Towering over lush green grass, Delhi’s India Gate is a sight to behold. But if you get the feeling that you’ve seen it before, it’s probably because you have. Or at least something a bit like it. Designed by Sir Edward Lutyens, the India Gate was inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and was built as a memorial to Indian soldiers who lost their lives in 20 th century wars.
This magnificent structure rises above its surroundings, and is even more impressive at night. Uplighters bathe the Gate in an iridescent golden glow, and sometimes in colour depending on the time of year.
As you walk up to it, your eyes slowly begin to make out the intricate designs on the stonework, with the words engraved at the top of the monument gradually becoming legible. This is one monument that brings several episodes of India’s history to light. Below the Gate burns an eternal flame – the Amar Jawan Jyoti – in honour of those who died in the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
You can really feel the weight of history here – the Gate’s sense of gravitas and grandeur certainly takes your breath away. The sheer size of it – it’s 42m high – is enough to make you stop and gasp. But what makes you keep on looking are the carvings. Alongside the beautiful engravings on the creamy stone, there are thousands of names – it’s worth taking the time to gaze up and acknowledge their
significance.