The Walk to India Gate
In February, I and Pinakee were in Delhi for my friend's wedding. Long three years and finally he got married to his friend. Now that was on 22nd February, 2008 and I was to return to Bhubaneswar on 25th. The next day was cool and I moved to Pinakee's cousin's place. 24th February, 2008 a Sunday was a cool morning. Also a hectic one. I left for my uncle's place in East Delhi (Shahdara). I had a good time there and then he took me out to the Delhi Metro station.
I must say that experiencing the Delhi Metro is awesome. It is certainly going to become the Lifeline of Delhi, once it covers the whole of Delhi. We took the train from Shahdara and changed trains at Kashmere Gate which acts as a junction for the Red Line 1 (Shahdara - Rithala) and Yellow Line 2 (Viswa Vidyala - Central Secretariat) lines. From there we set out for the Central Secretariat. When we came out of the Metro Station, uncle detailed the buildings nearby. Facing the Central Secretariat to my right was Rail Bhawan (or Laloo Bhawan - as everyone calls it). To the left was Sena Bhawan (the place I will be linked to when I get into the Army). Following the Rajpath towards the West is the Vijay Chowk Road which leads to Central Secretariat and then to the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
I looked at the road to the India Gate. Mesmerised in emotions, I proposed to uncle that we walk towards the monument. He agreed and since his office was in the area he told me about all the offices in the area. The first one was Udyog Bhawan, then Nirman Bhawan (uncle's office). Then we crossed the Janpath (10 Janpath is Sonia Gandhi's residence). Both sides of the road were green parks with trees and ponds. I was enjoying every moment at Lutyens' Delhi. After Janpath, offices of the Archaeological Survey of India, National Museum, Vigyan Bhawan will be on the right.
Walking down the Rajpath is mesmerising. Very few get the chance to march on the same path on 26 January every year on Republic Day. It is a showcase of India's cultural diversity and military might. Reaching the India Gate seemed as an accomplishment to me. A towering monument of respect to Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives during World War I and the Afghan Wars.
"To the dead of the Indian armies who fell honoured in France and Flanders Mesopotamia and Persia East Africa Gallipoli and elsewhere in the near and the far-east and in sacred memory also of those whose names are recorded and who fell in India or the north-west frontier and during the Third Afghan War."
These are the words in bold on the top of the monument. Below is the Amar Jawan Jyoti or the Flame of the Immortal Warrior. The shrine is a black marble cenotaph with a rifle placed on its barrel and a soldier's helmet resting on the butt.
While we reached there it was already evening and sun was setting fast. After spending some time at a place of importance, we decided to return. The time I spent at the monument will forever be imbibed into my mind. In homage to the martyrs who defended their values, bows my head with respect.
I must say that experiencing the Delhi Metro is awesome. It is certainly going to become the Lifeline of Delhi, once it covers the whole of Delhi. We took the train from Shahdara and changed trains at Kashmere Gate which acts as a junction for the Red Line 1 (Shahdara - Rithala) and Yellow Line 2 (Viswa Vidyala - Central Secretariat) lines. From there we set out for the Central Secretariat. When we came out of the Metro Station, uncle detailed the buildings nearby. Facing the Central Secretariat to my right was Rail Bhawan (or Laloo Bhawan - as everyone calls it). To the left was Sena Bhawan (the place I will be linked to when I get into the Army). Following the Rajpath towards the West is the Vijay Chowk Road which leads to Central Secretariat and then to the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
I looked at the road to the India Gate. Mesmerised in emotions, I proposed to uncle that we walk towards the monument. He agreed and since his office was in the area he told me about all the offices in the area. The first one was Udyog Bhawan, then Nirman Bhawan (uncle's office). Then we crossed the Janpath (10 Janpath is Sonia Gandhi's residence). Both sides of the road were green parks with trees and ponds. I was enjoying every moment at Lutyens' Delhi. After Janpath, offices of the Archaeological Survey of India, National Museum, Vigyan Bhawan will be on the right.
Walking down the Rajpath is mesmerising. Very few get the chance to march on the same path on 26 January every year on Republic Day. It is a showcase of India's cultural diversity and military might. Reaching the India Gate seemed as an accomplishment to me. A towering monument of respect to Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives during World War I and the Afghan Wars.
"To the dead of the Indian armies who fell honoured in France and Flanders Mesopotamia and Persia East Africa Gallipoli and elsewhere in the near and the far-east and in sacred memory also of those whose names are recorded and who fell in India or the north-west frontier and during the Third Afghan War."
These are the words in bold on the top of the monument. Below is the Amar Jawan Jyoti or the Flame of the Immortal Warrior. The shrine is a black marble cenotaph with a rifle placed on its barrel and a soldier's helmet resting on the butt.
While we reached there it was already evening and sun was setting fast. After spending some time at a place of importance, we decided to return. The time I spent at the monument will forever be imbibed into my mind. In homage to the martyrs who defended their values, bows my head with respect.
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