The seat of India’s power for several centuries, Delhi is a city that has witnessed brutal battles, rise of empires, change of power and the fate of this large country. Ever since Independence, Delhi has witnessed the making of the modern and Independent India.
Delhi also remains the final resting places of several leaders who have shaped up the destiny of our nation. Here are a few such memorials in Delhi you can visit.
1. Raj Ghat (Mahatma Gandhi)
Image Source: Humayunn Niaz Ahmed Peerzaada (Flickr)
Raj Ghat (King’s Bank) is Delhi’s most popular memorial built in honor of Mahatma Gandhi- Father of the nation. The black marble platform is the spot where Gandhiji was cremated, after being assassinated on 31st January 1948. The last words of Gandhiji – “Hey Ram” (O Lord Ram) are inscribed on the marble. At one end of the memorial, an eternal flames burns incessantly and prayers are held every Friday. Raj Ghat attracts thousands of visitors daily from around the world. A lot of foreign dignitaries visiting India come here to pay respects to Gandhiji by laying wreaths at the memorial.
Social Activist Anna Hazare, also the leader of the epic Anti-Corruption Movement in India (year 2011) came here and prayed before starting his Fast unto death.
Prayer sessions are organized on Mahatma’s birthday (02 October) and death anniversary (31 January) every year.
- Days: Open all days
- Timings: From morning till evening (advisable: between 10 am -5 pm)
- Entry Fee: NIL
- Where?
On Ring Road (also known as Mahatma Gandhi Road) - How To Reach?
Raj Ghat is very close to ISBT, Old Delhi Railway Station. One can easily get Buses, Auto Rickshaws or Taxis to reach here. - Nearest Metro Station: Kashmere Gate
- Nearby Places: Gandhi Museum, Vir Bhumi, Shanti Van, Shakti Sthal, Vijay Ghat, Samta Sthal, Kisan Ghat, Ekta Sthal, Karma BhumiTip: You may take garlands along with. Don’t forget to remove your footwear before entering the sacred place.
2. Shanti Van (Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru)
Image Source: Vinay (Flickr)
Shanti Van (Garden of Peace) is the memorial of India’s first Prime Minister – Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, after his death in 1964. It is a beautiful and a well-manicured park dotted with many trees. Heads of State and Foreign dignitaries usually pay a visit to the memorial despite their tight schedules.
Prayer sessions are organised on Pt. Nehru’s birthday (14 November) and death anniversary (27 May).
- Days: Open all days
- Timings: From morning till evening (advisable: between 5:30am-7pm)
- Entry Fee: NIL
- Where?
On Ring Road. Adjacent to Raj Ghat - How To Reach?
Shanti Van is very close to ISBT, Old Delhi Railway Station. One can easily get Buses, Auto Rickshaws or Taxis to reach here. - Nearest Metro Station: Kashmere Gate
- Nearby Places:
Raj Ghat, Vir Bhumi, Shakti Sthal, Vijay Ghat, Samta Sthal, Kisan Ghat, Ekta Sthal, Karma Bhumi - Tip: You may take garlands along with. Don’t forget to remove your footwear before entering the sacred place.
3. Shakti Sthal (Indira Gandhi)
Shakti Sthal (Place of Power or Strength) is the memorial to the first woman Prime Minister of India – Smt. Indira Gandhi. The memorial was built in honor of this renowned statesman all over the world. A huge grey-red monolithic stone marks the site where she was cremated after her assassination.
Prayer sessions are organized on Indira Gandhi’s birthday (19 November) and death anniversary (31 October) every year.
- Days: Open all days
- Timings: From morning till evening (advisable: between 5:30 am – 7 pm)
- Entry Fee: NIL
- Where? On Ring Road
- How To Reach?
Shakti Sthal is very close to ISBT, Old Delhi Railway Station. One can easily get Buses, Auto Rickshaws or Taxis to reach here. - Nearest Metro Station: Kashmere Gate
- Nearby Places:
Raj Ghat, Vir Bhumi, Shanti Van, Vijay Ghat, Samta Sthal, Kisan Ghat, Ekta Sthal, Karma Bhumi - Tip: You may take garlands along with. Don’t forget to remove your footwear before entering the sacred place.
4. Vir Bhumi/Veer Bhoomi (Rajiv Gandhi)
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Vir Bhumi (Land of the Brave) is located near Rajghat and is the memorial to youngest Prime Minister of India – Rajiv Gandhi. The first son of Indira & Feroze Gandhi, Rajiv was assassinated in 1991. His last rites were performed here. The place is adorned with beautiful trees, plants, and shrubs.
Prayer sessions are organised on Rajiv Gandhi’s birthday (20 August) and death anniversary (21 May) every year.
- Days: Open all days
- Timings: From morning till evening (advisable: between 5:30am-7pm)
- Entry Fee: NIL
- Where? On Ring Road
- How To Reach?
Vir Bhumi is very close to ISBT, Old Delhi Railway Station. One can easily get Buses, Auto Rickshaws or Taxis to reach here. - Nearest Metro Station: Kashmere Gate
- Nearby Places:
Raj Ghat, Shanti Van, Shakti Sthal, Vijay Ghat, Samta Sthal, Kisan Ghat, Ekta Sthal, Karma Bhumi - Tip: You may take garlands along with. Don’t forget to remove your footwear before entering the sacred place.
5. Vijay Ghat (Lal Bahadur Shastri)
Image Source: Vinay (Flickr)
Vijay Ghat (Victory Bank) is the memorial to India’s second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. He was cremated here and his last rites were also performed here after his demise in 1966. An artificial lake is next to the memorial that gives the place an uplifted ambiance.
Prayer sessions are organized on Lal Bahadur Shastri’s birthday (2 October) and death anniversary (1 January) every year.
- Days: Open all days
- Timings: From morning till evening (advisable: between 5:30am – 7pm)
- Entry Fee: NIL
- Where? On Ring Road
- How To Reach? Vijay Ghat is very close to ISBT, Old Delhi Railway Station. One can easily get Buses, Auto Rickshaws or Taxis to reach here.
- Nearest Metro Station: Kashmere Gate
- Nearby Places: Raj Ghat, Vir Bhumi, Shanti Van, Shakti Sthal, Samta Sthal, Kisan Ghat, Ekta Sthal, Karma Bhumi
- Tip: You may take garlands along with. Don’t forget to remove your footwear before entering the sacred place.
6. Samta Sthal (Babu Jagjivan Ram)
Samta Sthal (Place of Equality) is memorial to the legendary leader of backward communities, Babu Jagjivan Ram. He was the Deputy PM of India (1977-79). He was cremated at Samta Sthal after his demise in 1986.
- Days: Open all days
- Timings: From morning till evening (advisable: between 5:30am-7pm)
- Entry Fee: NIL
- Where? On Ring Road
- How To Reach? Samta Sthal is very close to ISBT, Old Delhi Railway Station. One can easily get Buses, Auto Rickshaws or Taxis to reach here.
- Nearest Metro Station: Kashmere Gate
- Nearby Places: Raj Ghat, Vir Bhumi, Shanti Van, hakti Sthal, Vijay Ghat, Kisan Ghat, Ekta Sthal, Karma Bhumi
- Tip: You may take garlands along with. Don’t forget to remove your footwear before entering the sacred place.
7. Kisan Ghat (Chaudhary Charan Singh)
Kisan Ghat (Farmer’s Bank) is memorial to the 5th Prime Minister of India – Chaudhary Charan Singh. The memorial is named after his active role towards causes related to farming communities. He was cremated at Kisan Ghat after his demise in 1987.
- Days: Open all days
- Timings: From morning till evening (advisable: between 5:30am-7pm)
- Entry Fee: NIL
- Where? On Ring Road
- How To Reach? Kisan Ghat is very close to ISBT, Old Delhi Railway Station. One can easily get Buses, Auto Rickshaws or Taxis to reach here.
- Nearest Metro Station: Kashmere Gate
- Nearby Places: Raj Ghat, Vir Bhumi, Shanti Van, Shakti Sthal, Vijay Ghat, Samta Sthal, Ekta Sthal, Karma Bhumi
- Tip: You may take garlands along with. Don’t forget to remove your footwear before entering the sacred place.
8. Ekta Sthal (Giani Zail Singh)
Ekta Sthal (Place of Quality) is memorial to Giani Zail Singh – 7th President of India. He was cremated at Ekta Sthal after his demise in 1984.
- Days: Open all days
- Timings: From morning till evening (advisable: between 5:30am-7pm)
- Entry Fee: NIL
- Where? On Ring Road
- How To Reach? Ekta Sthal is very close to ISBT, Old Delhi Railway Station. One can easily get Buses, Auto Rickshaws or Taxis to reach here.
- Nearest Metro Station: Kashmere Gate
- Nearby Places: Raj Ghat, Vir Bhumi, Shanti Van, Shakti Sthal, Vijay Ghat, Samta Sthal, Kisan Ghat, Karma Bhumi
- Tip: You may take garlands along with. Don’t forget to remove your footwear before entering the sacred place.
9. Karma Bhumi (Shankar Dayal Sharma)
Karma Bhumi (Land of Duty) is memorial to Shankar Dayal Sharma – 9th President of India. He was cremated at Karma Bhumi after his demise in 1999.
- Days: Open all days
- Timings: From morning till evening (advisable: between 5:30am-7pm)
- Entry Fee: NIL
- Where? On Ring Road
- How To Reach? Karma Bhumi is very close to ISBT, Old Delhi Railway Station. One can easily get Buses, Auto Rickshaws or Taxis to reach here.
- Nearest Metro Station: Kashmere Gate
- Nearby Places: Raj Ghat, Vir Bhumi, Shanti Van, Shakti Sthal, Vijay Ghat, Samta Sthal, Kisan Ghat, Ekta Sthal
- Tip: You may take garlands along with. Don’t forget to remove your footwear before entering the sacred place.
OTHER MEMORIALS
10. Coronation Memorial
The memorial is also known as Coronation Park. Situated in North Delhi, it became the venue for Queen Victoria’s declaration as Empress of India in Delhi Durbar of 1877. The sandstone pillar marks the coronation of King George V as Emperor of India. It is also the same place from where the announcement that the capital of India is shifted from Kolkata (then Calcutta) to Delhi was made. The park also has the largest and tallest statue of King George V (opposite the obelisk).
Today, the park is more of playing ground for children residing in neighboring areas.
- Days: NA
- Timings: NA
- Entry Fee: NIL
- Where? On Burari Road. 2 km north of Kingsway Camp.
- How To Reach? Metro is the best bet apart from Auto Rickshaws.
- Nearest Metro Station: Vishwavidyalaya (Delhi University)
- Nearby Places: Delhi University North Campus, Mall Road, Kingsway Camp, Civil Lines
11. Mutiny Memorial
Image Source: Nilesh Korgaokar (Flickr)
The Mutiny Memorial was erected in 1863 in memory of British soldiers killed during First War of Indian Independence (Sepoy Mutiny in 1857). The red sandstone tower is made in the shape of an octagon with a circularly shaped interior designed in Gothic architectural style. Near the building, one can find various plaques with the names of soldiers killed in the battle.
- Days: NA
- Timings: 10am – 5pm
Entry Fee: NIL - Where? On Rani Jhansi Road (approx. 500m south of Bara Hindu Rao Hospital on the Northern Ridge in Civil Lines area)
- How To Reach? Metro is the best bet apart from Auto Rickshaws.
- Nearest Metro Station: Kashmere Gate
- Nearby Places: Kashmiri Gate, Northern Ridge, Chandni Chowk
12. Telegraph Memorial
Image Source: Smit Sandhir (Flickr)
The Telegraph Memorial is a Sepoy Mutiny memorial in Delhi that was built in 1902 to honor and commemorate the staff of the Telegraph Office that played an important role in India’s Independence struggle. A telegraph with the famous message “We Are Off” by two officers was sent from this very office that had a crucial impact in igniting the freedom movement in 1857. The Memorial stands on the site from where the telegraph was sent. The large pillar (approx. 20 feet) is made with gray granite.
- Days: NA
- Timings: 10am – 5pm
- Entry Fee: NIL
- Where? On Lothian Road. 500m from Kashmere Gate, near the Old Delhi Railway Station and Kashmiri Gate Metro station
- How To Reach? Metro, Cycle Rickshaws
- Nearest Metro Station: Kashmere Gate
- Nearby Places: Kashmiri Gate, St. James Church, Lothian Cemetery, Chandni Chowk, Red Fort, Jama Masjid
13. Lothian Cemetery
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Lothian cemetery is the first British cemetery of Delhi. The cemetery is home to graves of the members of Delhi’s Christian community (buried here between 1808 and 1867). The cemetery has a remarkable Celtic cross dedicated to the Europeans killed in Delhi during the 1857 War.
- Days: NA
- Timings: 10am – 5pm
- Entry Fee: NIL
- Where? On Lothian Road. 500m from Kashmere Gate, near General Post Office
- How To Reach? Metro, Cycle Rickshaws.
- Nearest Metro Station: Kashmere Gate
- Nearby Places: Kashmiri Gate, St. James Church, Telegraph Memorial, Chandni Chowk, Red Fort, Jama Masjid
- Tip: The place is presently not in a good shape, Poor families may be seen residing within the cemetery.
