Quick answer: India Gate is a 42-metre war memorial arch at the eastern end of Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath) in New Delhi. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and unveiled in 1931, it honours soldiers of the British Indian Army who died in the First World War and the Third Anglo-Afghan War, and more than 13,000 names are inscribed on it. Entry is free, and as of October 2026 Delhi Tourism lists it as open 24 hours, though some areas are closed to visitors after dark.
India Gate at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Eastern end of Kartavya Path, C-Hexagon, New Delhi |
| Designed by | Sir Edwin Lutyens |
| Foundation stone | 10 February 1921, by the Duke of Connaught |
| Unveiled | 12 February 1931, by the Viceroy, Lord Irwin |
| Height | 42 metres |
| Timings | 24 hours, daily; some areas closed to visitors after dark (Delhi Tourism, October 2026) |
| Entry fee | Free |
| Nearest metro | Central Secretariat (Yellow and Violet Lines), per Delhi Tourism |
What has changed at India Gate
- Rajpath is now Kartavya Path: The ceremonial avenue running west from India Gate was renamed Kartavya Path in September 2022, after the New Delhi Municipal Council passed a resolution. The redeveloped avenue, part of the Central Vista project, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8 September 2022, with new lawns, walkways, vending kiosks and pedestrian underpasses.
- Amar Jawan Jyoti flame merged: The eternal flame of the Amar Jawan Jyoti, which burned under the arch from 1972, was merged with the flame at the National War Memorial on 21 January 2022.
- National War Memorial: Opened on 25 February 2019 just east of India Gate, it honours Indian service personnel who have died in conflicts since Independence. Since Republic Day 2020, the Prime Minister has laid the Republic Day wreath there rather than at the Amar Jawan Jyoti.
- Netaji statue: A statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was unveiled under the canopy east of India Gate on 8 September 2022. The canopy once held a statue of King George V, which was moved to Coronation Park in 1968.
History of India Gate
India Gate was built by the Imperial War Graves Commission (now the Commonwealth War Graves Commission) as the All India War Memorial. The Duke of Connaught, a son of Queen Victoria, laid the foundation stone on 10 February 1921. Ten years later, on 12 February 1931, the Viceroy, Lord Irwin, unveiled the finished memorial.
The memorial honours about 70,000 soldiers of undivided India who died while serving in the British Indian Army in the First World War; some counts put the figure at about 74,000. More than 13,300 names are inscribed on its walls, including soldiers who fell on the North-West Frontier and in the Third Anglo-Afghan War of 1919.
An earlier version of this article said India Gate honours 90,000 soldiers who died in the Second World War. That was wrong: it commemorates the First World War (1914–1918) and the Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919).
Amar Jawan Jyoti
After the India-Pakistan war of 1971, which led to the creation of Bangladesh, the Amar Jawan Jyoti (“flame of the immortal soldier”) was added beneath the arch. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated it on 26 January 1972. It is a cenotaph topped by an inverted rifle and a soldier’s helmet, with “Amar Jawan” inscribed on its sides and four urns holding flames at the corners. For half a century it served as India’s tomb of the unknown soldier, until its flame was merged with the National War Memorial flame in 2022.
Architecture and inscriptions
Lutyens, a leading designer of war memorials for the Commission, gave India Gate the form of a triumphal arch, often compared with the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but kept it free of religious symbols. It stands on a low base of red Bharatpur stone and rises in stages to a large moulding, with a shallow domed bowl at the top that was meant to be filled with burning oil on anniversaries.
The word INDIA is carved on both sides of the arch, flanked by the dates MCMXIV (1914) on the left and MCMXIX (1919) on the right. Below it is the dedication:
“To the dead of the Indian armies who fell and are honoured in France and Flanders, Mesopotamia and Persia, East Africa, Gallipoli and elsewhere in the near and the far-east and in sacred memory also of those whose names are here recorded and who fell in India or the north-west frontier and during the Third Afghan War.”
An earlier version of this article described the structure as “42 metres long and 9.1 metres wide”. India Gate is 42 metres high; the width figure could not be confirmed and has been removed.
Republic Day
India Gate and Kartavya Path are at the centre of India’s Republic Day celebrations on 26 January. The parade, with military contingents, state tableaux and cultural performances, moves along Kartavya Path towards India Gate. Access to the area is restricted on the day and during rehearsals in the preceding weeks, so check traffic advisories if you plan to visit in January.
Visiting India Gate
India Gate is floodlit after dark, and the fountains nearby are lit in colour, so evenings are the most popular time to visit. The wide lawns around the memorial are a favourite picnic spot, and Delhi Tourism notes a children’s park nearby with swings and slides. Ice cream and snacks are sold by vendors in the area.
An earlier version of this article gave “light show” timings of 7 pm to 9:30 pm. We could not confirm a scheduled light show from an official source in October 2026, so those timings have been removed.
Tips for visitors
- Visit in the evening to see the arch lit up, or early in the morning for a quieter visit and better photographs.
- October to March is the most comfortable time; summer afternoons are very hot.
- Expect security checks and restricted areas, especially around national holidays.
- Keep the lawns clean and use the bins provided.
How to reach
- Metro: Delhi Tourism names Central Secretariat (Yellow and Violet Lines) as the nearest station. Khan Market (Violet Line) is another option. From either, take an auto-rickshaw or walk.
- Bus: Several Delhi Transport Corporation routes pass the C-Hexagon around India Gate.
- Road: Taxis and auto-rickshaws can drop you on the roads around the C-Hexagon; parking is limited.
An earlier version of this article listed Pragati Maidan as the nearest railway station and gave walking times from Khan Market. Those details have been replaced with Delhi Tourism’s current metro advice.
Nearby places
At the western end of Kartavya Path is Rashtrapati Bhavan. To the east, along the same ceremonial axis, is Purana Qila, with the National Zoological Park beside it. Towards Connaught Place is the stepwell of Agrasen ki Baoli, and the gardens and tombs of Lodhi Gardens are a short drive south.
Frequently asked questions
Why was India Gate built?
India Gate was built as the All India War Memorial to honour soldiers of the British Indian Army who died in the First World War and the Third Anglo-Afghan War of 1919.
Who designed India Gate?
Sir Edwin Lutyens, the architect of much of New Delhi, designed it for the Imperial War Graves Commission.
Is the Amar Jawan Jyoti still at India Gate?
No longer as a burning flame. The Amar Jawan Jyoti flame was merged with the eternal flame at the National War Memorial, just east of India Gate, on 21 January 2022.
Is there an entry fee for India Gate?
No. India Gate is free to visit. Delhi Tourism lists it as open 24 hours, though some areas are not accessible after dark.
Which metro station is nearest to India Gate?
Delhi Tourism names Central Secretariat, on the Yellow and Violet Lines. Khan Market on the Violet Line is another option.
Details checked in October 2026 against Delhi Tourism’s India Gate pages and published records of the memorial, the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the National War Memorial and the Central Vista redevelopment. Access around Kartavya Path changes for national events, so check advisories before you visit.
