CENTRAL VISTA-RAJ PATH

CENTRAL VISTA is the broadest avenue in New Delhi planned by Sir Edwin Lutyens . Starting from India Gate this 2 mile long avenue leads to Raisana hill where Rastrapati Bhawan is located. The British Government had allocated lands to numerous princely states, which built small palaces in central areas, The area around India Gate what is now called India Gate hexagon, is at eastern end of Raj Path. Going clockwise on this hexagon prominent buildings are Hyderabad House(Venue for all official receptions) Baroda house( Housing Northern Railway Headquarters), Patiala House(presently housing courts) National Stadium, Jaipur House (now the National Gallery of Modern Art). Bikaner House and Jamnagar House. India gate hexagon has beautifully laid out gardens and fountains. An amusement park for children has been developed.

India GateBuilt in 1931 and designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, this 42 m high stone arch of victory, stands at the eastern end of Rajpath. It was previously officially known as the All India War Memorial. The names of the 90,000 Indian Army soldiers who died in the First World War, Afghan campaign of 1919 and the North-West Frontier operations are inscribed on the walls of this grand structure.

The best time to visit India Gate is after sunset, when the structure is floodlit and the atmosphere becomes pleasant. In the evening people come here for picnic and children can be seen playing on the beautiful green lawns Visitors can enjoy boating in the water channels alongside the lawns. Fountains located nearby are also illuminated with colored lights. . Numerous hawkers selling street food, toys and balloons can be seen. Ice cream trolleys are very popular in summer months.

Water Channels and Fountains

India Gate

Empty Canopy On eastern side about 100 meters from India Gate is an empty canopy which once housed statue of King George V .There is a beautiful canopy with a roof of red sandstone, . The canopy was also designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and was built in 1936. The statue has been removed from beneath the canopy and moved to the Coronation Memorial Park in North Delhi. There was lot of debate some years ago as to statue of which leader should occupy this canopy but no decision could be taken.

Empty CanopyAmar Jawan Jyoti As we walk towards India Gate we see Amar Jawan Jyoti (Eternal Flame of Soldiers) memorial. In the year 1971, an eternal flame or Amar Jawan Jyoti, was lit under the arch of India Gate to honor the brave unknown, soldier. The flame is flanked by uniformed soldiers, who stand guard over the flame. Near the flame, a shining rifle with a helmet on it is placed on a high pedestal, as a tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the wars

.Raj PathBoth sides of Raj Path have tall trees ,manicured lawn and water channel which have been provided with boats. At the end official buildings housing various ministries have been constructed. National Museum, Indira Gandhi Centre Culture and Arts( under construction) National Archive ,Vigyan Bhawan etc are prominent. Recently Secretariat metro station has been opened next to Rail Bhawan.

Raj PathVijay Chowk North and South Blocks

At the end of Rajpath huge open space has been created what is now called Vijay Chowk This place is venue for annual beating retreat ceremony and Rajpath is venue for annual Republic Day Parade. At the end of Raj Path you come to the enormous North and South Blocks, facing each other on Raj Path These buildings are identical in design, the two buildings have 1,000 rooms and miles of corridors.

Sansad Bhawan ( Parliament House)Directly behind the North Block is the parliament house, also designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker, it took six years to be constructed and was inaugurated on 18th January, 1927 . The massive circular edifice has a circumference of about one-third of a mile and stretches across six acres. this huge circular, colonnaded building comprises three semicircular chambers for Lok Sabha,Rajya Sabha and Central Hall crowned by a 27.4m high dome. It is 173m in diameter and covers 2.02 hectares in area, with colonnaded verandahs enclosing the entire circumference.. A verandah with 144 columns surrounds the three chambers.

Parliament House

Rashtrapati BhawanMoving up the slowly inclining hill at the western end of the Raj Path is the Raisina hill where the Rashtrapati Bhavan is located. The President of India resides here .This was also designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, . It was completed by 1929 and was officially inaugurated in 1931. The Bhavan contains 340 rooms and its grounds cover 330 acres, including a Moghul-style garden that opens to public in February.

The Jaipur Column

The Jaipur Column placed in the front court of Rashtrapati Bhavan. This Column was a gift to the Viceroy from Sir Sawai Madho Singh, the Maharaja of Jaipur, to commemorate the creation of the new capital. The 145-m high column is crowned with a glass star on a bronze lotus blossom.

Photos: Copyright Ramesh Lalwani