If you happen to be in Delhi then do not forget to visit Raj Ghat, a memorial built on the very place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial known as the “Raj Ghat” in Hindi is built on the banks of the River Yamuna surrounded by a beautiful garden. The memorial itself is built of black marble that marks the place where he was cremated, a day after his assassination. There is an eternal flame that burns at one end. “Hey Ram” is inscribed on the memorial which is supposed to be his last words when he was shot by an assassin who thought that the Mahatma was responsible for the division of India and giving way to much concessions to the Muslims of Pakistan.
Location and opening times of Raj Ghat
Set in the beautiful gardens, it’s a little bit of peace and tranquillity in a hectic Delhi. It is open all days of the week between 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Raj Ghat is about 4 kilometres away from Janpath, the famous shopping complex of New Delhi.
[info] Address of Raj Ghat: New Delhi, DL 110006, India [/info]
You will have to do a lot of walking but it’s a nice walk away from the hustle and bustle of Delhi (more places to visit in Delhi). You will also have to take your shoes off at the memorial entrance.
There are no entry fees so there is no excuse not to visit. It should take around half an hour to one hour to walk around the gardens and pay your respects to this great man. In the car park, there is a small restaurant where you could try snacks such as Masala Dosa if you are feeling pecking after all that walking.
Just to refresh you that Mahatma Gandhi was one of the most charismatic people of the twentieth century. He believed in Ahimsa and Satyagraha. Ahimsa is non-violence to all living things and Satyagraha literally means “force of truth”. Ahimsa has been around from centuries but it was Mahatma Gandhi who actually used it as a non-passive resistance political tool to oppose racial discrimination when he was in South Africa and then as a means to get independence from the British Empire. Many political leaders after him such as Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela have followed on his pacifist philosophy and have succeeded.
If you are interested in learning more about Mahatma Gandhi and his life, his works and his philosophy in a simple way then you might consider buying my ebook called, “Mahatma Gandhi For Kids And Beginners”. The book is designed for kids but adults too can take advantage along with those who do not want to go into too much of his philosophical details. However, if you are further interested in Mahatma Gandhi then you might consider getting his autobiography, “The Story of My Experiments with Truth”. Please do not expect poetry or prose in the Mahatma’s autobiography as Mahatma Gandhi himself said that he was educationally a dull boy and was not a very cleaver person. But do read his book as a journey into the mind of a great philosopher. But obviously, if you want the basics then consider my ebook on the Mahatma.
So if you do happen to be in Delhi, I suggest you do not miss out on paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and walk around the beautiful gardens of Raj Ghat – I am sure you will like it.
