India Gate

What it is

India Gate was designed by Edwin Lutyens and finished in 1931 to remember Indian soldiers who died in the First World War. Their names are carved into the stone. The eternal flame that once burned beneath it was merged in 2022 with the flame at the National War Memorial, which opened next door in 2019 and honours soldiers who died after Independence.

The canopy nearby now holds a statue of Subhas Chandra Bose. Kartavya Path, once called Rajpath, runs from here to Rashtrapati Bhavan, with lawns and canals on either side.

Getting there

Central Secretariat on the Yellow and Violet Lines and Khan Market on the Violet Line are the nearest stations, each about a 20-minute walk or a short auto ride away. Parking around the C-Hexagon fills fast in the evening.

When to go

Early morning is quiet and good for a run along Kartavya Path. Evenings bring families, ice cream carts and balloon sellers, and the arch is lit up after dark. Summer nights are the busiest time.

Good to know

The area closes for days at a time in January for Republic Day rehearsals and the parade. There is little shade by day. Toilets and drinking water points are along the lawns, but there are fewer than you would want at peak times.