How to get there: Take Metro to Central Secretariat station (from Chadni Chowk station, it’s Rs 12) and walk 1.5 km towards India Gate.
Entrance fee: none, it’s a public area.
Way back: we took Metro to AIIMS station, Rs.20 and bought Coke for Rs.20
I cant remember how India Gate fell into our visit list, we were aware that it’s only some kind of arch structure looking like one in France (I said this because I have French postcards with it and in fact I knew Paris Gate (or whatever it’s called) before India Gate). Nothing much to see around. Then again maybe because there’s nothing much to see, we put India Gate as add-on after our main course, Red Fort and Jama Masjid on Day 1. Plus, it’s located on the same Metro line (Yellow one).
We were told by the officer at the Metro station that we should stop at Central Secretariat station, and followed by some walks. You can get a rickshaw but we thought we wouldnt mind some more walking. Only after half an hour walk and we hadnt yet seen sight of India Gate, then we started to curse ourselves. It felt like we have walked 3km towards the India Gate, you have to cross 3 super huge recreational fields. I guess only after the first field you get to see sight of India Gate from far away.
Okay, we really NEED a rest. Thankfully the field grass here look clean and we could lay down. Seen everywhere were people hanging out in the nice-weathered evening, mostly family. Also, people selling snacks, drinks and toys are everywhere too. When we were rested, suddenly came two young guys approaching us, and greeted us in a friendly way. Although looking suspicious, we didnt mind some chats with them, until the minute they said they were looking for donation. It seems, seeking donation in a friendly way. They said it’s for charity for poor people. Okay, we have seen alot of beggars all over Delhi and if we didnt manage to donate to those poor people, why should we give money to these guys in clean shirt and shoes? Feeling awkward (since we were sitting and couldnt move or run away as we would when being approached by beggars), I grabbed some coins from our Metro change and handed them to one of the guys. Instead of being thankful, they giggled a little and showed to us a small booklet with handwritten list of some Westener’s names claimed to be tourists who had given donation to them, complete with the figure they have donated. Seriously, are they expecting us to believe that these people really gave them money just based on this little booklet? And seriously again, someone would donate Rs1000 to these suspicious strangers?? So they turned down our coins and gave them back to our hands. Right, if it’s really for poor people, I bet they would receive no matter it’s only coins. They’re obviously seeking money for they *own* pocket by fooling the tourists. They can get lost. We then got up and walked away.
Ah, finally, reaching India Gate. Maybe 50 steps to go. When we were crossing the 3rd road, some girls approaching me asking if I want to get henna. I said no, and to my surprise, she grabbed my hand anyway and fiercely put the henna on my forearm! Oi!! Get off my hands! Am I looking someone so desperately needing a henna that you can put henna to me while crossing the road? They’re totally making me sick that I had to run away even faster and wiped away the henna off my hands.
We are in the front of India Gate finally. Although my mood has been spoiled by now because of the henna girls incident. So. Tell me what’s so special that we had to walk THAT FAR to come all the way to here? =,=
Side note: We only found out later that Delhi has got this hop-on-hop-off bus which stops at a number of tourist places in Delhi (India Gate is included, so I guess it’s a better way to visit this place without hurting your feet too much).