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National Memorial to Police Martyrs

National Police Memorial & Museum

Also Known As · National Police Memorial · National Police Museum

New Delhi, Delhi · monument

A solemn black-granite monolith on a Chanakyapuri plaza honouring fallen police, with an underground museum on the story of Indian policing.

Closed MondayEntry Fee: Free EntryMemorial complex 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM; underground National Police Museum 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Closed Mondays and national holidays. Free — no entry fee

The National Police Memorial in Chanakyapuri is a dignified national tribute to the police personnel who have laid down their lives in the line of duty since Independence. Inaugurated on 21 October 2018 — Police Commemoration Day — on a 6.12-acre site in the heart of Delhi's Diplomatic Enclave, it was created by the Ministry of Home Affairs as a place of quiet, secular reflection.

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Where to Eat Nearby

Nearby Vegetarian Eats

Sagar Ratna, The Ashok

1.5 km away
casual

Pure-veg South Indian dosa and idli

Saravana Bhavan, Connaught Place

4 km away
casual

Pure-veg South Indian thali and filter coffee

Shraman, The Ashok (Chanakyapuri)

1.5 km away
casual

Pure-veg North Indian, Rajasthani and Gujarati

About

The National Police Memorial in Chanakyapuri is a dignified national tribute to the police personnel who have laid down their lives in the line of duty since Independence.

  • Inaugurated on 21 October 2018 — Police Commemoration Day — on a 6.12-acre site in the heart of Delhi's Diplomatic Enclave, it was created by the Ministry of Home Affairs as a place of quiet, secular reflection.
  • Its centrepiece is a striking 30-foot, 238-tonne monolithic black-granite Central Sculpture, whose sheer weight and dark colour are meant to convey the gravitas of the supreme sacrifice; at its base a sculpted stone 'river' represents the continuous, selfless service of the police.
  • A granite 'Wall of Valour' engraves the names of the tens of thousands of personnel from central and state forces who have died serving the nation.
  • Beneath the plaza lies the National Police Museum — India's first of its kind, spanning about 1,600 square metres across five galleries — which traces over 2,000 years of policing in the subcontinent, from Kautilya's system of law and order to modern specialised units, with exhibits on famous operations, uniforms, gadgets and K9 and women's squads.
  • For vegetarian travellers, pure-veg dining is close at hand — Sagar Ratna and Shraman at The Ashok in Chanakyapuri (both pure-vegetarian), with Saravana Bhavan at Connaught Place a short drive away.

Practical notes

entry to both the memorial and the museum is free. The memorial complex is open about 8:00 AM–8:00 PM and the underground museum about 9:30 AM–5:30 PM, closed on Mondays and national holidays. It is a solemn site — keep noise low, dress respectfully, and follow museum photography and security rules, as the Diplomatic Enclave has tight security (carry ID). The nearest metro is Lok Kalyan Marg, about 2–3 km, best reached onward by auto or cab. Allow an hour, and pair it with a stroll along nearby Shanti Path or Nehru Park.

Timings & Entry Fee

Visiting Hours

  • • Memorial complex: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  • • Museum: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
  • • Closed Mondays and national holidays
Days OpenTue–Sun (closed Monday)Weekly OffMondayEntry FeeFree EntryTime Needed1 to 1.5 hours

Entry Fee: Free — no ticket for the memorial or the underground museum.

Verified: July 2026

Location & How to Reach

Address

Chanakyapuri (Diplomatic Enclave), near Shanti Path / Kautilya Marg, New Delhi, Delhi, 110021

In the Diplomatic Enclave near Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri

📍 Get Directions🗺️ View on map

🚇 Nearest Metro: Lok Kalyan Marg (Yellow Line) — about 2–3 km; Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan are alternatives

🚶 Walking from Metro: Not a walking distance — about 2–3 km from Lok Kalyan Marg; take an auto or cab onward.

Distance from

  • • Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL): 13 km (~35 min)
  • • Connaught Place: 5 km (~20 min)
  • • Lok Kalyan Marg metro: 3 km (~12 min)

Parking

on-site · Free / nominal

Parking in the Diplomatic Enclave near the memorial gate; security is tight.

🚕 Ride Hailing Tip: Take a cab or auto from Lok Kalyan Marg or Central Secretariat metro; the memorial is inside the Diplomatic Enclave.

How to Reach: The memorial is inside the Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, near the junction of Shanti Path and Kautilya Marg. Reach it by cab or auto from Lok Kalyan Marg or Central Secretariat metro stations, or by DTC bus to Chanakyapuri; drop-off is near the memorial gate.

Things to Do

  • Pay respects at the Central Sculpture
  • Read the Wall of Valour
  • Tour the underground museum's galleries
  • See policing exhibits and specialised units
  • Stroll Shanti Path and Nehru Park nearby

Best Time to Visit

Best SeasonOctober to MarchBest Time of DayLate afternoon into early eveningTime Needed1 to 1.5 hoursCrowd LevelsGenerally calm; a place of quiet reflection

History & Significance

History

The National Police Memorial was inaugurated on 21 October 2018 — Police Commemoration Day — created by the Ministry of Home Affairs to honour police personnel who have died in the line of duty since Independence in 1947.

  • Long discussed over decades, it was finally realised on a 6.12-acre site in Delhi's Diplomatic Enclave, with a central sculpture by Adwaita Gadanayak and the overall scheme by architect Uday Bhat, and an attached underground National Police Museum.

🏛️ Architect: Modern minimalist memorial architecture: a single 30-ft, 238-tonne polished black-granite monolith rising from a stone plaza, a sculpted flowing-water motif at its base, and a granite Wall of Valour bearing engraved names; the museum is set underground so the surface remains an open, contemplative landscaped space.

Significance

The National Police Memorial commemorates the police personnel from all central and state forces who have died serving the nation, and — through India's first National Police Museum — preserves the story of policing in the subcontinent across more than 2,000 years.

  • It is a secular, dignified civic memorial and a place of quiet reflection in the capital.

Places to Visit Nearby

Nehru Park

1 km away

A large landscaped park in Chanakyapuri with morning concerts.

National War Memorial

5 km away

India's memorial to its fallen soldiers, near India Gate.

Gandhi Smriti

3 km away

The house where Mahatma Gandhi spent his last days.

Dilli Haat, INA

3.5 km away

A crafts-and-food bazaar with pan-India stalls.

Family & Accessibility

Kid Friendly3of 5Stroller AccessYesWheelchair AccessYesChanging RoomNoPet PolicyNo

Family Highlights

  • • A 30-ft black-granite Central Sculpture
  • • The engraved Wall of Valour
  • • India's first National Police Museum, underground
  • • Five galleries on 2,000+ years of policing

Photography & Drone

Drone PolicyProhibited

💰 Equipment Fees: Free for personal photography of the plaza; museum photography may be restricted.

📍 The Golden Spot: The towering black-granite monolith against the open plaza at dusk.

🌅 Best Light Time: Late afternoon into early evening, when the granite is lit.

Tips & Safety

💡 Insider Tips

🌅 Secret View: The underground museum traces policing from Kautilya's ancient system of law and order to modern specialised units — an unexpectedly rich 2,000-year story.

🎯 Crowd Hack: It stays calm; a late-afternoon weekday visit is quiet and the plaza is beautifully lit toward dusk.

💎 Secret Fact: The Central Sculpture is a single 30-ft, 238-tonne block of black granite; the attached museum is India's first national police museum.

⚡ Express Tour

30 minutes — the Central Sculpture and the Wall of Valour.

🔭 Deep Dive Tour

Half day — the memorial and museum, then Nehru Park and Shanti Path.

🙏 Etiquette & Dress Code

Do's

  • Pay respects at the black-granite Central Sculpture
  • Read the engraved names on the Wall of Valour
  • Tour the underground museum's five galleries
  • See exhibits on operations, uniforms and specialised units
  • Stroll nearby Shanti Path and the Diplomatic Enclave

Don'ts

  • Do not visit on a Monday — it is closed
  • Do not be loud — it is a solemn memorial
  • Do not photograph where museum signage restricts it
  • Do not forget photo ID — the Diplomatic Enclave has tight security

👕 Dress Code: Respectful, modest attire befitting a memorial; comfortable shoes for the galleries.

📷 Photography Rules: Outdoor plaza photography is generally fine; museum photography may be restricted — follow signage.

Good to Know

💳 Money & Connectivity

UPIYesCardsYesCashNo

🏧 Nearest ATM: ATMs around Chanakyapuri and Malcha Marg (within 1–2 km).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the National Police Memorial timings and entry fee?

Entry is free. The memorial complex is open about 8:00 AM–8:00 PM and the underground museum about 9:30 AM–5:30 PM, closed on Mondays and national holidays.

Which is the nearest metro to the National Police Memorial?

Lok Kalyan Marg on the Yellow Line is nearest, about 2–3 km; Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan are alternatives. Take an auto or cab onward, as it is inside the Diplomatic Enclave.

What is the National Police Memorial?

It is a national memorial in Chanakyapuri, inaugurated in 2018, honouring police personnel who have died in the line of duty — centred on a 30-ft black-granite sculpture and a Wall of Valour, with an underground National Police Museum.

What is in the National Police Museum?

India's first national police museum spans about 1,600 sq m across five underground galleries, tracing over 2,000 years of policing — from Kautilya's system to modern units — with exhibits on operations, uniforms, gadgets and K9 and women's squads.

Is the National Police Memorial free to visit?

Yes — both the memorial and the underground museum are free; it is a solemn civic site, so dress and behave respectfully and carry ID for Diplomatic Enclave security.

Where can I eat vegetarian food near the National Police Memorial?

Pure-veg dining is close by — Sagar Ratna and Shraman at The Ashok in Chanakyapuri (both pure-vegetarian), with Saravana Bhavan at Connaught Place a short drive away.

Categories

Heritage & Culture

Related

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National Police Memorial & Museum, New Delhi — TasteYatra