India Gate, STEP JSSATE

India

India Gate

For Indian soldiers who died

in World War I and the Afghan Wars

Established 1921

Unveiled 1931

Location
28°36′46.31″N 77°13′45.5″Enear Delhi, In
dia

Designed by Edwin Lutyens

The India Gate is the national monument of India. Situated in the heart of New Delhi, India Gate was

designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Originally known as All India War Memorial, it is a prominent landmark

in Delhi and commemorates the 90,000 soldiers of the British Indian Army who lost their lives while fighting

for the British Indian Empire, or more correctly the British Raj in World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan

War. It is composed of red sand stone and granite.

Originally, a Statue of King George V had stood under the now-vacant canopy in front of the India Gate, and

was removed to Coronation Park with other statues. Following India's independence, India Gate became the

site of the Indian Army's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, known as the Amar Jawan Jyoti (The flame of the

immortal soldier).

Contents

[hide]

• 1 Site
 • 2 Amar Jawan Jyoti

• 3 Canopy

• 4 Gallery

• 5 See also

• 6 External links

[edit]Site

The 42-metre tall India Gate is situated such that many important roads spread out from it. Traffic passing

around India Gate used to be continuous until the roads were closed to the public due to terrorist threats.

The lawns around Rajpath throng with people during the evening, when the India Gate is lit up. Ice cream

and street food vendors come out during this time and it becomes a popular picnic venue for families.

The India Gate hexagon complex covers approximately 306000m² in area with a diameter of about 625m.

[edit]Amar Jawan Jyoti

The Shrine of the Amar Jawan Jyoti.

Burning in a shrine under the arch of India Gate since 1971 is the Amar Jawan Jyoti (the flame of the

immortal soldier) which marks the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The shrine itself is a black

marblecenotaph with a rifle placed on its barrel, crested by a soldier's helmet. Each face of the cenotaph has

inscribed in gold the words "Amar Jawan" (Immortal Warrior).

This cenotaph is itself placed on an edifice which has on its four corners four torches that are perpetually

kept alive. It was unveiled in 1931.

Today, it is customary for the President and the Prime Minister, as well as visiting Guests of State, to pay

homage at the site on occasions of State ceremonies, and each Republic Day, 26 January, the Prime

Minister pays homage to the soldiers along with Heads of Armed Forces, before joining the annual parade at

the Rajpath.

[edit]Canopy
Standing right behind the gate is an empty canopy made out of sandstone, also designed by Lutyens, and

inspired by a 18th century Mahabalipuram pavilion, that until Independence of India in 1947 had the statue

of King George V, which now stands in the Coronation Park, Delhi. There were multiple plans and calls to

have a seated or standing statue of Mahatma Gandhi installed, which were subject to debate and have not

been agreed upon.

[edit]Gallery

The surface of the India Gate is engraved with

Crowds enjoy a pleasant night on
name of 90,000 Indian soldiers who died in World
the grounds around India Gate,
War I and the Afghan wars fighting for the British The gate in different
The Canopy near
February 2006.
India. The names are grouped based on the light, 2005.
India Gate, August
division the soldier belongs to.
2006.

India Gate Reflection By Amit

(Oct, 2010)