India Gate, New Delhi

India Gate, New Delhi

India Gate is a monument in New Delhi that honors the Indian soldiers who died in World War I and other wars. It is located on Rajpath, a ceremonial avenue that connects the Rashtrapati Bhavan (the president’s residence) and the National Stadium. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Delhi and a common picnic spot for locals and visitors. You can visit India Gate from 9 am to 5 pm on any day of the week.

History of India Gate

Construction of India Gate
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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, a British architect who also planned the layout of New Delhi. The monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin. The monument was originally called the All India War Memorial and was inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It has the names of more than 13,000 soldiers inscribed on its walls.

In 1971, an eternal flame called the Amar Jawan Jyoti (Flame of the Immortal Soldier) was added under the arch to honor the soldiers who died in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. In 2019, a new National War Memorial was inaugurated near India Gate to commemorate the soldiers who died in other wars and operations since 1947.

India Gate is also a site of national ceremonies and events, such as the Republic Day parade and the Beating Retreat ceremony. It is a symbol of patriotism and sacrifice for the nation.

Height of India Gate

The height of India Gate is 42 meters (or 138 feet). It has a span of 30 feet (or 9.1 meters) and stands on a base of red stone. It is the tallest war memorial in India.

Architecture of India Gate

The India Gate is built in the shape of a huge gateway with a round shaped inverted interior dome and two massive square shaped columns or pavilions depicting Indian architecture. The base of the gate is made of red sandstone and the top of the gate has an arched opening. The gate stands 42 meters tall in height and is located on the eastern edge of the Rajpath, the ceremonial axis of New Delhi

What is refered as  Rajpath?

Rajpath is a ceremonial boulevard in New Delhi that connects the Rashtrapati Bhavan (the official residence of the President of India) to the National Stadium (a sports venue). It passes through the Vijay Chowk (a public square) and the India Gate (a war memorial)12. Rajpath is the site of the annual Republic Day parade on January 26, which showcases the cultural and military diversity of India1. Rajpath was formerly known as Kingsway during the British rule, and was renamed as Kartavya Path in 2022 by Prime Minister Modi.  The name Kartavya Path means Duty Path and was chosen to reflect the sense of duty and patriotism of the Indian people.

India Gate Incriptions

India Gate Inscriptions

The India Gate has several inscriptions on its arch and cornice. On the top of the arch, there is a large inscription in capital letters that reads:

TO THE DEAD OF THE INDIAN ARMIES WHO FELL HONOURED IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS MESOPOTAMIA AND PERSIA EAST AFRICA GALLIPOLI AND ELSEWHERE IN THE NEAR AND THE FAR-EAST AND IN SACRED MEMORY ALSO OF THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE RECORDED AND WHO FELL IN INDIA OR THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER AND DURING THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR

On the cornice, there are inscriptions of the British Imperial suns. On either side of the arch, there is an engraving of “INDIA,” along with the dates MCMXIV (1914) on the left and MCMXIX (1919) on the right. These dates mark the duration of World War I, in which many Indian soldiers fought and died

Canopy (meaning - a structure that resembles a roof)


The canopy in the India Gate complex is a 73 feet (22 m) cupola, inspired by a sixth-century pavilion from Mahabalipuram. It was built as a memorial to King George V after his death in 1936 and housed a statue of the king2. In 1968, the statue was removed and the canopy was empty until 2022. In September 2022, a new statue of Subhas Chandra Bose, an Indian freedom fighter, was installed under the canopy to pay tribute to his legacy.




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