Dominance’s Guide to a One-Day Trip to Kartarpur

Situated in the Narowal district of Punjab, about 130km from Lahore, lies one of the holiest sites in Sikhism and the largest Gurdwara in the world; Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur. A goodwill gesture and a symbol of interfaith harmony, the Kartarpur Corridor, since its inauguration in November 2019, has been a popular tourist destination not just for the Sikh pilgrims but among Pakistanis as well.

The holy site is open every day from dawn till dusk, and you will be seeing many tourists visiting this place with their backpacks on their shoulders and heads covered with fleece caps in winters. 

So, if you are also into visiting this place from, tourists point 

of view or from the religious point, here’s a concise guide to making the most out of your journey to this historic place.

Preparing for the Journey

No matter what part of the country you are coming from, make sure to travel with your CNIC in the pocket of your cargo pants for verification purposes (B-forms are required to incase of minors). Upon arriving at the check post, you’d be required to pay an entry fee of PKR 200, which might have been updated up until now. And once you’re through security, you’ll be issued with a visitor pass that you must keep with you at all times. Be careful not to take your cameras out at these security points to avoid unnecessary questioning.

Highway corridor leading to the holy site

Things to Do

Once you’re through the scanners, you’d be escorted to the Gurdwara’s entrance via the shuttle service if you don’t prefer walking the extra 1.5km. Now that you’re here, take in the grandeur of the white marble structure that spans over 42 acres roughly.

• Here,Darshan Deori (the courtyard)is where you’re expected to take off your shoes and in the case of females, cover the head, and wash your feet in the Sarovar (a large pool in the Gurdwara premises).
• Close to the courtyard, theKhoo Saab(Persian wheel) is located. It is a sacred well as it is said that Guru Nanak used to use it to farm the land, and hence the water is considered to be holy by the Sikhs.
• Although you can pay a visit to where Guru Nanak’s cape and flowers are buried, however, the main hall of the Gurdwara is only open to the pilgrims. Nevertheless, you can go to the nearby lookout point at the passenger terminal to get a view of the Pak-India border.
• You can also enjoy free food as arrangements for langar and street food are provided around the corridor.

Guru Nanak’s Well

The Best Time to Visit

Since it can accommodate 5000 pilgrims a day, it’s recommended to visit in the early hours before 1 pm so that you can comfortably park your car and take a stroll around the courtyard. 

On some days, the area starts to get packed with visitors, even as early as 10 am. Considering the site’s location, relative ease of transportation, and its significance, it’s definitely a must-visit destination for the year.

Remember, this holy site is also a corridor to upscale humanity via Sikh pilgrims visiting their holy place. Of course, this is just a brief guide to what you expect from this place. However, you must also be ready with all your travel accessories to maximize your experience.

Considering the site’s location, relative ease of transportation, and its significance, it’s definitely a must-visit destination for the year.