Search+ExclusivesIndia Gate was originally known as the All India War Memorial.SynopsisIndia Gate, originally a British imperial memorial, now holds multiple layers of history. It commemorates soldiers who served the British Empire during World War I. Later, the Amar Jawan Jyoti honored soldiers of independent India. The National War Memorial further shifted remembrance to post-independence conflicts. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's statue now stands where a British monarch once did.India Gate in the heart of Delhi is among the most recognisable symbols of India. Millions visit it every year and it features prominently in school textbooks, tourism campaigns and national ceremonies. Yet one of the most widely misunderstood facts about the monument is that it was never built to honour India's freedom fighters.India Gate was built by the British Empire as a memorial to soldiers of the British Indian Army who died fighting for ET Online 14 mins readAug 13, 2026, 12:50:00 PM ISTGift this Story to your friendsFONT SIZEAbcSmallAbcMediumAbcLargeSAVEPRINTCOMMENTContinue reading with one of these options:Limited AccessFreeLogin to get access to some exclusive stories & personalised newslettersLogin NowUnlimited AccessStarting @ Rs120/monthGet access to exclusive stories, expert opinions & in-depth stock reportsSubscribe NowETUh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only.Worry not. You’re just a step away.What’s Included withETPrime Membership