At the center of New Delhi stands the 42 m high India Gate, an “Arc-de-Triomphe” like archway in the middle of a crossroad. It commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the World War I. The foundation stone of India Gate was laid by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and it was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The memorial bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919. The monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later Viceroy, Lord Irwin. Amar Jawan Jyoti was added much later, after India got its independence. The eternal flame burns day and night under the arch to remind the nation of soldiers who laid down their lives in the Indo-Pakistan War of December 1971. India Gate stands at one end of Rajpath. The surrounding imposing structure is a large expanse of lush green lawns, which is a popular picnic spot. During nightfall, India Gate is floodlit while the fountains nearby make a lovely display with coloured lights. One can see hoards of people moving about the brightly lit area and on the lawns on summer evenings.
India Gate
