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¤ All India War Memorial
India Gate is constructed as a memorial and was built in
the memory of 90,00 soldiers who laid down their lives
during world war I. Located at Rajpath, India Gate is 42
m high and is popular relaxation area during the summer
evenings. India Gate also act as popular pinic spot
during winter. Also known as the All India War Memorial,
India Gate was designed and constructed by Lutyens. He
was the who is considered the chief proclaimer in
designing the New Delhi plans.
¤ The Architectural Marvel.
A tour of Lutyens’ Delhi just has to kick off with the
stately India Gate at the east end of the broad Janpath
(earlier Kingsway) that leads to the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Another additional 13,516 names engraved on the arch and
foundations form a separate memorial to the British and
Indian soldiers killed on the North-West Frontier in the
Afghan War of 1919. The foundation stone was laid by HRH
the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and the monument was
dedicated to the nation 10 years later by the then
Viceroy, Lord Irwin. Another memorial, Amar Jawan Jyoti
was added much later after India had said goodbye to its
imperial rulers. It is in the form of a flame that burns
day and night under the arch to remind the nation of
soldiers who perished in the Indo-Pakistan War of
December 1971.
The entire arch stands on a low base of red Bharatpur
stone and rises in stages to a huge cornice, beneath
which are inscribed Imperial suns. Above on both sides
is inscribed INDIA, flanked by MCM and to the right,
XIX. The shallow domed bowl at the top was intended to
be filled with burning oil on anniversaries but this is
rarely done.
Quick bytes
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Location :
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New Delhi
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Famous As :
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All India War Memorial
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Designed By :
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Edwin Lutyens In 1921
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Height :
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42m
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¤ The Breathtaking
View of India Gate
Nowadays, if you drive down the smooth wide expanse of
Rajpath on a midsummer night, you might be excused for
assuming that a huge glittering carnival is in progress
at India Gate. The entire boulevard up to the monument
is lined with cars, scooters, motorcycles and
what-have-you. In fact all of Delhi seems to have
converged to the emerald lawns of India Gate. The air is
thick with chatter, laughter and the cries of assorted
vendors peddling their wares. You can snack on anything
from fruit chaat (fruit salad with hot, spicy dressing),
through bhelpuri (a snack of puffed rice, spices and
hot, sweet and sour chutney), chana jor garam (spicy
chickpeas), dal ka pakodas (fried lentil-flour
dumplings), potato chips to ice cream, candy floss and
aerated drinks.
¤ A Perfect Place For A Halt
Most of the revellers come equipped with balls, Frisbees
or just a pack of playing cards. But India Gate has lots
to offer in the name of entertainment. You can watch
monkeys perform, enjoy a camel ride, blow soap bubbles
all over the lawns, play with balloons and even get your
insides turned inside out on a ferris wheel.
But if you ask us, the best thing to do is to loll on
the cool lawns, lick a bar of ice candy and watch the
floodlit arch and the fountains nearby that seem
magically lit up with coloured lights. |
