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8 most impressive World War cemeteries in India

Pay your respects to the fallen heroes at war cemeteries from Kohima to Kolkata and Delhi to Chennai.

Published: January 26, 2016 12:00 PM IST

By Sneha Shetty

Thousands of people have lost and sacrificed their lives for India to get its freedom. It was during World War I and World War II that several Indian servicemen succumbed to the situations and have been honoured and been paied homage to in some of these many war cemeteries in India. Here’s looking at eight of India’s many War Cemeteries.

1. Calcutta Bhowanipore Cemetery

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This War Cemetery in Calcutta has been in use since 1864. Though it was a civil cemetery back then, after the number of casualties during World War I, a large section of the cemetery has been used for burial of Commonwealth casualties. Around 95 bodies were buried here after the first world war and around 617 were later buried after the second World War.

Timings: 8 am to 4 pm

2. Delhi War Cemetery

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The Delhi war cemetery was built in 1951. Over 1,022 Commonwealth casualties from World War II were buried here. Later on in 1966, around 99 casualties from World War I were moved into the cemetery from Nicholson Cemetery, Kashmir Gate, and Delhi.

Timings: 7.45 am to 5 pm

3. Guwahati War Cemetery

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During World War II, the Gauhati War Cemetery was built to bury bodies from several military hospitals posted in the area. There are 486 Commonwealth servicemen buried here and around 25 unidentified burials. The cemetery also has 24 Chinese war graves.

Timings: 8 am to 5 pm

4. Imphal War Cemetery

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There were around 950 burials in this cemetery initially, however, the Army Graves Service brought included bodies from two smaller cemeteries in Imphal and today, it has 1600 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.

Timings: 8 am to 4.30 pm

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5. Ranchi War Cemetery

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This cemetery was established on July 1, 1942 by the army and was used till after the war was over. In due course of time, various graves from secluded sections of the region were brought here. Curently around 704 Commonwealth servicemen of World war II are buried here.

Timings: 8 am to 5 pm

6. Kirkee War Cemetery

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Created to bury World War II graves from the western and central parts of India, the Kirkee War Cemetery contains 1,668 Commonwealth burials. Around 629 First World War servicemen are buried in the cemetery as well.

Timings: 8 am to 4 pm

7. Kohima War Cemetery

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In 1944, Japanese advanced into India and they halted at Kohima in April. There was an uprising and a long battle that resulted into 1,420 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. The cemetery also has a cremation memorial for 917 Hindu and Sikh soldiers, whose last rites were performed as per their religious beliefs.

Timings: 9 am to 4 pm

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8. Madras War Cemetery

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Over 856 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War many civil and cantonment cemeteries in the south and east of India were brought here.There is also a memorial that bears names of over a thousand servicemen who lost their lives during World War I is situated at the rear

Timings: 8 am to 6 pm

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