The Gandhi Smriti, in New Delhi, is the place where Mahatma Gandhi spent the last 144 days of his life before his assassination on January 30, 1948. A former residence of the Birla family, one of the great names in Indian industry, the house has been transformed into a place of remembrance and learning. The visit combines biographical narrative, spaces for quiet reflection and exhibitions on Gandhian thought.

Why visit Gandhi Smriti?

Few places in Delhi condense so much of India's recent history. Gandhi Smriti is not merely a museum: it is the very place where Gandhi lived, worked, meditated and where he was killed. You see the room he occupied, objects from his daily life and the garden pathway that marks his final steps. Entry is free and the visit remains accessible to all, making it a natural complement to a tour of the capital.

History of the site

The house was built in 1928 by industrialist Ghanshyamdas Birla, which is why it is also known as Birla House. It regularly hosted Gandhi and his close collaborators during their stays in Delhi. On September 9, 1947, as India was going through independence and the violence of Partition, Gandhi moved in permanently.

On January 30, 1948, he was shot by a Hindu extremist as he made his way to his daily prayer in the garden. The shock was enormous, both in India and abroad. Two weeks of national mourning were declared and millions of people attended his funeral procession.

In 1971, the Indian state acquired the house from the Birla family. The site was opened to the public two years later under the name Gandhi Smriti, literally "memory of Gandhi". It has since been enriched with new spaces, including the Eternal Gandhi Multimedia Museum inaugurated in 2005.

What to see at Gandhi Smriti?

The Birla House

The heart of the site remains the white house with simple lines. You access the two rooms occupied by Gandhi: his bedroom and his office. The displayed objects bear witness to his austere life: a basic bed, sandals, his walking stick and his round glasses, which have become a universal symbol.

The garden and the Martyr's Column

In the vast garden, a pathway of stones shaped like footprints reproduces Gandhi's final steps. It leads to the exact spot of the assassination, marked by a simple stele called the Martyr's Column. The atmosphere is calm and invites silence.

The exhibitions

• Semi-open gallery: panels tracing the major episodes of Gandhi's life through photographs and documents, with explanatory texts in Hindi and English.
• Eternal Gandhi Multimedia Museum: interactive and multimedia displays illustrating non-violence, political struggles and Gandhi's spiritual legacy.
• Statues and installations: several representations of Gandhi punctuate the indoor and outdoor path, some with a participatory educational approach.

Meditation spaces and symbols

Outside, a pillar adorned with an ancient swastika and the "Om" symbol recalls the spiritual background of Gandhian thought. Further on, a room houses a realistic statue of Gandhi sitting cross-legged.

Practical information

• Address: 5, Tees January Marg, New Delhi.
• Hours: open Tuesday to Sunday during daytime hours, closed Mondays and certain national holidays. Check current hours before your visit.
• Admission: entry is generally free.
• Recommended duration: allow 1 to 1.5 hours depending on your interest in the exhibitions and reading the documents.
• Languages: panels in Hindi and English.

How to get there

Gandhi Smriti is located in a residential and wooded neighbourhood of New Delhi, about 2 km from Connaught Place and near the Claridges hotel.

• Tuk-tuk or taxi: the most practical option, as the address is slightly off the main tourist routes.
• On foot: possible if you are staying in the immediate vicinity.
• Guided tours: several thematic tours on Gandhi include Gandhi Smriti, often combined with Raj Ghat and the National Gandhi Museum.

Nearby

• Raj Ghat: a memorial set in a simple garden, the site of Gandhi's cremation, a few kilometres to the east.
• National Gandhi Museum: located near Raj Ghat, it displays documents, objects and photographs related to Gandhi's life. An ideal complementary visit.
• India Gate: a triumphal arch dedicated to Indian soldiers who fell during World War I, particularly lively in the evening.
• Rashtrapati Bhavan and Parliament: colonial architectural ensemble that marks New Delhi's urban layout, accessible by taxi from Gandhi Smriti.
• Connaught Place: the commercial heart of Delhi, convenient for lunch or a stroll after your visit.

Frequently asked questions

Include Gandhi Smriti in your journey

Gandhi Smriti fits naturally into a stay in Delhi, a classic entry point for a tour of Northern India. To build an itinerary that combines heritage, memory and cultural discovery, explore our India travel ideas.