India Gate stands at the eastern end of Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath) in New Delhi, a soaring 42-metre sandstone arch that anchors one of the capital's grandest ceremonial avenues. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and completed in 1931, it was built as a memorial to the roughly 70,000 Indian soldiers of the British Indian Army who died in the First World War and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. The names of more than 13,000 servicemen are inscribed across its surface. For decades, the Amar Jawan Jyoti burned beneath the arch; in 2022 that eternal flame was merged with the flame at the nearby National War Memorial. Today India Gate is as much a public gathering place as a monument. Families picnic on the surrounding lawns, children chase balloons, vendors hawk ice cream and bhutta, and crowds linger into the evening when the arch is dramatically floodlit. It sits within the wider New Delhi vista that includes Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Secretariat buildings and the rebuilt central canopy nearby. Free to enter, open at all hours and easy to combine with a stroll along the renovated Kartavya Path, it remains one of Delhi's most photographed and most genuinely loved landmarks.
Top Attractions
The Memorial Arch
The centrepiece is the 42-metre triumphal arch of yellow and red Bharatpur sandstone, modelled loosely on the Arch of Triumph in Paris and the Gateway of India's grand scale. Walk close to read the inscribed names of fallen soldiers and the dedication 'To the dead of the Indian armies who fell honoured in France and Flanders.' Look for the carved wreaths, the shallow domed bowl on top once filled with burning oil, and the imperial detailing typical of Lutyens.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Free
- Hours: Open 24 hours
- Best Time: Evening, when floodlit
- Tip: Arrive around sunset to see the arch glow gold before the floodlights switch on.
National War Memorial
Just behind India Gate, inaugurated in 2019, this circular complex honours soldiers who died after independence. Four concentric walls carry the names of over 25,000 fallen, arranged around an obelisk topped by the Amar Jawan Jyoti eternal flame, relocated here in 2022. Bronze busts of Param Vir Chakra recipients line the Param Yodha Sthal. The mood is solemn and beautifully landscaped, offering a quieter counterpoint to the busy India Gate lawns.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Free
- Hours: Roughly 9 AM to 6:30 PM (varies by season)
- Best Time: Late afternoon
- Tip: Photography of the memorial is allowed, but maintain decorum near the flame.
Kartavya Path & Lawns
The broad ceremonial boulevard running west from India Gate toward Rashtrapati Bhavan was renamed Kartavya Path in 2022 after a major facelift added red-granite walkways, lawns, fountains, food stalls and vending plazas. The greenery flanking the avenue is Delhi's favourite picnic spot, packed on weekends with families, joggers and ice-cream sellers. It is also the route of the annual Republic Day parade each 26 January.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Free
- Hours: Open all day; stalls roughly until late evening
- Best Time: Evenings and weekends
- Tip: Weekday mornings are far less crowded if you want clean photos of the avenue.
Canopy & Netaji Statue
Directly opposite the arch stands a Lutyens-designed sandstone canopy that once sheltered a statue of King George V. The statue was removed in 1968, leaving the cupola empty for decades. In 2022 a tall black granite statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was installed beneath it, giving the canopy fresh significance and creating a striking sightline straight through the arch.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Free
- Hours: Open 24 hours
- Best Time: Daytime for clear views
- Tip: Stand at the canopy to frame the arch and the distant Rashtrapati Bhavan in one line.
Children's Park & Boating
Around India Gate's hexagonal lawns are gentle attractions for families, including the National Children's Park nearby and a small boating area on the ornamental water channels that flank the avenue. Pedal and rowing boats can be hired for a short paddle, and the open green space is ideal for kite-flying. These add a relaxed, fairground feel to an otherwise monumental setting.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Boating around INR 100-200 per ride
- Hours: Daytime to evening
- Best Time: Late afternoon
- Tip: Carry small change; boat and ride operators rarely have cards or large notes.
Rashtrapati Bhavan Vista
From India Gate, the western view sweeps up Kartavya Path past the twin Secretariat buildings to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President's 340-room residence designed by Lutyens on Raisina Hill. While you cannot enter casually, the silhouette at the avenue's far end is one of Delhi's iconic vistas. Guided tours of the Bhavan and its Mughal Gardens (Amrit Udyan) are available on select days with advance online booking.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Free to view; Bhavan tours require booking
- Hours: Vista open all day
- Best Time: Early morning haze or sunset
- Tip: Book Rashtrapati Bhavan tours online well ahead; walk-up entry is not available.
Food & Local Flavours
The lawns and surrounding stalls serve up classic Delhi street snacks, with sit-down options a short ride away in Connaught Place and Khan Market.
Bhutta (Roasted Corn)
A monsoon and evening favourite sold straight off the charcoal carts ringing the lawns. The corn cob is roasted over coals, then rubbed with a cut lime dipped in salt and red chilli powder. Smoky, tangy and cheap, it is the quintessential India Gate snack to nibble while watching the floodlit arch.
Price: INR 30-50
Try: Carts around the India Gate lawns
Chaat & Golgappe
Vendors near the lawns and at the Kartavya Path vending plazas serve tangy chaat: aloo tikki, papdi chaat and golgappe (pani puri) filled with spiced tamarind water. It is fast, flavourful and beloved by the picnicking crowds, though hygiene varies, so pick a busy, fast-turnover stall.
Price: INR 40-100
Try: Vending plazas along Kartavya Path
Kulfi & Ice Cream
Bell-ringing ice-cream vendors and kulfi sellers work the lawns all evening. Kulfi, India's dense slow-cooked frozen dessert, comes in malai, pista and kesar flavours, often served falooda-style with vermicelli. A perfect cool-down on warm Delhi nights after walking the avenue.
Price: INR 30-80
Try: Mobile vendors on the lawns
Connaught Place Dining
A short auto or metro ride away, the colonnaded circle of Connaught Place offers everything from old-school North Indian thalis and butter chicken to global chains and rooftop cafes. It is the natural place for a proper sit-down meal after a casual snack-fest at the monument.
Price: INR 300-1500 per person
Try: Connaught Place, about 3 km away
Practical Information
Getting Around
- Delhi Metro: INR 10-60 — nearest stations are Central Secretariat (Yellow/Violet) and Khan Market, then a short auto ride or walk
- Auto-rickshaw: INR 50-150 — easy from Connaught Place or Khan Market; insist on the meter or agree fare first
- App cab (Uber/Ola): INR 150-400 — convenient but expect drop-off some distance from the arch on event days
- On foot/cycle: Free — the area around Kartavya Path is broad and walkable, best explored on foot
Budget Guide (Per Day)
- Budget: INR 300-800 (~$4-10): Metro travel, street snacks on the lawns and a casual CP meal
- Mid-range: INR 1500-3500 (~$18-42): Cab rides, a sit-down restaurant meal and boating or a guided area tour
- Luxury: INR 6000+ (~$72+): Private car with guide, fine dining in a 5-star hotel and premium experiences
Best Time to Visit
- October to March: Pleasant cool weather, ideal for daytime visits and picnicking on the lawns
- Evenings year-round: The arch is floodlit and the lawns come alive with families and vendors
- 26 January (Republic Day): Spectacular but extremely crowded with the parade and tight security
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Open Trip PlannerImage Credits
India Gate — Muthukumaran Esakkiappan, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons