India Gate, India Gate Timings, India Gate Entry Ticket, History of India Gate, Architecture of India Gate, About India Gate, Location of India Gate, Nearby Attractions, How to Reach India Gate.
About India Gate
At the centre of New Delhi stands the 42 m high India Gate, an “Arc-de-Triomphe” like archway in the middle of a crossroad. Almost similar to its French counterpart, it commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the World War I. The memorial bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919.
The foundation stone of India Gate was laid by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and it was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin. Another memorial, Amar Jawan Jyoti was added much later, after India got its independence. The eternal flame burns day and night under the arch to remind the nation of soldiers who laid down their lives in the Indo-Pakistan War of December 1971.
The entire arch stands on a low base of red Bharatpur stone and rises in stages to a huge moulding. The cornice is inscribed with the Imperial suns while both sides of the arch have INDIA, flanked by the dates MCMXIV (1914 left) and MCMXIX (1919 right). The shallow domed bowl at the top was intended to be filled with burning oil on anniversaries but this is rarely done.
During nightfall, India Gate is dramatically floodlit while the fountains nearby make a lovely display with coloured lights. India Gate stands at one end of Rajpath, and the area surrounding it is generally referred to as ‘India Gate’.
Surrounding the imposing structure is a large expanse of lush green lawns, which is a popular picnic spot. One can see hoards of people moving about the brightly lit area and on the lawns on summer evenings.
- Construction Started : 10 February, 1921
- Construction Completed : February 12, 1931
- Where is it Located : New Delhi, India
- Why was it Built : Memorial to Undivided Indian Army soldiers who died during World War I
- Dimensions : 42 m in height; 9.1m in width; the complex is 625m in diameters and 306,000 m² in area
- Materials Used : Yellow and red sandstone and granite
- Architectural Style : Triumphal Arch
- Designer : Sir Edwin Lutyens
History
Situated at the eastern end of Rajpath in Central Delhi is the 42 m high stone arch of victory, renowned as the India Gate. Formally known as the All India War Memorial previously, the foundation stone of this magnanimous structure was laid by the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and dedicated to the nation in 1931 by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin.
Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the India Gate stands on a low base of red Bharatpur stone and rises in stages to a huge cornice. Above on both sides is inscribed INDIA, flanked by MCM and to the right, XIX. The names of the 90,000 soldiers of the Indian Army who lost their lives in World War-I, and an additional 13,516 names who sacrificed their lives in the North-West Frontier in the Afghan War of 1919 are inscribed on the walls of this grand construction.
In order to honor the numerous unknown gallant soldiers who died fighting for the country, an eternal flame or Amar Jawan Jyoti was lit under the arch of India Gate in 1971. Uniformed soldiers stand guard over the flame. As a tribute to these dead soldiers, a shining rifle crowned by a soldier’s helmet is placed on a high pedestal near the flame.
Annual Event
Situated at the eastern end of Rajpath in Central Delhi is the 42 m high stone arch of victory, renowned as the India Gate. This magnificent edifice was constructed in 1931 in memory of the Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the battlefield. Following are the special annual events that take place at India Gate
Architecture
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.
Timings and Entry Fees
Timings: Morning to Evening
Entry Fees: Free (There is no entry charge or photography charge for the monument)
How to Reach
India gate is easily accessible from all parts of New Delhi by road and can be reached by bus, taxis and autos. The nearest metro station is Central Secretariat on the yellow and violet line junction.
Local buses and taxis are available from all major points within the city to reach the tourists to India Gate. Browse for more information on other tourist attractions in Delhi and for online booking, please fill in the form given.
To reach the India Gate, you can fly down to the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. You can either avail of local buses from various points within the city to reach the monument, or hire auto-rickshaws and taxis or take the metro rail. The nearest functional Metro station is Kendriya Terminal, while the nearest railway station is the New Delhi Railway Station.
Location
Less than a mile from Connaught Place, (Rajeev Chowk) at the eastern end of Rajpath in Central Delhi.
Best Time to Visit
Open on all days of the year, round the clock, but preferably be there between 7.00 pm-9.30 pm. There is no admission fee, as it is open to all. It requires approximately an hour to look around this majestic edifice.
Nearby Places to Eat
Some of the popular eat-outs near India Gate are Hotel Le Meridien, Imperial Hotel, Hotel Inter-Continental, Parikrama Revolving restaurant, etc.
Nearby Attractions
Situated at the eastern end of Rajpath in Central Delhi is the 42 m high stone arch of victory, renowned as the India Gate. This magnificent edifice was constructed in 1931 in memory of the Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the battlefield. Following are the other tourist attractions near India Gate:
- Rashtrapati Bhawan: The official residence of the Indian President.
- North and South Block: All important government offices are located here
- Parliament House: The place where the Indian Parliament meets and the world’s largest democracy functions.
- National Museum: The museum has an extensive collection of historical artifacts, both of Indian and foreign origin.
- National Gallery of Modern Art: Famous for its contemporary Indian art collection, the museum exhibits around 4,000 paintings, graphics, and sculptures of modern artists.
- Connaught Place: This popular market offers everything from jewelry, books, art, leather goods and Indian and international clothes.
- Central Cottage Industries Emporium: Stores Indian handicrafts and curios.
- Baba Kharak Singh Marg: This market houses each state’s exclusive art and craft created by traditional and accomplished artisans.
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