India Gate

A tour of New Delhi will usually start with a visit to India Gate. This war memorial is situated at the eastern end of Rajpath. Designed by Lutyens, it commemorates more than 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the First World War. Some 13,516 names of British and Indian soldiers killed on the Northwest Frontier and in the Afghan War of 1919 are engraved on the arch and foundations. Under the arch is the Amar Jawan Jyoti, commemorating Indian armed forces’ losses in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. The arch (43 m high) stands on a base of Bharatpur stone and rises in stages. Similar to the Hindu chhattri signifying regality, it is decorated with nautilus shells symbolizing British maritime power. Come at dusk to join the picnicking crowds enjoying the evening. You may even be able to have a pedalo ride if there’s water in the canal.

To the northwest of India Gate are two impressive buildings, Hyderabad House and Baroda House, built as residences for the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Gaekwar of Baroda. Now used as offices, both were carefully placed to indicate the paramountcy of the British Raj over the Princely States. The Nizam, reputed to be the richest man in the world, ruled over an area equal to that of France. The Gaekwar belonged to the top level of Indian princes and both, along with the maharajas of Mysore, Jammu and Kashmir and Gwalior were entitled to receive 21-gun salutes.

Rajpath leads west from India Gate towards Janpath. To the north are the Lutyens- designed National Archives, formerly the Imperial Record Office. To the south is the National Museum .