Rajpath

View of Raj Path, from Raisina Hill, with India Gate at its end

Rajpath (hindi: राजपथ; meaning "King's path" or "The Royal Street") is the ceremonial boulevard for the Republic of India. It runs from Rashtrapati Bhavan through Vijay Chowk and India Gate to National Stadium, Delhi. The New Delhi avenue is lined on both sides by lawns with rows of trees and ponds. Considered to be one of the most important roads in India, the annual Republic Day parade takes place here on January 26. The road goes straight towards Raisina Hill, India's administrative centre. Janpath crosses the road. Rajpath runs in east-west direction. Roads from Connaught Place, the financial centre of Delhi, run into Rajpath from north.

After climbing Raisina Hill, Rajpath is flanked by the North and South Blocks of the Secretariat Building. Finally it ends at the gates of Rashtrapati Bhavan. At Vijay Chowk it crosses Sansad Marg, and the Parliament House of India can be seen to the right when coming from the India Gate.

Rajpath itself is the road used on 26 January each year for India's Republic Day Parade. The celebrations of India becoming a republic take place with a showcase of India's cultural diversity and military might. It is also used for funeral processions of key political leaders of India. The opening scene of the movie Gandhi starts at Rajpath.

History

The city plan of New Delhi (the area surrounding Rajpath) was made by the British architect Edwin Lutyens. Rajpath was of central importance to the plan. Lutyens wanted a panoramic view of the city of Delhi from the Viceroy’s palace. The view from Raisina Hill runs unhindered across Rajpath and India Gate and is obstructed only by the National Stadium.

Most of the buildings surrounding Rajpath, were designed by Lutyens and Herbert Baker.

The Rajpath with the Rastrapati Bhavan in the background.

Landmarks

• The Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India. It was the Viceroy's residence before India got its independence from Britain.
• North Block and South Block, also called the Secretariat Building. North Block houses the offices of Finance and Home ministries. South Block hosts External affairs and Defense ministries. Other important offices like some of the Prime Ministers Offices are also in the Secretariat Buildings.
• Vijay Chowk (Hindi for Victory Square) is a spacious plaza and the site of Beating the Retreat ceremony, which takes place on 29 January each year, which marks the end of Republic Day celebrations, in which Military Bands, Pipes and Drums Bands, Buglers and Trumpeters from various Army Regiments besides bands Navy and Air Force take part, with the President of India as the Chief Guest.
• India Gate is India's war memorial arch in honour of those who died in the First World War and the Second Anglo-Afghan War. It is also India's memorial of the unknown soldier.

External links

• Image of Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Secretariat buildings lit up for the Beating the Retreat at Vijay Chowk