The first landmark I saw during my trip to India was India Gate, located in New Delhi, the capital of the country. It's a great place for budget travelers: entry to the complex where the monument is situated is free, and it's easily accessible by metro.
A Bit of History
The monumental 42-meter-high gate, made of sandstone, was erected in 1931. At that time, there was extensive construction underway for the new Indian capital, New Delhi, which is part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. On the map, this structure appears as a city within a city: New Delhi is surrounded on all sides by the territory of Delhi.
India Gate is a memorial to Indian soldiers who died in wars in the early 20th century. At the top of the structure, there is a bowl intended to be filled with burning oil. I read that it hasn’t been used in recent times.
The arch was built by Edwin Lutyens, who was the architect of the commission responsible for designing the master plan of the new capital of India. It is believed that he might have drawn inspiration from the historical plans of Washington and London in his work.
India Gate, also known as the All India War Memorial, is located near the complex of government buildings and the Presidential Palace, which was also built by Lutyens. These ensembles are connected by a two-kilometer road lined with ponds and fountains.
The gate itself is a massive stone arch with inscriptions at the top. You can't walk through the gate, as the area is guarded. Two large fountains are situated to the north and south of the monument.
India Gate: How to Get There by Metro
The monument is located near the Central Secretariat metro station, where the yellow and violet lines intersect. It's easy to navigate the metro by following the colorful footprints on the floor. The metro often has multiple exits, so follow the ones leading towards the Presidential Palace (Rashtrapati Bhavan) and India Gate.
The walk from the metro pavilion to the monument takes about 25 minutes. During this walk, you can enjoy the ponds I mentioned earlier. Monkeys inhabit the parks near the ponds. Tourists often want to get closer to them, but locals advise against it.
When planning routes abroad, I often use the Moovit app, although it doesn’t always work correctly in India.
The next article about my trip to India will focus on Lodi Gardens, a very beautiful walking area located about half an hour from here.
Have a nice trip!
