Duerming Montalvo Playa Hotel

There is only one land crossing point at which travellers from India can pass into Pakistan and vice versa. It lies 29km from Amritsar and slightly further from Lahore between the border villages of Attari (on the Indian side) and Wagah (on the Pakistan side). Every night, shortly before sunset, the guards on either side of the border perform a ritual ceremony of lowering their flags. Observation grandstands have been built on each side of the border where tourists can watch the ceremony. Most arrive one to two hours before the actual flag lowering to ensure good seats. Some of the stands are divided by gender (ladies slightly nearer than the men's stand), whilst others are reserved for VIPs. From Amritsar it takes approximately 40 minutes to drive to the border. The entrance to the stands is opened about an hour before the ceremony and there are many cafes and bars where observers can pass the time. Approximately 20-30 minutes before the actual flag lowering, the guards commence their ceremonial duties.