India Gate

India Gate, Delhi 

The India Gate is located at the heart of India’s capital city, New Delhi. About 2.3 km from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, it is located on the eastern extremity of the ceremonial boulevard, Rajpath. India Gate is a war memorial dedicated to honor the soldiers of the Undivided Indian Army who died during World War I between 1914 and 1921. War memorials are buildings, installations, statues or other edifices dedicated either to celebrate victory in war, or to pay tribute to those who died or were injured in war. Delhiites and tourists alike throng the India Gate Lawns surrounding the monument for a leisurely evening, enjoying the light show at the fountains along with snacking on street food. A National War Memorial to honor all armed forces members killed after 1947 is under construction at the ‘C’ Hexagon of India Gate.

History of India Gate

The India Gate, originally named All India War Memorial, was built to pay homage to the 82,000 soldiers of the Undivided Indian Army who lost their lives fighting for the British Empire in World War I (1914-1918) and the Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919). It was undertaken as part of the Imperial War Graves Commission (IWGC) initiated by the British Imperial Mandate in 1917.The foundation stone was laid by the visiting Duke of Connaught on 10 February 1921, at 4:30 PM, in a military ceremony attended by members of the Indian Army as well as the Imperial Service Troops. The Commander in Chief, and Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford who was the Viceroy of India at the time, was also present. The ceremony hounored the 59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force), 3rd Sappers and Miners, Deccan Horse, 6th Jat Light Infantry, 39th Garhwal Rifles, 34th Sikh Pioneers, 117th Mahrattas, and 5th Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force), with title of " Royal " in recognition of their gallant services in combat. The project was completed ten years later in 1931 and was inaugurated on February 12, 1931, by the Viceroy, Lord Irwin. Every year on 26th January, the Republic Day parade starts from the Rashtapati Bhavan (the President House) and progresses around the Gate. The parade displays the latest achievements in the field of defense technology as well as the rich cultural heritage of the country.

Architecture of India Gate

All India War Memorial was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, a leading war memorial designer at that time. A member of the IWGC, he designed sixty-six war memorials in Europe, including the Cenotaph, in London, in 1919. Cenotaph is the first British national war memorial erected after World War I and was commissioned by David Lloyd George, contemporary British prime minister. Although it is a memorial, the design is that of a triumphal arch, similar to the Arch de Triomphe in Paris, France. Situated at the centre of a hexagonal complex with a diameter of 625m and a total area of 360,000 m2, the India Gate is 42m in height and 9.1m in width. The building material is primarily Red and yellow sandstones sourced from Bharatpur. The structure stands on a low base and rises in asymmetrical steps crowned with a shallow dome at the top. There is also a vacant canopy in front of the monument under which once stood the statue of George V in his coronation robes, Imperial State Crown, British globus cruciger and scepter. The statue was later shifted to Coronation Park in 1960 and the empty canopy symbolizes the British retreat from India.

Facts about India Gate

• You can find thousands of names scripted on the walls of the India Gate of the soldiers who bravely fought for their country and became martyrs.
• The holy flame of Amar Jawan Jyoti was ignited by Indira Gandhi on 26th January 1972.
• The inspiration for the design of the gate came from the famous Arc de Triomphe of Paris.
• It is regarded as one of the largest war memorials across the country.
• The monument is also famous for hosting the Republic Day parade every year.

Amar Jawan Jyoti

Below the India Gate, lies a small shrine-like structure made up of black marble, which always has a fire burning in it. Amar Jawan Jyoti or the Flame of Immortal Soldier was constructed under the India Gate after the Indo-Pakistani war in the year 1971 to pay respect to all the soldiers who died in the Bangladesh Liberation War. It has a black cenotaph placed on the top of a marble pedestal. 'Amar Jawan' is scripted in gold on all the four sides of the cenotaph. On the top of the cenotaph, an inverted L1A1 self-loading rifle is placed with a helmet of a soldier. The marble pedestal is bound by four urns, one of which has a continuously burning flame. The memorial is guarded 24/7 by soldiers of Indian Army, Indian Navy and Air Force.

Design of India Gate

Sir Edwin Lutyens, one of the finest war memorial designers, drafted the design for the All India War memorial in New Delhi. Perched on the centre of a hexagonal complex with a diameter of 625 metres, India Gate covers a total area of 3,60,000 metres square. It is 42 metres tall and has a width of 9.1 metres. It stands on a low base red stone from Bharatpur and then rises in stages. There is a shallow dome-shaped bowl on the top of the India Gate which is rarely filled with burning oil on special occasions. The India Gate is a secular memorial, leaving aside religious and cultural sentiments. Lutyen used the universal architectural style free of religious ornamentation. It has also been called as the remake of Arch de Triomphe since it resembles the structure. Also, right behind the spectacular India Gate, around 150 metres away, is a canopy-like structure which was also built by Edwin Lutyens. It had a statue of Lord George V. but later it was removed.

India Gate at Night

Though India gate is breathtaking at absolutely any hour of the day, its magnificence is even more during the hours after sunset. India gate is bubbling with people even during late-night hours. You can enjoy a tranquil stroll along the Rajpath overlooking the India Gate before grabbing your favourite ice-cream and heading back home.

Activities at India Gate

India Gate has quite a few things to do and spend some quality time outdoors. Some of these are:

• Picnic: You can spend some quality time relaxing here with friends and family while enjoying a view of India Gate in the backdrop.
• Early morning walk: An early morning walk on Rajpath towards the India Gate is a great way to start the day.
• Gorge on some delectable street food: There are many street vendors parked around India Gate. Relish chuskis and ice-creams on a warm sunny day and corn on the cob in monsoons.
• Children's Park: The Children's' Park nearby can be a fun place for the kids.

Best Time To Visit India Gate

The best time to visit India Gate is in spring from February to April and in autumn from August to November. Winters and summers experience extreme temperatures thus making sightseeing difficult.

On the other hand, during spring, the temperature remains constant, and the flowers are blooming in the area around the Gate. During autumn, the aura around India Gate is pleasant and upholstering, thus making this time appropriate for visits. Monsoons in Delhi experience bountiful and unpredictable rainfall, thus restricting outdoor activities.

How to reach India Gate

India Gate is located at a distance of 18 km from the Delhi Airport and can be covered in 30 minutes. The easiest and most convenient way to cover this distance is either by hiring taxis that are available right outside the airport or getting an online cab from the airport.

DTC buses are connecting India Gate to the airport to make your journey easier. Catching a metro may be time consuming, and you will have to go out of your way for this journey. You can also catch auto-rickshaws to this war memorial.