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Gandhi Smriti (Birla House), Delhi
Gandhi Smriti is the old Birla House at 5 Tees January Marg, where Mahatma Gandhi lived his last 144 days and was shot on 30 January 1948. Delhi Tourism lists it as open 10:00–17:00 and closed on Mondays; entry is free. Allow one to two hours for his room, the path to the prayer ground and the museum.
An intimate and moving place. This is the house where Gandhi lived his final months. It's from here that he set out on his last journey: to prayer, where he was shot.
What you'll see:
- Gandhi's room: simple, with his bed and personal belongings - A garden with the pathway he walked on the day of his assassination, marked with "footprints" on the ground showing his final steps - A small exhibition about his life and philosophy
The house where Gandhi spent his last days
Tickets
Timings and entry
- Open: 10:00–17:00.
- Closed: Mondays and national holidays.
- Entry: free for everyone.
- Time needed: one to two hours.
The museum is run by the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti under the Ministry of Culture. Its sister site, Gandhi Darshan at Rajghat, is a separate place.
The house and the last 144 days
Ghanshyamdas Birla, the industrialist, built the twelve-bedroom house in 1928, and Gandhi stayed here on his visits to Delhi. His last stay began on 9 September 1947 and ended on 30 January 1948, when he was shot on the way to his evening prayer meeting on the lawn.
The government bought the house in 1971 and opened it as a national memorial on 15 August 1973. From the top of the entrance gate, Jawaharlal Nehru announced Gandhi's death to the world: "the light has gone out of our lives".
What to see
The building and grounds are kept as they were in those days, and the most moving things are the smallest.
- Gandhi's room. Left as it was on the day he died: a plain white mattress on the floor, a low wooden desk, his glasses, walking stick, a knife, fork and spoon, the rough stone he used instead of soap, and a well-worn copy of the Gita.
- The last walk. Marked footprints on the path trace his final steps from the house to the prayer ground.
- The Martyr's Column stands where he fell, with a stone pavement around it for a reverential parikrama (walk around). Nearby, on the lower lawns, are lines by Tagore, and at the roundabout a quotation from Einstein that begins "Generations to come will scarce believe…"
- The museum. Black-and-white photographs trace the boy Mohandas becoming the Mahatma; one room is given to his last 48 hours; 28 small dioramas show scenes from his life; the house is also home to the Eternal Gandhi multimedia museum, set up in 2005.
- At the gate, Ram Sutar's statue of Gandhi with a boy and a girl holding a dove, with the words "My Life is My Message".
On the prayer ground, outside the pavilion, is the red sandstone bench where he sat during prayers, among lawns edged with flowers.
How to visit
This is a memorial on the spot of a killing, and people come to pay respects: keep voices low at the Martyr's Column and in his room. Morning, soon after the 10:00 opening, is the coolest time for the garden. The museum is a couple of kilometres from Connaught Place.
❓ FAQ
What are Gandhi Smriti timings?
10:00–17:00; closed on Mondays and national holidays.
Is there an entry fee for Gandhi Smriti?
No, entry is free for everyone.
Which museum is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi?
Gandhi Smriti, in the house where he spent his last 144 days. Gandhi Darshan at Rajghat is run by the same Samiti.
Is Gandhi Smriti the place where Gandhi was killed?
Yes. He was shot on the grounds on 30 January 1948, on his way to the evening prayer; the Martyr's Column marks the spot.
What did Einstein say about Gandhi?
His words are inscribed at Gandhi Smriti: they begin "Generations to come will scarce believe…", about a man like Gandhi having walked the earth.
How much time do I need at Gandhi Smriti?
One to two hours.