Coronation Park UPDATED

After 1857, the Brits ruled India.  They couldn't help themselves with pageantry and statues.  After independence, the statues were removed and put in a park miles away on the north of the city.  Talk about exile!  At least they weren't smashed up.

The most famous occupant of the park is King George V.  His statue used to be like this, between India gate and the Vice Regal Residence in New Delhi. (Thanks to Google).

To day it is like this.  The canopy for the statue is empty.(Also thanks to Google).


This is the statue today, in Coronation Park.  No canopy.

 Back-side - as they say in India and backside.

Lovely detail.

There are other statues, all un-named.  Here are some - mainly viceroys, I think.

Coronation Park was where the Mughals used to have their durbars (court gatherings).  The Brits could understand this, so they too had durbars.  They had to be as grand to impress upon the locals that they really were in charge.  The first was in 1877 to proclaim Victoria Empress of India.  There were two others, with the last in 1911 to celebrate the coronation of King George V, announce the move of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi and to authorise the building of new Delhi.  This is the memorial to that durbar.

As it was!





With today's eyes, it is hard to imagine isn't it.  Like crossing the world to play dress-ups.   This is Imperialism at its most obvious, and ludicrous.

And as they say, the rest is history.