Borders of India

Encyclopedia

India shares borders with several sovereign countries; it shares land borders with China, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Bangladesh and Pakistan share both land borders as well as maritime borders, while Sri Lanka shares only a maritime border. India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand, Myanmar and Indonesia.

Land borders of India

India shares land borders with seven sovereign nations. The state’s Ministry of Home Affairs also recognizes a 106 kilometres (66 mi) land border with an eighth nation, Afghanistan, as part of its claim of the Kashmir region (see Durand Line).

Land Border Country Length (m) and (mi) Force Comments
Bangladesh Bangladesh 4,096 kilometres (2,545 mi) Border Security Force Most India–Bangladesh enclaves exchanged in 2015.
Bhutan Bhutan 578 kilometres (359 mi) Sashastra Seema Bal Open border
China China 3,488 kilometres (2,167 mi) Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Special Frontier Force Also see McMahon Line.
Myanmar Myanmar 1,458 kilometres (906 mi) Assam Rifles and Indian Army Also see India-Myanmar barrier
Nepal Nepal 1,752 kilometres (1,089 mi) Sashastra Seema Bal Open border.
Pakistan Pakistan 3,310 kilometres (2,060 mi) Border Security Force Also see Radcliffe Line, Operation Meghdoot and Sir Creek.
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 0.1 kilometres (0.062 mi) Border Security Force Also see Ram Setu.

Maritime borders of India

 

See also: Exclusive economic zone of India

Maritime borders of India are the maritime boundary recognized by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea entails boundaries of territorial waters, contiguous zones, and exclusive economic zones. India, with its claim of a 12-nautical-mile (22 km; 14 mi) territorial maritime zone and 200-nautical-mile (370 km; 230 mi) exclusive economic zone, has a more than 7,000-kilometre (4,300 mi) maritime border shared with seven nations.

Maritime Border Country Length (km) and (mi) Force Comments
Bangladesh Bangladesh Indian Navy New Moore Island
Indonesia Indonesia Indian Navy Indira Point
Myanmar Myanmar Indian Navy Coco Islands
Pakistan Pakistan Indian Navy Sir Creek
Thailand Thailand Indian Navy Similan Islands
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka >400 kilometres (250 mi) Indian Navy Katchatheevu
Maldives Maldives Indian Navy Maliku Kandu

Border ceremonies

 

India co-hosts the joint ceremonies with the neighbouring nations at the following border crossings. the most attended and emotionally-charged among these is the one at Wagha-Attari Border near Amritsar-Lahore.

India-Pakistan border

At the following border crossing sites the beating retreat flag ceremonies are jointly held by the military of both nations every day at 6 pm, which are open to public as tourist attractions. No special permit or ticket is needed. From north to south, the ceremony sites are as follows:

  • Wagah-Attari border ceremony near Amritsar in Punjab.
  • Hussainiwala-Ganda Singh Wala border ceremony near Firozepur in Punjab.
  • Sadiqui-Sulemanki border ceremony near Fazilka in Punjab.
  • Munabao-Khokhrapar border ceremony in Barmer district in Rajasthan.

India-China border

India and China have five Border Personnel Meeting point (BPM points) where they hold the flag meeting to discuss the military matters as well as the ceremonial BPMs for cultural exchange to improve bilateral relations by celebrating New Year’s Day (January 1), India’s Republic Day (January 26), Harvest Festival (April 14), May 15 PLA Day and Indian Independence Day (August 15). These meetings include the playing of each country’s national anthem and saluting of their respective flags, and ceremonial addresses by representative of both armies. On Indian side only Indian citizens are allowed to visit only 2 passes out of these several BPM passes/sites, Bum La Pass and Nathu La, only on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, only after obtaining Inner Line Permit (ILP) one day in advance.

These BPM passes and border posts where these meetings are held, from east to west, are as follows:

  • DBO
  • Spanggur Gap (Chushul)
  • Nathu La: The pass is used for pilgrims to monasteries in Sikkim such as Rumtek, one of the holiest shrines in Buddhism. For Hindus, the pass reduces the journey time to Lake Manasarovar from fifteen days to two days.
  • Bum La Pass (Tawang): on Sundays and during cultural ceremonies.
  • Kaho, India (north of Kibithu in Walong sector).

India-Bangladesh border

Petrapole-Benapole Border Ceremony, a similar but much friendlier ceremony than Indo-Pak Attari-Wagah ceremony, is held daily jointly by India’s BSF and Border Guards Bangladesh at India-Bangladesh border from 4.30 to 5 pm. It is open to civilians without any ticket or special permit. The Petrapole-Benapole joint retreat ceremony results in lowering of national flags of India and Bangladesh.

Designated crossings with ICP & LCS

 

The map of ICP and LCS.

Integrated Check Posts (ICP)

 

India has 7 functional ICPs, and plans are underway to upgrade 13 more LCS to ICP, including 7 at borders taking total of border ICP to 14, at the cost of ₹3,000 crore (US$420 million) (c. Oct 2017). Designated Integrated Check Posts (ICP), with both customs and immigration facilities are:

India–Bangladesh border

 

  • Assam
    • Karimganj-Golapganj uppozilla in Sylhet District of Bangladesh via Sutarkandi integrated checkpost crossing on NH37(India) and Sheola post (Sylhet division, Bangladesh), plan announced c. Oct 2017.
  • Meghalaya
    • Shillong-Sylhet via Dawki ICP integrated checkpost crossing (Jaintia Hills, India) and Tambil post (Bangladesh). Dawki ICP foundation stone laid in January 2017 and will become operation in 2018.
  • Mizoram
    • Kawrpuichhuah / Kawarpuchiah / Kawripuichhuah near Tlabung in Lunglei district, opened in Oct 2017.
  • Tripura
    • Agartala-Dhaka via Agartala integrated checkpost (India) and Akhaura checkpost crossing, already functional (c. 2017).
    • “Belonia, India – Parshuram, Bangladesh road and rail crossing checkposts” in South Tripura district which connect the railway from Santirbazar in India to Feni in Bangladesh.
  • West Bengal (clockwise from Kolkatta to north)
    • Kolkata–Dhaka via Petrapole integrated checkpost crossing, already functional (c. 2017).
    • Barasat (India) to Ghojadanga (Bangladesh), plan announced c. Oct 2017.
    • Mahadipur in Malda district in Malda-Rajshahi via Mahadipur crossing, in-principal approval in 2019.
    • Fulbari, plan announced c. Oct 2017.
    • Hili, plan announced c. Oct 2017.
    • Changrabandha railway station, in-principal approval in 2019.

India–Bhutan border

 

  • Jaigaon at Alipurduar district of West Bengal, plan approved c. 2016.

India–Myanmar border

 

  • Moreh ICP, already operational.
  • Zochawchhuah (Lawngtlai district in India) – Zorinpui (Myanmar) at Indo-Myanmar border on Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project has already been operational since Oct 2017. The 22 km long Lunglei–Tlabung–Kawrpuichhuah road was upgraded in 2014-15 in a World Bank-funded project to enhance India-Bangladesh border connectivity. Survey for the Rail line from Sairang to Hmawngbuchhuah (1 km north of Zochawchhuah) was completed in August 2017 and it will be constructed in future phase.

India–Nepal border

 

  • Banbasa in Champawat district of Uttarakhand, in-principle approval in 2019.
  • Bhitthamore/Bhittamore in Sitamarhi district of Bihar, in-principle approval in 2019.
  • Jogbani, Bihar
  • Panitanki, Darjeeling district of West Bengal, in-principal approval in 2019.
  • Raxaul, Bihar
  • Sonauli, Uttar Pradesh
  • Rupaidiha, Uttar Pradesh
  • Taulihawa-Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh

India–Pakistan border

 

See also: Transport between India and Pakistan
  • Attari at Wagah in Punjab, already operational (2017) (see Samjhauta Express).
  • Kartarpur Corridor, a border crossing for Indian citizens, only, to be able to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, from Dera Baba Nanak, visa-free.
  • Munabao in Barmer district in Rajasthan (see Thar Express)

Land Customs Stations (LCS)

 

India–Bangladesh border

Designated Land Customs Stations (LCS) are (no immigration facilities):

  • Assam
    • Mankachar Land Customs Stations (India) – Rowmari post (Natun Bandar, Rongpur division, Bangladesh)
    • Karimganj Steamer and Ferry Station (KSFS) (India) – Zakiganj post (Sylhet division, Bangladesh)
    • Guwahati Steamer Ghat (Dhubri district, India) –
    • Dhubri Steamer Ghat (Dhubri district, India) – Rowmati (Maymansingh division, Bangladesh)
    • Assam non-functional LCS are:
      • Mahisasan railway station (Karimganj district, India) – Shahbazpur (Sylhet division)
      • Golokganj (Dhubri district) – Sonahaat (Rongpur Division)
      • Silchar Railway Mail Service (India) – independent of border (no border, inland LCS)
  • West Bengal
  • Meghalaya
    • Baghmara (South Garo Hills, India) – Bijoyour post (Bangladesh)
    • Bholaganj (East Khasi Hills district) – Chatak (Sunamganj division)
    • Borsara Land Customs Stations (West Khasi Hills, India) – Borsara post (Bangladesh)
    • West Garo Hills – Bakshiganj via Mahendraganj crossing on NH12
    • Tura-Nalitabari via Dalu crossing on NH217 (West Garo Hills, India) and Nakugaon post (Bangladesh)
    • Shellabazar (West Khasi Hills district) – Sunamganj(Sylhet division)
    • Gasuapara (South Garo Hills district)- Karoitol (Mymansing division)
    • Meghalaya non-functional LCS are:
      • Ryngku (East Khasi Hills district) – Kalibari (Sonamganj division)
      • Balat (East Khasi Hills district) – Dolura (Sylhet division)
  • Tripura
    • Srimantapur (Sipahijala district) – Bibir Bazar (Comilla division), became operational in January 2016.
    • Dhalaighat (Dhalai district) – Kumarghat (Sunamganj division)
    • Khowaighat (West Tripura district) – Balla (Habiganj division)
    • Manu (Dhalai district) – Chatlapur (Sylhet division )
    • Muhurighat (South Tripura district) – Belonia (Feni division )
    • Old Ragnabazar (North Tripura district) – Betul (Fultali) (Sylhet division)
  • Mizoram
    • Kawarpuchiah integrated checkpost, opened in Oct 2017 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
    • Non-functional LCS in Mizoram:
      • Demagiri (Lunglei district) – Rangamati (Sylhet division)

India–Pakistan border

  • Longewala in Jaisalmer district of Rajsthan

Border bazaars and haats

 

See also: India-Bangladesh Border Haat

This proposed list of border bazaars and haats is in varying stages of implementation, as suggested by State Governments to the Ministry of External Affairs for setting up Border Haats.

India–Bangladesh

India–Bangladesh border Haats areasfollows.

  • Meghalaya
    • Balat in West Khasi Hills district
    • Bholaganj
    • Kalaichar in West Khasi Hills district
    • Nalikata
    • Ryngku
    • Shibbari
  • Mizoram
    • Mamit district
      • Mapara – Longkor
      • Tuipuibari – Not provided
    • Lunglei district
      • Silsury – Mahmuam
      • Nunsuri – Not provided
  • Tripura: Decision on Tripura Haats will be subsequent to the completion of agreement w.r.t. Meghalaya Haats.
    • West Tripura district
      • Kamalasagar
      • Boxanagar
      • Bamutia
    • South Tripura district
      • Srinagar, Tripura
      • Ekimpur
    • North Tripura district
      • Pal Basti (Raghna),
      • Hiracherra (Kailasahar)
      • Kamalpur, Tripura (Dhalai)

India-Bhutan

 

India-Bhutan Border Haat on India-Bhutan border are in operation.

India–Myanmar

India–Myanmar border Haats are. 

  • Arunachal Pradesh Border Haats
    • Changlang district
      • Pangsau Pass (Nampong), – Pangsau, Kachin State
      • Chingsa (Khimiyang Circle) – Langhong, Kachin State
      • Makantong (Khimiyang Circle) – Ngaimong, Kachin State
    • Tirap district
      • Wakka/Pongchau-Wakka (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Pongchao]]/Lazu – Tirap, Kachin State
  • Manipur Border Haats
    • Ukhrul district
      • Kongkan Thana – Aungci, suggested by State Government
    • Chandel district
      • New Somtal – Thenjen, or Khampat
    • Churachandpur district
      • Behiang – Khenman, or Chikha
  • Mizoram Border Haats
    • Lawngtlai district
      • Hruitezawl, Lawngtlai district – Varang
    • Champhai district
      • Hnahlan – Darkhai
      • Vaphai – Leilet
    • Saiha district – Nviaphia
      • Chakhang, Saiha district – Nviaphia
  • Nagaland Border Haats
    • Tuensang district
      • Avakhung – Layshi are 32 km from each other
      • Pangsha – Lahe/Hkamti District HQ are 60 km from each other
    • Mon district
      • Chemoho/Longwa – Lahe are 60 km from each other
    • Phek district – Pansat are 10 km from each other
      • Molhe – Pansat are 10 km from each other

In popular media

 

Pradeep Damodaran’s book “Borderlands: travels across India’s boundaries” chronicles all land borders of India. The bollywood director J. P. Dutta has specialised in making Hindi movies with India’s border as key element of the theme, his movies are Border (1997 film), Refugee (2000 film), LOC: Kargil, Paltan (film), etc.