India Gate
Discover India Gate
Last updated on October 19, 2026Introduction
India Gate is a 42-metre war memorial on the eastern end of Kartavya Path. Edwin Lutyens designed the stone arch to commemorate soldiers of the Indian Army who died in the First World War and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. The names of 13,516 dead are inscribed on the monument.
The arch was completed in 1931 as part of the ceremonial plan of New Delhi. In 1972, the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial and flame were installed beneath it after the 1971 war. That flame was merged with the eternal flame at the nearby National War Memorial on 21 January 2022; the older structure remains under the arch without a separate burning flame.
India Gate is an outdoor public landmark, not a building visitors enter. Its meaning now depends on the relationship between the colonial memorial, Kartavya Path and the post-independence National War Memorial nearby.
Architecture
The form is a monumental stone arch. At 42 metres high, it is large enough to terminate the long vista from Raisina Hill without enclosing an interior visitor space.
Inscription supplies the human scale. The word “INDIA” occupies the upper faces, while 13,516 names are cut across the memorial.
The setting completes the design. Broad roads, lawns and the straight Kartavya Path axis keep open views toward Rashtrapati Bhavan in the west.
How it was built and evolved over time
Edwin Lutyens designed a freestanding stone arch large enough to hold the end of New Delhi’s principal east–west vista. Heavy piers carry the broad curved opening, while a shallow bowl crowns the upper mass.
The memorial is also a written surface. Names were cut into the stone rather than placed on a separate interior roll, so the building itself carries the record.
Later work altered the ground-level meaning. The 1972 Amar Jawan Jyoti structure occupied the space beneath the arch, and the redesigned Kartavya Path renewed the surrounding public realm in 2022.
Frequently asked questions
How high is India Gate?
It is 42 metres high.
How many names are inscribed?
The National War Memorial authority records 13,516 names on India Gate.
Is the Amar Jawan Jyoti still burning under the arch?
No. Its flame was merged with the eternal flame at the National War Memorial on 21 January 2022.
Can visitors go inside India Gate?
No. It is a freestanding memorial arch viewed from the surrounding public space.
Is there an admission fee?
No fee is required to view the India Gate exterior, though nearby attractions may have separate arrangements.