| Description: | Built in 1931 and designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, this 42m high stone arch of victory, universally known as India Gate, stands at the eastern end of Rajpath. It was previously officially known as the All India War Memorial. The names of the 90,000 Indian Army soldiers who died in the First World War, Afghan campaign of 1919 and the North-West Frontier operations are inscribed on the walls of this grand structure. In the year 1971, an eternal flame or Amar Jawan Jyoti, was lit under the arch of India Gate to honor the brave unknown, soldier. The flame is flanked by uniformed soldiers, who stand guard over the flame. Near the flame, a shining rifle with a helmet on it, is placed on a high pedestal, as a tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in battle. The best time to visit India Gate is after sunset, when the structure is floodlit and the atmosphere becomes pleasant. In the evening people come here for perambulation and children can be seen playing on the beautiful green lawns and around the trees that surround the structure. Visitors can enjoy boating in the water bodies alongside the lawns. Fountains located nearby are also illuminated with colored lights to add further resplendence to the ambience. The fair-like festive environment, is enhanced by numerous hawkers selling ice cream, street food, toys and balloons. Just a few meters away from India Gate, there is a beautiful canopy or domed kiosk, with a roof of red sandstone, under which the marble statue of George V once stood. The canopy was also designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and was built in 1936. The statue has been removed from beneath the canopy to the Coronation Memorial Park in North Delhi. The emptiness of the canopy is symbolic of the British retreat from India. The visitor can stand on the other side of the canopy and can view the entire Rajpath Avenue at a stretch, which is indeed a wonderful sight. |
