The National War Memorial is an Indian national monument built to honour and remember soldiers of the Indian military who gave the supreme sacrifice in armed conflicts of Independent India. The names of armed forces personnel killed during the armed conflicts with Pakistan and China as well as the 1961 War in Goa, Operation Pawan, and other operations such as Operation Rakshak are inscribed on the memorial walls in golden letters. A global design competition was conducted and the result was announced in early April 2017. A Chennai architectural firm, We Be Design Lab’s proposal was declared the winner and was accordingly chosen for the conceptualization of the architectural design and for coordinating the construction of the project.
The chief architect of the National War Memorial is Yogesh Chandrahasan of WeBe Design Lab, Chennai.
CHAKRAVYUH
The Memorial has four concentric circles and a central obelisk, at the bottom of which burns an ‘eternal flame’ representing the immortal soldier (Amar Jawan). The concentric circles are designed as a Chakravyuh, an ancient Indian war formation are called as follows (from innermost to outermost) :
AMAR CHAKRA
Amar Chakra (Circle of Immortality): This structure of the memorial derives its name from the Eternal Flame (Amar Jawan Jyoti), continuously burning under the main obelisk at the centre of the monument. The flame symbolises the immortality of the spirit of fallen soldiers and the promise that the Nation will never forget their sacrifices.
VEERTA CHAKRA
Veerta Chakra (Circle of Bravery): The second circle depicts the Bravery of Indian forces in the form of a covered gallery that exhibits six murals crafted in bronze depicting the valiant battle actions of the Indian Armed Forces. The battles showcased here are the Battle of Gangasagar, Longewala, Tithwal, Rizangla, Operation Meghdoot and Operation Trident.
TYAG CHAKRA
Tyag Chakra (Circle of Sacrifice): The circular concentric walls of honour, which symbolise the ancient war formation ‘Chakravyuh’. The walls are clad with granite tablets where an independent granite tablet is dedicated to each soldier who has made the supreme sacrifice on the battlefield, where his name is etched in golden letters along with the details of Rank.
RAKSHAK CHAKRA
Rakshak Chakra (Circle of Protection): The outermost circle made of rows of trees in the Rakshak Chakra is a reassurance to the citizens of the country about their safety against any threat, with each tree representing the soldiers who ensure the territorial integrity of the Nation, round the clock.
PARAM YODHA STHAL
The Param Yodha Sthal houses the busts of all the 21 recipients of the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military honour. On the occasion of the 71st Independence Day, the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind placed a wreath and observed 2 minutes of silence to pay tribute to the soldiers on the occasion of 73rd Independence Day for the first time at the newly inaugurated National War Memorial instead of Amar Jawan Jyoti under India Gate. And this way started a new custom to honour the soldiers fallen for the country after Independence.
Following the custom set by the President in the previous year, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, for the first time placed the Wreath at the National War Memorial instead of India Gate on the occasion of Republic Day. A new custom taking place at the new Amar Jawan Jyoti under the National War Memorial accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, along with the Army Chief, Navy Chief, and Air Force Chief who also visits the same monument on respective Service Days to pay tribute to the fallen heroes of the nation, post-Independence.
BASIC INFORMATION
Address
C – Hexagon, India Gate, New Delhi, Delhi 110001
Nearest Metro Stations
Violet Line– Khan Market 2 km, Janpath 2 km
Yellow Line– Udyog Bhawan 2.5 km, Central Secretariat 2.5 km
Blue Line– Mandi House 1.5 km, Pragati Maidan 2.5 km
Nearest DTC Bus Stop
Baroda House – 0.8 km
20 kms- IGI Airport, Palam
05 kms- New Delhi Railway Station
08 kms- From ISBT, Kashemere Gate
14 kms- From ISBT, Anand Vihar
Timings
9:00 AM-7:30 PM
(Last Admission at 7:00 PM)- November – March
9:00 AM-8:30 PM
(Last Admission at 8:00 PM)- April – October
Open Daily | Entry Restricted on Certain Days / Timings
National War Memorial is a not-to-miss place which reflects the rich history of India. It is a celebration of the intrepid souls whose names are intricately imprinted on the sands of time. It is a commemoration of their blood which is enough to speak volumes of their greatness. Visiting it once is nothing but paying tribute and honouring the brave martyrs of ours.
