is tight security around the corridor both at the Indian and the Pakistani side of it. Every person is required to give a lot of personal information so as to use the corridor.
PROCESS OF REGISTERING FOR KARTARPUR CORRIDOR
- The person wanting to visit the Kartarpur Sahib should fill the online registration form at least 10 to 12 days before planning the visit. There will not be any registration fees for applying online. Visit the site and log in to apply online: https://prakashpurb550.mha.gov.in/kpr/
- Following is a list of things that you will need for filling the online form:
-Indian Passport or OCI (the website has separate forms for both)
- Your blood type
- Name of the police station near you(if Indian)
- Scan of your passport in PDF form
- Upload the Passport photo in the JPG format
- It is a must to keep a copy of the Passport and the Aadhar Card along with the form. The passport number, date of expiry, date of birth, Aadhar number, residential address, etc are required to be uploaded along with the scanned copies of the documents.
The Scanned copies will have to upload using Acrobat Reader software only.
- If you are registering for a group of pilgrims then the process is a little complicated as the group leader will first register himself and the group. Then all of the members of the group will have to register individually. There can only be a maximum of 5 members in a group including the leader.
- After completing the online registration, The Police verification is required. The local police of your area will be visiting your place of residence for the verification of the uploaded documents. Also, The person will need to sign a statement undertaking that he/she wishes to go to Pakistan to pay obeisance at the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara.
CONFIRMATION OF THE REGISTRATION
- After completion of the online application, an SMS or email will be received confirming your registration. A travel confirmation will be received four days before the date of your visit to the Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib. Along with the email confirmation, you will get the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
- The visitors are required to carry the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) with them as well as their passport.
- The ETA can be downloaded from https://prakashpurb550.mha.gov.in/kpr/applicationStatus. After submitting the details, the download link will appear at the bottom of the page, saying “Your Registration Has Been Processed Please Click Here To Download the ETA.”
You should keep in mind that after applying online, you will then be booking your tickets without the confirmation of the visit. It may not be ideal but this will be the process. Hence, it is important to book your tickets with an option of a full refund on cancellation just in case you are not getting the confirmation to visit the Gurudwara.
ENTRY FEE FOR KARTARPUR CORRIDOR
The Pilgrims who are going to visit the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara is required to pay $20 USD to Pakistan when entering the corridor. You will find the booth for currency conversion at the checkpoint in Pakistan. You can easily get your Indian rupees converted to the US dollar there. The only problem is that the exchange rate is very high. Hence, you should carry USD from India only.
WAY TO REACH: Kartarpur Corridor Passenger Terminal Building
The Passenger Terminal Building of the Kartarpur Corridor is in Dera Baba Nanak. Amritsar in Punjab is the nearest to the Passenger Terminal Building. The pilgrims are required to reach the town of Dera Baba Nanak where the building is. Dera Baba Nanak is around 48.3 km from Amritsar.
OTHER INFORMATION
- There will be an Indian cell network reception in Kartarpur and you can easily call or video calls your friends and family.
- Near the Passenger Terminal, there is a point for lookout, for the India-Pakistan Border Fence, Pakistan’s Passenger Terminal, and also Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib. If the day is clear, all of these will be visible.
- Gurudwara will be offering langar and prasad too and there are many street food vendors just around the entrance of the Kartarpur corridor.
- The best time to visit the Gurudwara is in the morning around 8 am when it is not at all crowded. In the day time, the area gets very busy and congested as the devotees rush.
- It will take approx 45 minutes to reach Kartarpur Sahib from the Passenger Terminal in India. This time includes immigration on both India and Pakistan sides as well as the conversion of currency. It is suggested that you arrive early in the morning as the rush gets heavy during the day time.
- The Pakistan authorities will not stamp your passport
- The Polio Vaccination is compulsory for all after the immigration to India. There is no other option but to get the vaccination done.
- Both the Indian and the Pakistani authorities will be taking your biometrics from all the fingers and the thumbs.
HOW TO REACH THE DESTINATION
After the Pilgrims have reached the Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur (Punjab). They are required to go to the Kartarpur corridor Passenger Terminal Building (PTB). Then, report to the immigration kiosk along with the documents.
The pilgrims have to report to the Passenger Terminal Building before 10 am and report back after coming from the Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib before 5 pm the very same day.
The Pilgrims will then be taken to the Border by e-rickshaw. After crossing the gate in Pakistan, you are required to visit the immigration terminal in Pakistan using the e-rickshaw and the shuttles.
The nearest place to stay is in Amritsar as you will not find any staying arrangements in Dera Baba Nanak.
Also read:- Travel Advice for People Travelling to Pakistan.
image source-Sikh24.com,Discover Sikhism , Hindustan Times
