In Pics: The last journey of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Top political leaders across political parties paid their last respects to the former Prime Minister. Among the key leaders who paid their tributes were President Ramnath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Former President Pranab Mukherjee, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Minister Sushma Swaraj, Murli Manohar Joshi and BJP President Amit Shah.

Before that the mortal remains were kept at Vajpayee's official residence on Krishna Menon Marg overnight. A huge crowd has gathered outside his residence on Krishna Menon Marg.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi also paid his last tribute to the former PM. He tweeted: "Today India lost a great son. Former PM, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, was loved and respected by millions. My condolences to his family and all his admirers. We will miss him."

The final journey to the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal would begin around 1 pm. Former Prime Minister Vajpayee's last rites will be performed at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal at 4 pm.

Among international dignitaries,  Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, Nepal's Foreign Affairs Minister PK Gyawal, Sri Lanka's acting Foreign Minister Lakshman Kiriella, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and Pakistan's Law Minister Ali Zafarar paid their last respects and will also be present at the funeral.

Delhi Police expect lakhs of people to attend former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's funeral at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal at 4 pm. More than 2,000 armed police and paramilitary police personnel will be deployed. Police personnel from three districts - Central, North, and New Delhi - will be on the ground.

A state funeral will be accorded to Vajpayee and a half-day holiday was declared in all central government offices on Friday. A seven-day state mourning has been announced by the government as a mark of respect to the departed leader.

The traffic police have closed arterial roads such as Krishna Menon Marg, Sunehri Bagh Road, Tughlak Road, Akbar Road, Tees January Marg, Man Singh Road, Bhagwan Dass Road, Shahjahan Road and Sikandara Road from 8 am. Some of the other areas to be closed are DDU Marg, Indraprastha Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg - from Tilak Bridge to Delhi Gate - and Jawaharlal Nehru Marg from Rajghat to Delhi Gate.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee's funeral procession is on its way to Rashtriya Smriti Sthal on the banks of Yamuna where the last rites will be performed. Thousands throng the procession to get a last glimpse of their "most loved" Prime Minister, shower petals.

People from across the country gathered outside the BJP headquarters and many lined up inside to pay homage to the former prime minister. Thousands of mourners gathered and some clambered on trees to capture the moment on their phones as former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cortege was being taken to Rashtriya Smriti Sthal for the last rites.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Amit Shah lead Atal Bihari Vajpayee's funeral procession. Several union ministers and party leaders also walked behind the cortege as it made its way to the Rashtriya Smirti Sthal where the last rites would be performed shortly.

Railway workers too paid homage to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was once the president of a station masters' union and hailed the saffron leader's dedication to the workers' movement.

The cortege has arrived at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, Vijay Ghat. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Rahul Gandhi have arrived at the Smriti Sthal where Vajpayee's last rites will be performed.

Last salute accorded to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Smriti Sthal.

The chiefs of all three defence forces lay the wreath at Smriti Sthal where funeral the ceremony of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee is being conducted.

The chiefs of all three defence forces lay the wreath at Smriti Sthal where funeral the ceremony of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee is being conducted.

The chiefs of all three defence forces lay the wreath at Smriti Sthal where funeral the ceremony of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee is being conducted.

PM Narendra Modi also laid the wreath near the body of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Other dignitaries also made a beeline to pay floral tributes.

Gun salute accorded to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Smriti Sthal. The Tricolor wrapped around mortal remains of Vajpayee was handed over to his granddaughter Niharika.

Former prime minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee was cremated with full state honours.

Vajpayee's adopted daughter Namita Bhattacharya conducted all the last rites and lit the funeral pyre.