India and Pakistan open pilgrim corridor

The Kartarpur Corridor will permit visa-free access for Sikh pilgrims from India to Kartarpur in Pakistan, home to one of Sikhism’s holiest shrines, in a rare cooperation between the nuclear-armed neighbours


Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur
Temple built on site where founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, died in 1539. Sikhs’ second holiest site after his birthplace, commemorated at Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib

Corridor, which can accommodate up to 5,000 pilgrims per day, replaces drawn-out visa process and 125km journey via Lahore

Cooperation could build confidence after increase in tension when Delhi stripped partial autonomy from Indian- administered part of Kashmir


AFGH.
Islamabad
Lahore
Nankana Sahib
Punjab
PAKISTAN
CHINA
Pakistani Kashmir
Indian Kashmir
Enlarged map
Punjab
Delhi
INDIA
200km 120 miles


Kartarpur
Kartarpur corridor
4km
Ravi River
PAKISTAN 
INDIA
2km
Dera Baba Nanak

1km 0.6 miles


Sources: Reuters, BBC, The Hindu 
Pictures: Getty Images, Raja Ravi Varma 
© GRAPHIC NEWS