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Similar India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Raj Ghat and associate, Qutb Minar, The Red Fort | ||
Rajpath (meaning "King's Way") is a ceremonial boulevard in New Delhi, India, that runs from Rashtrapati Bhavan on Raisina Hill through Vijay Chowk and India Gate to National Stadium, Delhi. The avenue is lined on both sides by huge lawns, canals and rows of trees. Considered to be one of the most important roads in India, it is where the annual Republic Day parade takes place on 26 January. Janpath (meaning "People's Way") crosses the road. Rajpath runs in east-west direction. Roads from Connaught Place, the financial centre of Delhi, run into Rajpath from north.
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Map of Rajpath, Central Secretariat, New Delhi, Delhi
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.
It is also used for the 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 (then called King's Way or Kingsway by the British) 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.