Wagah Border

The only land crossing between India and Pakistan is at Wagah in Punjab	My sword-wielding driver from the Golden Temple in Amritsar	Departing Amritsar in the late afternoon for the 30km drive to the border	India-Pakistan Border 1 km
The minibus I need to find after the Border Closing Ceremony is over	PunjabOct11 972.jpg	Indian Immigration Checkpost at Wagah - Outgoing	Mounted soldiers of the Indian Border Security Force
Wagah Border signs	Border Security Force India Welcomes You	There's a purpose-built stadium on each side of the border for the lowering of the flags ceremony	Attari Check Post - established in 1949, 2 years after the partition of India
The Gateway of Pakistan	BSF Soldier in their dress uniform with the distinctive headdress	Gandhi looks down from the India Gate at Wagah	The crowd of spectators on the Indian side of the border
The twin fences at the border remain closed while the crowd settles in	Indian BSF Soldier at fence	Jawan - BSF infantryman	There's a much smaller crowd on the Pakistan side with the men segregated from the women and children
The women's grandstand on the Pakistan side of the border	The crowd of Indian spectators - foreigners and VIPs get seated closer to the fence	An Indian soldier watches over the scene from atop the Gateway of India	Badge of the Border Security Force of India
The action starts with two female Indian soldiers marching towards the fence	There were no female Pakistani Rangers on the other side	Quick march by female members of the India Border Security Force	The next two BSF soldiers quick march
Pakistani Rangers line the balcony of the Gate of Pakistan below the portrait of Jinnah	Getting ready to open the border	The Pakistani side of the Wagah Border	The officer in charge of the ceremony on the Indian side
Parade of India BSF soldiers with fast arm swinging march	These soldiers must be hand picked for their size	The best seats right up next to the fence - VIP invitation required	Reviewing the troops
Indian soldier in parade dress uniform	Once everyone is in position, the gates are opened	The gates separating India and Pakistan are open	Turbaned BSF officer
Military display at the Wagah Border	A bit of British military tradition persist	The next day, this officer was at the desk for the last check as I crossed into Pakistan	The flag of Pakistan prepares to be lowered at sunset
Impressive high kicks by the BSF soldiers	Wagah Border Ceremony	The Pakistani Rangers make much better use of their gate than the BSF	The Pakistani spectators - a small turnout
The Indian spectators - full house	Indian spectators trying to get a view of the flag lowering ceremony	Sunset at the Wagah Border	Both sides ready to lower the flags
The flags are lowered simultaneously as sunset nears	The flags of India and Pakistan cross as they are lowered at the end of the day	Flags of India and Pakistan - Wagah flag lowering ceremony	Gandhi looks on from the Gateway of India
The flags are then folded with military precision	The BSF officer carries the flag of India back to the barracks with arms extended	The flag being carried away with reverence	Wagah Border Ceremony
Preparing to close the gates for the night	The Indian crowd presses forward - hopefully there's not an Indian invasion of Pakistan tonight	A Pakistani Ranger glances over as the crowd advances from the Indian side	High kicks from the Pakistani side as well
Pakistan Rangers and the Border Security Force of India	Wagah Border Ceremony	Wagah Border Ceremony	The Indian spectators crowd forward passing my position
The handshake between the Indian and Pakistani commanders marks the end of the border ceremony	Handshake between Indian and Pakistani soldiers at the border	The gates close, once again cutting off India and Pakistan	The gates are closed just in time as the crowd pushes ahead
Photo-op for kids with BSF soldiers after the ceremony	Border Security Force Amritsar	Border Security Force office, Wagah	BSF sentry
The Indian crowd heads back to Amritsar	Even after the ceremony, it's tough to get right up to the gate	Pakistan - see you tomorrow	Decorations on top of the gate
End of the ceremony	Gateway of India - Wagah	30 km in the dark back to Amritsar