I found nothing better than these lines of Sri Rabindranath Tagore to start this article. Before coming to the topic and sharing with you an exciting list of the 14 best spots to visit this Independence Day, here it is.
Heaven of Freedom
“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.”
Rabindranath Tagore
We all have read about the struggle for Independence in our history books. But do we know the real meaning of freedom? Do we cherish it as we should? Have we kept the dignity of our freedom heroes?
Even if I do not know the answer to these.. but I can do my bit and you can do yours by going back to our own culture and heritage. By remembering what it truly means to be an Indian.
This Independence Day, let the Indian within you rise!
Let us revisit those historic places which give the pages of our history, a meaningful approach. So, here we present a guide to those landmarks which every Indian must visit once in their lifetime.
Here is a list of places which will help you understand the real value of a free nation. You will be able to understand the cost of freedom as I did in a more meaningful way. Something more than just reading history books. This Independence Day, let’s visit these places to know what have we lost to gain freedom.
Why these 14 places are on the list to visit this Independence Day?
This is quite a genuine question. To answer this, I will be elaborating on some situations.
To realise the importance of something, generally, we look at what we have achieved or gained. However, sometimes we miss what have we lost for it. All of us know that in 1947, we got our freedom, but at what cost?
If someone asks me, do I know each and every person who sacrificed their lives in the war for independence? I don’t, no one knows and it is not possible for any human being. We don’t even know where they lived. But what we know is where they fought, what they fought for and the things they used for it.
It is not possible to go to every site where our ancestors fought for freedom. But there are places which have played a very major part in the struggle for Independence. This list is dedicated to 14 places which have played a major role and are best to visit this Independence Day.
14 places every Indian must visit this Independence Day
You must have read that poem “खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी”. Can you imagine experiencing this in real? What would it be like to see Rani Laxmibai fighting against the British? How an Indian felt when Netaji said, “तुम मुझे खून दो, मैं तुम्हें आज़ादी दूंगा”? Come with me to meet the first freedom fighter of India मंगल पांडेय. Let’s start our trip to the 14 places to visit this Independence Day.
1. National War Memorial, Delhi
It is the first war Memorial of India. It is dedicated to those martyrs who gave up their lives to protect the nation. The soldiers of independent India who fought in various wars and operations are commemorated here. Every evening there is a change of guards ceremony to commemorate these heroes. It was inaugurated on 25th February 2019. The old Amar Jawan Jyoti (flames of the immortal soldiers) was shifted here from India Gate. The flame is lit at the Amar Chakra (the main monument).
- Timings: 9 a.m to 7 p.m on all days of the week.
- Entry fee: Free
- Although entry is free but remains prohibited on certain days/timings. You can check this on nationalwarmemorial.gov.in.
As you are already in Delhi, do not miss these top 20 Best Places to visit in Delhi.
2. National Police Memorial and Museum, Delhi
It is dedicated to all those police officers who sacrificed their lives for the country. The Museum has a 30 ft sculpture that signifies the dedication, strength and perseverance of the police officers. It has the National Police Museum which showcases information about the martyred police officers and other documents, weapons gazettes etc. There is a Wall of Valour which has the names of 35,134 officers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Every weekend in the evening there is a Parade, band display and retreat ceremony held for everyone.
- Timings: For National Police Museum – 09:30 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. on all days of the week except Mondays and National Holidays.
- For National Police Memorial – 08:00 a.m. to 08:00 p.m. on all days except Mondays and National holidays.
- Entry fee: Free
3. Red Fort, Delhi
This fort was constructed by the Mughal ruler, Shah Jahan. The fort was ruled by the rulers of the Mughal Empire, the Marathi Empire and the British Raj. Presently it is protected by the Government of India and falls under the category of UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Red Fort complex houses 4 new museums inaugurated in the year 2019 by our Honourable PM Narendra Modi. These are the Netaji Shubhash Chandra Bose Museum, the Azadi Ke Deewane Museum, Yaad-e-Jallian Museum and the Drishya Kala Museum.
- Timings: 09:30 a.m to 04:30 p.m on all days except Mondays.
- Entry fee : ₹35 for Indians and ₹500 for International Tourists; ₹25 for Video Camera
- Light and sound show –
- On weekends= ₹ 80 for adults and ₹30 for children
- On weekdays= ₹60 for adults and ₹20 for children
4. Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Complex, Amritsar
We all have read about this incident in our books. It was such a horrific and dreadful incident where the British officers openly fired upon innocent citizens who went to attend a local fair. There was a bloodbath thousands were killed and bodies were stacked up one upon another. You can still see the bullet marks on the walls.
The complex has been developed Into 4 galleries that showcase stories of the past. The flame of liberty signifies the lit flame inside the hearts of all Indians.
- Timings: 06:30 a.m to 07:30 p.m on all days of the week.
- Entry fee: Free.
5. Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad
This is the place where Gandhi lived with his wife. The Dandi March and the Salt Satyagraha Movement started from here. Gandhi wrote his biography while sitting in this house. This is a monument of National Importance as recognized by the Indian government.
- Timings: 08:30 a.m to 06:30 p.m on all days of the week.
- Entry fee: Free
6. Statue of Unity, Gujarat
It is the tallest statue in the world. The statue of the great leader, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. The height of the statue is 597 ft. He united 562 princely states. The statue has five zones. The first three levels include the exhibition area, a mezzanine, a roof, a memorial garden and a museum. The second zone reaches the statue’s thighs. The third level has a viewing gallery situated at a height of 153 metres. The fourth zone and the fifth zone include the maintenance area and the head and shoulders of the statue. There is a bus service which includes an observation deck view, Valley of Flowers, memorial, museum, audio-visual gallery, SOU site and Sardar Sarovar Dam.
- Timings: 8 a.m to 6 p.m on all days except Mondays.
- Entry fee: ₹120 and for children (3 to 15 years) ₹60. Bus charges are ₹30 for adults and children.
- While planning your visit you can check visiting hours or book tickets at its official Website of Statue of Unity.
Along with the Statue of Unity, if you want to give your trip a religious taste, you can add Dwarka to your Itinerary. Here are the top places to visit in Dwarka in case you change your mind.
7. Cellular jail, Port Blair
This place is considered to be one of the darkest chapters in the history of Indian Independence. It is also known as “Kaala Paani” (black water). The only purpose behind the construction of this jail was to torcher those who fought for the freedom of India. It was a 3-storeyed structure. The architecture is based on the Pennsylvania system which 7 wings. It was made in such a way that no two prisoners were able to talk to each other.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the Indian National Flag for the first time at the Gymkhana Ground in Port Blair and announced the Azad Hind Government. He was the first one to free an Indian territory from British colonial rule. The British regained control in 1945. After independence, The Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital was set up on the premises of the Cellular Jail in 1963 (the hospital is still in operation). Cellular Jail is a National Memorial.
- Timings: 08:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 01:30 p.m. – 04:00 p.m. on all days of the week.
- NSCB Island Light & Sound show = 05:30 p.m ( The show in Hindi is run on all days of the week except Wednesday when the show is run in English)
- Entry fee: ₹30 for Indians and ₹100 for foreign tourists.
- Video Camera= Non-professional ₹200; Professional ₹1,000; Film Shooting on Freedom Movement in the National Memorial Cellular Jail with prior permission ₹10,000 per day
- NSCB Island Light & Sound show = ₹300 for adults and ₹75 for children.
8. Netaji Shubhash Chandra Bose Dweep (Ross Island), Andaman
It is nearly 5 km away from Port Blair. It was a penal colony made by the British to exile prisoners involved in the freedom struggle. The prisoners here were mostly those who participated in the rebellion of 1857. The Japanese occupied this island from 1942 to 1945. The Japanese bunkers can be seen to date. The Ross Island was renamed the “Netaji Shubash Chandra Bose Dweep” by PM Narendra Modi in 2018. The island is uninhabited now and you cannot stay there at night.
- Timings: 08:30 a.m to 4 p.m on all days except Wednesday. Light and Sound Show = 05:30 p.m. every day except Wednesday.
- Entry fee: ₹90; For Light and Sound Show ₹100 for adults and ₹25 for children.
9. The Residency, Lucknow
It is a group of several buildings which served as the residence of the British. The representative in the court of the Nawab of Lucknow stayed here. The Residency was attacked by freedom fighters between 1st July 1857 and 17th November 1857 as a part of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Independence, little has changed. There are other monuments like Shaheed Smarak, Tehri Kothi and High Court Building. There were around 3,000 to 3,500 people inside the Residency when it was under siege. The cemetery consists of 2,000 graves of those who died during the siege. There is a museum inside the complex and every evening there is a sound and light show organized here.
- Timings: 7 a.m to 6 p.m on all days of the week.
- Entry fee: ₹15 for Indian tourists and ₹200 for Foreign tourists.
10. Jhansi fort, Jhansi
It is a historical fort in the Bundelkhand area. It is a symbol of bravery and valour in the Indian independence struggle. Rani Lakshmi Bai was the queen who fought against the British forces. She was the leader of the group that attacked the British in the revolt of 1857. Rani Lakshmi Bai escaped the British by jumping on horseback from the Jhansi Fort. There is a laser show along with the sound and light show in the evening which features the life of Rani Lakshmibai and the Revolt of 1857.
- Timings: 7 a.m to 6 p.m every day and the Sound and Light Show timings 07:30 p.m (Hindi) and 08:30 p.m (English) in summer and 06:30 p.m (Hindi) and 07:30 p.m (English) in Winter.
- Entry fee: ₹20(online)/ ₹25 (offline) for Indian/SAARC/BIMSTEC tourists and ₹250 (online)/ ₹300 (offline) for foreigners. Children up to the age of 15 are allowed free entry.
- Sound and light show tickets = ₹50 for rens and ₹250 for foreigners.
- You can read more information about the fort on Jhansi.nic.
Apart from the giant Jhansi Fort, there is a huge list of places that you can visit in Jhansi. Check out the top 5 places to visit in Jhansi.
11. Wagah Border, Punjab
Wagah village is the boundary line dividing India and Pakistan. The Wagah Border is famous for its flag-lowering ceremony. It is called the “Wagah-Attari Border Ceremony”. It is held here every day 2 hours before sunset since 1959. Every evening this ceremony takes place. Both the BSF and the Pakistan Rangers lower their flags. The ceremony gives goosebumps and is sure to bring out your patriotism.
- Timings: 10 a.m to 4 p.m every day. Retreat ceremony: 05:15 p.m (summer) and 04:15 p.m (winter)
- Entry fee: Free
12. Mangal Pandey Park, Barrackpore, West Bengal
This was the place where freedom fighter, Mangal Pandey started the revolt against the British Empire. Mangal Pandey was the “First freedom fighter” of India. He was a soldier of the British East India Company. He defied the British and killed two British officers. As a result, he was hanged in 1857 which led to a huge outrage and the First War of Independence. Mangal Pandey Park is the place where he was hung.
- Timings: 5 a.m to 06:30 p.m on all days of the week.
- Entry fee: ₹15 per head.
13. Gwalior Fort
This is the place where Rani Lakshmibai died. Rani Lakshmibai after leaving the fort of Jhansi entered the Gwalior Fort and gave the British a very hard time. Almost 6500 soldiers revolted and fought against the British.
- Timings: 7 a.m to 05:30 p.m on all days of the week.
- Entry fee: ₹75 for Indians and ₹250 for foreign tourists.
You might think, will I have to visit Gwalior just for Gwalior Fort? Don’t worry, here are the top 20 places to visit in Gwalior.
14. India Gate
It is a war memorial. It was built in honour of those soldiers who gave their lives in the First World War and the Anglo-Afghan War. The names of 82,000 soldiers are inscribed on them. Earlier it was known as the “All India War Memorial”. There is a structure called the Amar Jawan Jyoti (Flame of the Eternal Soldier). It was inaugurated in 1971 as India’s tomb of the untold soldier. India Gate is one of the largest war memorials in India. Independence Day celebration starts with the visit of the Prime Minister to pay tribute to Amar Jawan Jyoti. On 21st January 2022, the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate was shifted to the Amar Jawan Jyoti at the National War Memorial.
- Timings: There is no specific timing.
- Entry fee: Free
Why 14 places to visit this Independence Day don’t seem enough?
Even if I add more 14 places to visit this Independence day still, it won’t be enough. And, it will never be enough and no matter what we do, we can’t compensate for what we have lost. But, what we can do best is to preserve what has been given to us.
I am sure when you will take an exit from the gates of the 14th and the final location in this list, you will start to crave more. I have been through this feeling and I know when the nationalist inside you awakes, it won’t stop easily.
What if I can’t visit these 14 places this Independence Day?
There can be a genuine question from anyone, what if I can’t visit any of these places this Independence Day? Is it necessary to visit these sites to show my gratitude?
Of course not. It is not mandatory and nor is it possible. Also showing gratitude towards our nation is not a one-day thing. It should be part of our lives. We all know that already so I won’t be lecturing here about that.
I just recommend visiting at least one of the 14 destinations which can help you to awaken the patriot inside you. For me personally, the soil of Jalliwala Bagh is like something very very heart-wrenching. No one can imagine how horrific it would have been to be in that crowd which was gunned down. Share with us, which one of them is close to your heart.
A great leader once said that “Whatever you do, if you are doing it honestly, which is in favour of the nation in any sense, then you are a true Indian”.
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