Attari to get a tourism makeover worth Rs 24 cr

Attari, a historical significant but quaint village touching the India-Pakistan border in Amritsar, will get a tourism facelift as announced by the AAP government. The village founded in the early eighteenth century by two Jat Sikh brothers, who were Sikh Martials, is already an international tourist destination due to the Attari-Wagah border hosting the Beating Retreat ceremony.

Now, the village, which hosts a large number of tourists every day, will get Rs 24 crore makeover.

AAP’s push to promote tourism infrastructure, a project to add to the already existing tourism infrastructure, has been announced. Aimed at enhancing the visitor experience at one of India’s most iconic ceremonial locations, Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney shared that under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme of the Ministry of Tourism, the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB) will invest in building entrance gates, tourist centres and other tourist-friendly spots in Attari.

“The project will be in collaboration with the Border Security Force (BSF) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The construction of an entrance gate, which will be extending up to the border with a total budget allocation of Rs 24.65 crore, will be done. The project is expected to be completed within nine months, with maintenance to be managed by the execution agency for the next five years,” she said.

The project also includes a vehicle check post, tourist information centre, shaded pathways leading to joint check post with upgraded amenities, immersive gallery with AR/VR technology at the JCP, upgraded security checking infrastructure and adventure zone for kids.

“The project aims to promote cultural heritage and ensure a more comfortable, informative and engaging visitor experience,” said the DC.

This comes when tourist inflow at Attari reported a downfall after the Pahalgam terror attack. Tourism in the small village town is heavily dependent on the Beating Retreat ceremony at Joint Check Post, while the ceremony attracts international tourists as well, several other historically significant places in Attari have been sidelined, waiting for infrastructure push. Only 22 km away from Lahore, Attari is the birth and resting place of Sham Singh Attariwala, a Sikh general in the army, who was famous for his bravery during the Anglo-Sikh Battle at Sabraon. A few metres after entering the town, one sees the samadhs constructed in memory of Sikh martyr Sham Singh Attariwala, his father Nihal Singh and other family members.

There is also Pul Mooran, a historic heritage structure, which lies in close proximity to the JCP. The place lies in oblivion despite being a potential tourist spot.