Attari Railway Station: The Only Indian Station Where Passports and Visas Were Once Mandatory

There’s a railway station in India where carrying a valid passport and visa was once mandatory for Indian citizens a striking exception to the norm. Attari Railway Station, located in Punjab's Amritsar district near the India-Pakistan border, holds a unique place in the country’s railway history for this unusual requirement. Known officially as Attari Sham Singh Railway Station, this station is the last stop on the Indian side before crossing into Pakistan. It served as the gateway for passengers traveling to Lahore via the Samjhauta Express, a train that symbolized cross-border...