India Gate is a grand war memorial located in New Delhi, built to honor the 84,000 soldiers of the British Indian Army who lost their lives during World War I (1914–1918) and the Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919). Its foundation stone was laid in 1921 by the Duke of Connaught, and the structure was completed in 1931 under the design of Sir Edwin Lutyens, a famous British architect who also helped design much of New Delhi.
Made from sandstone and standing 42 meters tall, the monument originally had the names of soldiers engraved on its surface. After India’s independence, another important feature was added beneath the arch in 1972: Amar Jawan Jyoti, an eternal flame that honors soldiers who died in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War. Today, India Gate is not just a memorial—it’s also a symbol of national pride, a popular public space, and a central landmark for national ceremonies like Republic Day.
