India Gate:
Location: Near Rajpath
Metro Station: Pragati Maidan
Timings: Morning to Night
Entry: Free
Days Closed: None
Photography Charges: Nil
At the centre of New Delhi stands the 42 m high India Gate, an "Arc-de-Triomphe" like archway in the middle of a crossroad. Almost similar to its French counterpart, it commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the World War I. The memorial bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919.
The foundation stone of India Gate was laid by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and it was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin. Another memorial, Amar Jawan Jyoti was added much later, after India got its independence. The eternal flame burns day and night under the arch to remind the nation of soldiers who laid down their lives in the Indo-Pakistan War of December 1971.
The entire arch stands on a low base of red Bharatpur stone and rises in stages to a huge moulding. The cornice is inscribed with the Imperial suns while both sides of the arch have INDIA, flanked by the dates MCMXIV (1914 left) and MCMXIX (1919 right). The shallow domed bowl at the top was intended to be filled with burning oil on anniversaries but this is rarely done.
During nightfall, India Gate is dramatically floodlit while the fountains nearby make a lovely display with coloured lights. India Gate stands at one end of Rajpath, and the area surrounding it is generally referred to as 'India Gate'.
Surrounding the imposing structure is a large expanse of lush green lawns, which is a popular picnic spot. One can see hoards of people moving about the brightly lit area and on the lawns on summer evenings.
The foundation stone of India Gate was laid by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and it was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin. Another memorial, Amar Jawan Jyoti was added much later, after India got its independence. The eternal flame burns day and night under the arch to remind the nation of soldiers who laid down their lives in the Indo-Pakistan War of December 1971.
The entire arch stands on a low base of red Bharatpur stone and rises in stages to a huge moulding. The cornice is inscribed with the Imperial suns while both sides of the arch have INDIA, flanked by the dates MCMXIV (1914 left) and MCMXIX (1919 right). The shallow domed bowl at the top was intended to be filled with burning oil on anniversaries but this is rarely done.
During nightfall, India Gate is dramatically floodlit while the fountains nearby make a lovely display with coloured lights. India Gate stands at one end of Rajpath, and the area surrounding it is generally referred to as 'India Gate'.
Surrounding the imposing structure is a large expanse of lush green lawns, which is a popular picnic spot. One can see hoards of people moving about the brightly lit area and on the lawns on summer evenings.
Laser show planned at India Gate in October
NEW DELHI: India Gate may soon have 3D images projected on it. The ministry of external affairs (MEA) has proposed a projection/mapping project which will showcase India's relations with Africa.
The projections will be done from October 23 to 29 during the India-Africa forum summit. Sources said that the PMO has given a go-ahead to the proposal, bypassing earlier objections raised by conservationists that India Gate is a war memorial and its sanctity should be maintained.
According to sources, the MEA has sent the proposal to the defence ministry for permission on undertaking the projections on India Gate by the MEA-empanelled event management company in coordination with CPWD and other relevant ministries and departments.
"India-Africa forum summit is a prestigious event being hosted by the PM for more than 50 heads of state/governments from Africa. The proposed display is a very important component of showcasing the various facets of India's contribution to peace-keeping operations in several African countries. The images projected would inter alia include Indian peace keepers while deployed in the various peace keeping operations, community outreach, other initiatives taken by them etc,'' said an official.
The tourism ministry had earlier proposed a 3D laser show at India Gate which would reflect the best of India's heritage on the monument. But heritage conservation agency INTACH objected over a memorial site being used for 'entertainment'. In a letter to NDMC, CPWD and Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) over the issue, convener AGK Menon said that using India Gate for the 3D show was 'sacrilegious'.
No comments:
Post a Comment