War Memorials

From the first Indo-Pak war in 1947, operation Polo in 1948, Sino-Indian war in 1962 to third Indo-Pak war in 1971 and Siachen War in 1984, India has been ravaged by war countless times. Sacrifice of army forces has always been paramount. The story of their courage and valour are meant to inspire us. Every year numerous Bravehearts lay down their life for the nation so that all of us can have a peaceful sleep. Let’s celebrate this Independence Day by remembering the brave heroes. In this blog we have curated a list of war memorials across the country that will help you pay tribute to these great souls. Without further ado, take a trip through some of the remarkable war memorials of India.

1. Tawang war memorial, Arunachal Pradesh
   Situated in Nuranang about 25 km from Tawang, Tawang war memorial is set in scenic terrain just below the Sela pass. This war memorial has been constructed in the memory of the braveheart Jaswant Singh Rawat who held back the invading Chinese for 72 hours all alone. The temple-like memorial has a garlanded bronze bust of Jaswant Singh, a portrait of the war hero and his personal belongings namely Army uniform, cap, watch and belt. Soldiers at the memorial take care of Rawat the way he is alive by serving him meals. They also run a snack store for the tourists from which all the revenue generated goes to the upkeep of war memorial.

   

   History
   It commemorates the bravery of the martyred Indian soldiers of the 1962 Indo-China war. In 1962, chinese forces were making rapid progress in India. Due to all this the 4th garhwal rifles were ordered to retreat from their posts in Nuranang district. Jaswant Singh Rawat was the only soldier left to guard the post. It is believed that this brave soldier kept the Chinese at bay for three days (72 hours) allowing Indian forces to re-organize themselves. This Indian soldier is believed to have killed 150 Chinese soldiers in three days.

   

2. Kargil war memorial, Jammu & Kashmir
   The Kargil memorial is located on the Srinagar-Leh highway and has been built in the memory of Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the heroic battle between India-Pakistan conflict in 1999. situated in the hilly terrains of Kargil and Dras where temperature drops to as low as -30 degree celsius. Kargil war memorial is constructed in the backdrop of the Tololing Hill, Tiger Hill and Batra Top. The memorial also has a sandstone wall bearing the names of all the gallant army personnel who were martyred in operation Vijay.

   

   History
   In the winter of 1999, the Pakistan army crossed the Line of Control and occupied strategic positions dominating the National Highway and roads connecting Leh (Ladakh) and Kargil to Srinagar. Indian army then launched the operation Vijay to retake the Indian territory leading to fierce battles in the harsh terrain. Hundreds of heroic soldiers lost their lives while protecting Indian territory. Every year 26th July is observed as Kargil Vijay Diwas in which the Prime Minister of India pays tribute to the soldiers at Amar Jawan Jyoti, New Delhi.

   

3. Rezang La war memorial, Jammu & Kashmir
   The Rezang La war memorial was constructed after the Battle of Rezang La that was fought in 1962 between the Indian and Chinese troops. It stands at 16,000 feet above sea level. Every year memorial functions are held by the Samiti with district administration and Kumaon Regiment along with the family members of those who died at Rezang La also take part. The war memorial commemorates the sacrifices of the soldiers who laid down their lives for their nation.

   

   History
   This year Indian army will observe the 55th anniversary of the battle of Rezang La at Chushul in Ladakh to commemorate the historic battle between India and China in 1962. It is one among the few battles in the history of the world where the troops fought with the enemy till the last man to save its motherland. There are many valorous tales associated with this battle like each martyred soldier was found clasping his weapon with several wounds. The bravest of all - Major Shaitan Singh was one of the gallant people who marshalled his troops without caring about his own wounds.

   

4. Kohima war cemetery, Nagaland
   Kohima war cemetery is dedicated to the soldiers of Nagaland who lost their lives in the Second World War at Kohima in 1944. The Kohima war cemetery is home to more than 1400 commonwealth burials including 917 Hindu and Sikh burials. There are two tall structures with crosses made on either side of the cemetery. On the upper levels of the cemetery lie the graves of most Indian soldiers. While the lower level is popular for the famous epitaph “When you go home tell them of us and say for your tomorrow we gave our today”.

   

   History
   This war cemetery is situated at the site where the battle between the allied forces and Japanese Imperial forces took place. The Japanese forces were colossal in number and had already entered in Indian via Indo-Burma border and their goal was to cut off the supply lines for Allied forces. Japanese were then able to capture the strategically important Garrison Hill in Kohima successfully. By the end of the day, Japanese forces had to retreat and battle was won by the Allied Forces during the Second World War.

   

5. Jaisalmer war museum, Rajasthan
   A splendid memorial in the golden sands of Rajasthan is located 10 km away from Jaisalmer on Jaisalmer-Jodhpur highway. Inaugurated 2015 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of India-Pakistan war in 1965. The museum is divided into Longewala Hall and Indian Army Hall. It is a perfect place to experience the heroism of the armed forces of India. It displays the undying spirit of the soldiers during the 1965 and 1971 wars. Apart from this it also showcases army tanks, vintage armoured vehicles, guns and other military machinery.

   

   History
   The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military confrontation between India and Pakistan that occurred during the liberation war in East Pakistan from 3 December 1971 to the fall of Dacca (Dhaka) on 16 December 1971. It began with aerial strikes on 11 Indian air stations that further led to the commencement of hostilities with Pakistan and Indian entry into the war of independence. The war lasted for only 13 days - the shortest wars in history.

These memorials stand in glory to pay homage to those who laid down their lives to ensure that the residents of the country live in peace. As we get into the patriotic spirit on the 73rd Independence Day, let’s vow to contribute a little more towards the development of our nation in every possible way. Here’s wishing all of you a Happy Independence Day from the Trainman team! Book your tickets now through Trainman app (IRCTC official partner). Download Trainman App and check PNR Status of the booked ticket, Running Status, Train Inquiry and lot more amazing features.