India Gate Delhi History and Interesting Facts

India Gate Quick Facts

India Gate Overview

India Gate is a famous National Monument located on Rajpath road in New Delhi, the capital of India. It was built in memory of more than 80,000 Indian soldiers killed in the First World War. Tributes are paid to the martyred Indian soldiers at this war monument and people get information about them. Every year, the Parade, which comes out on the occasion of Republic Day, starts from Rashtrapati Bhavan and reaches the Red Fort via India Gate. The Republic Day parade is very beautiful to see as the commanders of the three Armies of India come out of their latest defense technology and also offer various types of tableaux of cultural programs of all the states of the country.

India Gate History

India Gate was earlier known as the All India War Memorial. It was built by the British Government to pay tribute to more than 80,000 Indian soldiers who were martyred in the First World War (1914–1918) and the Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919). Its foundation stone was laid by the Honorable Duke of Connaught on 10 February 1921 with members of the Indian Army and members of the Imperial Service Tops during a military ceremony.

The project was completed in 10 years and on February 12, 1931, Viceroy, Lord Irwin inaugurated the India Gate. By the year 1920, the Old Delhi railway station used to be the only railway station in the entire city. At that time the Agra-Delhi railway line passed through the construction site of the present India Gate. Later this railway line was transferred near the Yamuna River. When this route started in the year 1924, the construction work of this memorial site could start.

India Gate Interesting Facts

1. It was designed by Edwin Landseer Lutyens and completed in 1931.
2. Mainly red and yellow stones have been used in the construction of this scenic monument, which was specially brought from Bharatpur.
3. It is located in the middle of a hexagonal space, with a diameter of 625 m, an area of ​​360,000 square meters, and a width of 9.1 m.
4. Its height is 137.79 feet (42 m).
5. The structure of this monument is inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
6. Its corner arches have Britannia-Sun inscribed on them, while India is printed on both sides of the arch. MCMX below it. (1914 on the left) and MCMXIX (1919 on the right) are printed.
7. When the India Gate was completed, there was a statue of George V in front of it, which was later installed in Coronation Park along with other statues of the British Raj.
8. The memorial bears the names of more than 13516 British and Indian soldiers who died in the North-West Frontier (now North-West Pakistan) during the Afghan War of 1919.
9. This memorial was dedicated to the nation after 10 years by the then Viceroy Lord Irwin.
10. Amar Jawan Jyoti (Flame of Immortal Warriors) was established under the arch of India Gate in honor of the martyr Indian soldiers who attained martyrdom in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. This immortal light keeps burning day and night.
11. The Amar Jawan Jyoti is constructed of black marble, with a gun and a soldier's cap placed over it.
12. The Prime Minister of India and the Chiefs of the Indian Armed Forces pay homage at the Amar Jawan Jyoti on 26 January, Vijay Diwas, and Infantry Day.
13. People and tourists of Delhi visit India Gate every day in the evening and enjoy the beautiful surroundings like fountains, and lights.
14. Delhiites and tourists visit this place with their families because of the view of its surrounding lawns, fountains, and Rashtrapati Bhavan.