India Gate
India Gate, a National Monument present in Delhi
India Gate
₹ 52 onwards
View Delhi PackagesTop Hotel Collections
Weather :
Label : Top Attraction
Tags : Monument
Timings : All time
Time Required : 1-2 hours
Entry Fee : No entry fee
Where to Park :
- Shahjahan Road: (10 Minutes Walk)
- Hyderabad House: Nearest Parking Spot
- Bikaner House at Pandara Road (10-12 Minutes Walk)
- NDMC Parking at Pandara Road (10-12 Minutes Walk), INR 30 Per Hour
- Delhi High Court parking (15 Minutes Walk), INR 30 Per Hour
- Man Singh Road: Follow Ashoka road from India Gate Circle and take a left diversion to Man Singh Road (8-10 minutes walk); Free
Nearest Metro Station : Central Secretariat
Foundation Stone : Laid Down: 1921
Unveiled On: 1931
Unveiled By: Indian Viceroy Lord Irwin
Amar Jyoti Jawan : Built-In: 1971
When: Post- Bangladesh Liberation War
Symbolises: the eternal, immortal soldiers of India
Planning a Trip? Ask Your Question
India Gate, Delhi Overview
The All India War Memorial, popularly known as the India Gate, is located along the Rajpath in New Delhi. The imposing structure of India Gate is an awe-inspiring sight and is often compared to the Arch de Triomphe in France, the Gateway of India in Mumbai and the Arch of Constantine in Rome. This 42-meter tall historical structure was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and is one of the largest war memorials in the country. India Gate is also famous for hosting the Republic Day Parade every year.
Dedicated to 82,000 Indian and British soldiers who died during the First World War and the Third Anglo-Afghan War, this monument has the names of 13,300 servicemen inscribed on its surface. The premises of India Gate also houses the Amar Jawan Jyoti, which is a kindled structure right underneath the archway. Owing to its rich historical background and astonishing architecture, India Gate has become one of the most popular picnic spots in the city.
Read More
Read More on India Gate
History of India Gate
The construction of the India Gate started in the year 1921, and it was a part of the British initiative to build graves and memorials for all the Indian and British soldiers who represented the British Empire in the First World War. The Duke of Connaught laid the foundation stone of the war memorial on 10th February 1921, and the memorial was finally inaugurated by Lord Irwin, India's Viceroy on 12th February 1931. It was dedicated to all the soldiers who laid their lives during the war so that the future generations would remember them for the noble sacrifice they made for the love of their country.
Facts about India Gate
1. 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.
2. The holy flame of Amar Jawan Jyoti was ignited by Indira Gandhi on 26th January 1972.
3. The inspiration for the design of the gate came from the famous Arc de Triomphe of Paris.
4. It is regarded as one of the largest war memorials across the country.
5. The monument is also famous for hosting the Republic Day parade every year.
2. The holy flame of Amar Jawan Jyoti was ignited by Indira Gandhi on 26th January 1972.
3. The inspiration for the design of the gate came from the famous Arc de Triomphe of Paris.
4. It is regarded as one of the largest war memorials across the country.
5. 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.
Read more about Amar Jawan Jyoti
Read more about Amar Jawan Jyoti
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.
Inscription on India Gate
On both the sides of the arch of India Gate, 'India' is inscribed in the capital with dates MCMXIV (1914) and MCMXIX (1919) on its either sides. Below the word 'India', in capital letters, is inscribed: "To the dead of the Indian armies who fell and are honoured in France and Flanders Mesopotamia and Persia East Africa Gallipoli and elsewhere in the near and the far-east in sacred memory also of those whose names are here recorded and who fell in India or the north-west frontier and during the Third Afghan War."
How to Reach
The most comfortable option to reach India Gate is via metro. The nearest Metro Station is the Central Secretariat Metro Station, which falls on the Yellow Line. Other metro stations are Pragati Maidan, Race Course and Barakhamba. You can take an auto-rickshaw or taxi from outside the metro station to reach India Gate. Alternatively, you can take the DTC bus from any point in the city. Buses going towards Patiala House also go towards India Gate.
Unfortunately, tourists are not allowed to take vehicles to the memorial.
Unfortunately, tourists are not allowed to take vehicles to the memorial.
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:
1. Picnic: You can spend some quality time relaxing here with friends and family while enjoying a view of India Gate in the backdrop.
2. Early morning walk: An early morning walk on Rajpath towards the India Gate is a great way to start the day.
3. 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.
4. Children's Park: The Children's' Park nearby can be a fun place for the kids.
1. Picnic: You can spend some quality time relaxing here with friends and family while enjoying a view of India Gate in the backdrop.
2. Early morning walk: An early morning walk on Rajpath towards the India Gate is a great way to start the day.
3. 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.
4. Children's Park: The Children's' Park nearby can be a fun place for the kids.
Best Time To Visit India Gate
Delhi witnesses extreme temperatures. While summers and winters are unbearable, monsoon restricts outdoor activities. But, favourable months to visit Delhi are February to April and August to November. India Gate can be explored anytime throughout the day. The night view is breathtaking with perfect lighting. India gate is decorated on Independence Day (August 15) or Republic Day (January 26) making it a visual delight.
Top Hotel Collections
Top Hotels Near India Gate
India Gate Reviews
Your rating
Tina Garg
on India Gate 6 years ago
India Gate: What’s India without Delhi and what’s Delhi without India Gate? The heart of this beautiful city, India Gate is one of the most iconic places in the country and certainly my favorite. At (Read More)night time especially, the vibes that this place gives is soothing. Eating ice-creams and chuskis with family or friends and seeing the kids play around is one of the most satisfying feelings ever. And then taking a walk till Parliament House makes me fall in love with myself and this city. It is undoubtedly the heart of the city but my heart lies there, in the lanes and gardens of India Gate.
Soumita Ghosh
on India Gate 6 years ago
India Gate loyally serves as a heartfelt and sincere tribute to all the brave citizens who fought for their country and became martyrs. Carry some identity proof as many a times, people are denied ac (Read More)cess to a few of the sites without proof. You have the permission to place flowers – as a tribute to the courageous soldiers – on the memorial stone. The plethora of food joints and dhabas around this area provides delectable dishes. You can also take bicycle tour around India Gate and visit Raj Path and Raj Ghat. There is no entrance fee to India Gate. However, if you wish to visit this place during special occasions, prior booking shall be required.
Have a Question on India Gate?
experience.