Kartarpur, Nov 9 (IANS): The first lot of 500 pilgrims from India reached Pakistan's Kartarpur to pay obeisance at the shrine of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, after the opening of the historic corridor between the two countries on Saturday.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led the first delegation of which Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is also a part.

"I hope relations between India and Pakistan would improve enormously as a result of this beginning," Manmohan Singh told Pakistan TV as he walked towards the Pakistan side, terming the occasion a "big moment".

Amarinder Singh said that they were all happy because it had been the desire of Sikhs for 70 years to visit their religious sites in Pakistan. "This is a beginning, I hope it's going to continue and many more gurdwaras are going to be allowed," said Amarinder Singh.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent the first lot of 500 pilgrims to visit Darbar Sahib, also called Kartarpur Sahib, the last resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, which falls in Narowal district in Pakistan's Punjab province.

The Pakistan government has declared a holiday on Saturday on the opening day of the Kartarpur corridor.