India Gate

A must-visit if you are planning to travel to New Delhi, India Gate is a 42-meter high arch War memorial built in memory of innumerable soldiers who laid down their lives during the Afghan War and World Wars.

Standing majestically, straight down the road from Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate is set at the end of Rajpath, perhaps the most beautiful area of New Delhi with plush green lawns in the backdrop. A flame, Amar Jawan Jyoti, is kept perpetually alive here. The stretch of lush green lawns spreading from here is a major crowd puller. It bears the name of the 85,000 Indian Army Soldiers who died during the wars.

Below the arch is the memorial to the Unknown Soldier. Designed and built by Lutyens, it was originally called All India War Memorial in memory of the Indian soldiers who died during the Wars. The names of all the soldiers are inscribed on the walls of the structure. The eternal flame called Amar Jawan Jyoti that runs on gas was lit in 1971 to honour the martyrs.

The green, velvety lawns at India Gate, particularly, are a popular evening and holiday rendezvous for young and old alike. Ice-cream carts, balloon wallahs, popcorn and peanut vendors, carts selling cold water and cold drinks, panwallahs, men and women selling sweet-scented jasmine garlands to decorate a bride, wife, daughter or girlfriend's hair, do brisk business at the fringe of the lawns.