If you ask a resident of Delhi where they go for an evening walk, many will answer: "To India Gate." It is not just a monument or an architectural landmark. It is the pulse of the capital, the most popular recreation area in the city. At this "Triumphal Arch", history, politics and the daily life of a forty-million-strong metropolis intersect.
Imagine a straight-as-an-arrow, three-kilometre avenue leading to a giant arch of golden stone. This is the hallmark of imperial New Delhi, conceived by the British architect Edwin Lutyens as a memorial to soldiers who fell in the trenches of the First World War. Today, however, it is the main war memorial of independent India, the place where the Eternal Flame burns, and where every foreign leader begins their visit with a wreath-laying ceremony. India Gate is a silent witness to the changing of eras, a triumphal arch that outlived its empire and became the symbol of a new one.
Historical Context: In Memory of the "Sands of Mesopotamia"
India Gate is not just an ornament to the city. It is a memorial. It was built in 1931 (the grand opening took place on 12 February) by the British administration in honour of 70,000 soldiers of the British Indian Army who fell in battle during the First World War (1914–1918) and the Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919). The project belongs to Sir Edwin Lutyens — the chief architect of New Delhi.
Lutyens was creating an "imperial city" for the British viceroys, and the Triumphal Arch was to become its architectural dominant. Interestingly, the structure was originally called the "All India War Memorial". The name "India Gate" was adopted later, by the people. A paradox of history: the arch, erected in honour of the British Crown, today has become a symbol of sovereign India.
Parades on Republic Day (26 January) take place beneath it, and the Eternal Flame is lit here in memory of soldiers who died after independence. This is a rare case where colonial heritage was not demolished but rethought and accepted as part of national pride.
Architecture: From Paris to Delhi
If you have seen the Arc de Triomphe in Paris or the Arch of Constantine in Rome, you will immediately recognize the style: it is a classical triumphal arch, but with a characteristic "Lutyens" touch.
• Material: The arch is built of Bharatpur yellow sandstone (locally called "Varahi stone"). This stone gives the monument a warm, golden hue that shines especially beautifully at sunset.
• Dimensions: The height of India Gate is 42 meters (about a 14-storey building). The width is 9 meters.
• Details: On the surface of the arch are carved the names (about 13,000 surnames) of British and Indian soldiers, including soldiers from modern-day Pakistan and Bangladesh (then — a united India). On the inside of the dome are inscribed the names of officers awarded the Victoria Cross — Britain`s highest military honour.
• The Empty Bowl: Originally, a statue of King George V was planned to be placed atop the arch, but after independence the statue was removed. Now in its place is an empty stone bowl (cup), which looks very symbolic: an "empty throne" above the gateway to a new era.
Heart of the Memorial: Amar Jawan Jyoti (The Eternal Flame)
The most touching element of the complex is not at the center of the arch but at its base. In 1972, on the 25th anniversary of India`s independence, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated the memorial "Amar Jawan Jyoti" (Amar Jawan Jyoti), which translates as the "Flame of the Immortal Soldier". It is a black marble plinth with an inverted rifle topped by a soldier`s helmet. Four eternal flames (one on each side) burn around the clock. The remains of an unknown soldier who fell in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 are interred here. Today it is the country`s main war memorial: all foreign leaders lay wreaths here during their visits, and on Republic Day, the President and Prime Minister are the first to place flowers.
Important for tourists: Since 2022, a new large-scale National War Memorial (National War Memorial), dedicated to soldiers who fell after 1947, has been built next to India Gate. It is located directly opposite the Gate, across the main road (on the other side from India Gate). The old "Eternal Flame" at India Gate was symbolically merged with the new one in 2022, and now the flame burns at the new memorial, while the ritual bowl remains at the Gate. We recommend visiting both sites in one go.
What is Around? The Royal Mile of Delhi
India Gate is only the central point of a vast architectural ensemble known as the "Delhi Ceremonial Boulevard" or Rajpath (Rajpath) (now officially called "Kartavya Path" — Kartavya Path, the "Path of Duty").
View to the north: From India Gate, a straight-as-an-arrow, three-kilometer avenue leads to Rashtrapati Bhavan — the President`s residence. On either side are government secretariats (the North and South Block buildings), ponds, fountains and green lawns. Every morning and evening, thousands of Delhiites run furiously here, doing their sports.
View to the east: Across the road from the arch is the National Stadium complex and a huge park.
Water bodies: At the foot of India Gate, on both sides, are large artificial ponds (lagoons) with fountains. In the evening, a light-and-music show is turned on, and this is a favourite spot for dates and family outings. You can rent a pedal boat and go out on the water, gazing at the illuminated arch.
Atmosphere and Life: From Dawn to Midnight
India Gate is not a museum exhibit but a living public space. Here you will see the real Delhi.
Morning (6:00 – 9:00): The park at the Gate turns into a huge open-air gym. Yoga, jogging, exercises on the pull-up bars (of which there are many), people with Nordic walking poles. Very calm, fresh and photogenic.
Day (11:00 – 16:00): Hot and crowded. School excursions, tourists on buses, vendors selling balloons, ice cream (kulfi) and corn. Not the most comfortable time for a long rest, but good for detailed photos of the architecture.
Evening (18:00 – 22:00): Magic. The arch`s illumination is switched on (it changes color: from soft yellow to white). Thousands of people sit on the grass (on most lawns, sitting is allowed — it`s the culture). Children fly kites and toy helicopters. Dozens of street food carts are working. The air is filled with the aroma of chai (tea), roasted peanuts and pani puri (pani puri — crispy balls filled with spicy water). It is at this hour that you will feel the "soul of Delhi".
Night (after 22:00): The police begin to gently but insistently urge visitors to leave. Officially, the park is closed for overnight stays, but the arch`s illumination burns all night.
Practical Information for Tourists
• Metro (best way): The nearest station is Central Secretariat (Yellow and Violet lines). From there, you need to walk about 15 minutes to the arch (or catch an auto-rickshaw/tuk-tuk to the gate, price around 30-50 rupees). You can also get off at Khan Market station (Violet line) and walk through the park, but that`s a bit farther.
• Auto-rickshaw / Taxi (Uber, Ola): Simply tell the driver "India Gate". There is nowhere in Delhi where you would not be understood. Be prepared for traffic jams during the evening rush hour.
• Visiting hours: 24/7. Best time: 1 hour before sunset and about 2 hours after. Entry is absolutely free.
• Do not trust random "guides" who offer a "special tour to the restricted zone".
• The police enforce order strictly: you cannot sit on the grass with alcohol, you cannot climb on the architectural elements of the monument. Drones are prohibited (military installations are nearby).
India Gate is more than "just another arch". It is a place where three hundred years of history (the Mughal Empire, the British Raj, independence) meet the contemporary chaos of Delhi and the joy of life. Coming here in the evening, you will not just take a beautiful photograph. You will hear laughter, smell sandalwood oil and fried onions, see the younger generation of India playing cricket on the very spot where British regiments once marched.
