Monument · British India · 1921-1931
INDIA GATEThe All-India War Memorial
The Brief
India Gate is a 42-metre triumphal arch in central New Delhi, India, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and built between 1921 and 1931 as the All-India War Memorial. The arch is inscribed with the names of 13,300 Indian and British soldiers killed in the First World War and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. The Amar Jawan Jyoti (Eternal Soldier Flame) was added in 1972 for unknown soldiers of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war; in 2022 the flame was merged with the National War Memorial nearby. MyTripMyTravel includes India Gate on the Lutyens' Delhi heritage walk.
India Gate sits at the eastern end of the Rajpath axis Lutyens designed for British New Delhi — the ceremonial heart of the new capital. The arch was unveiled in 1931 by Lord Irwin to commemorate the Indian war dead of the First World War.
The inscription names 13,300 soldiers including British officers of the Indian Army; the design echoes the Arc de Triomphe at half-size with Indo-Saracenic restraint. The lawns around it have become a public park of substantial cultural meaning — Delhi's families gather here in the evenings.
MyTripMyTravel includes India Gate on the Lutyens' Delhi heritage walk — the imperial axis from Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President's residence) through Vijay Chowk and the Secretariat buildings to India Gate and the modern National War Memorial beyond.
Quick Facts
India Gate at a glance
What to See
THE HIGHLIGHTSThe arch and inscriptions
The 42-metre triumphal arch with the 13,300 soldier names inscribed on its surface.
Amar Jawan Jyoti location
The eternal flame's original location (merged with National War Memorial in 2022).
Rajpath axis
The 3 km ceremonial avenue from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the imperial spine.
National War Memorial
The modern 2019 memorial behind India Gate — 25,000+ post-independence soldier names.
Visitor Protocol
How We Run It
Visit at sunset for the lit-arch experience; evening crowds peak after 7 pm.
Pair with the National War Memorial (5 min walk) and Rashtrapati Bhavan circuit.
Intelligence
INDIA GATE FAQWhat does India Gate commemorate?
The All-India War Memorial commemorates the 13,300 Indian and British soldiers killed in the First World War and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. It was inaugurated in 1931 by Lord Irwin.
Where is the Amar Jawan Jyoti now?
The eternal flame for unknown soldiers (added 1972 for 1971 war dead) was merged in 2022 with the National War Memorial flame, a short walk away. India Gate itself remains a memorial site.
Is it worth visiting at night?
Yes — the arch is illuminated and the lawns become a public gathering space.