Sabarmati Ashram Ahmedabad : Sabarmati Ashram or Gandhi Ashram, situated on the banks of Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad, was once the home of Mahatma Gandhi and his wife Kasturba Gandhi. This Sabarmati Ashram, home of Mahatma Gandhi and a key player in India’s freedom struggle, is still an attraction for thousands of tourists coming from within the country and abroad.
Sabarmati Ashram located in Ahmedabad holds significant historical importance as it served as the residence of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement, for more than a decade. Sabarmati Ashram, established in the year 1917, was the main residence of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi and their followers during India’s struggle for independence from British rule.
Sabarmati Ashram was the center of many important activities related to India’s freedom struggle, including the Salt Satyagraha (Dandi March) in 1930, which was a significant event in India’s fight for independence. Mahatma Gandhi started a march from here to Dandi on the Arabian Sea coast in protest against the British salt monopoly, which had a deep impact on the Indian independence movement.
Today, the Sabarmati Ashram stands as a museum dedicated to the life and teachings of Gandhi. Visitors can view various artefacts, letters and photographs related to the life and freedom movement of Mahatma Gandhi. The serene surroundings of the Ashram situated on the banks of the Sabarmati River provides a serene environment to think and learn about Gandhian philosophy and principles of non-violence.
Not only common tourists but also big political leaders and famous people keep coming to see Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram. The atmosphere of Sabarmati Ashram is still Gandhi-like. The peace spread here and the Sabarmati river flowing behind the ashram, away from the noise of the city, Sabarmati Ashram fills the tourists with a new energy.
Established- Sabarmati Ashram Ahmedabad
Sabarmati Ashram was established in 1917. When Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa, he returned with a new principle of life and to imbibe the same principle, he wanted to live in a quiet place rather than being surrounded by the crowd of common people. That is why first he built his first ashram in Kocharab which is at a distance of 4 kilometers from Sabarmati Ashram. Later in 1917, he started living in Sabarmati Ashram.
There is a site map near the gate of the Ashram which lists the places you are going to see inside the Ashram. The Ashram has Mahatma Gandhi Museum, Prayer Place, Hriday Kunj, Vinoba-Meera Kutir, Magan Niwas, Udyog Mandir and Nandini Niwas. Apart from these there is also a Khadi sales center and a library.
Museum – Sabarmati Ashram Ahmedabad
In 1963, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Museum in the Ashram. Memorabilia related to Gandhiji’s life are kept in this museum. Memories of every event of Gandhi’s life, from his birth to his death, can be seen in this museum. The museum also has Mahatma Gandhi’s photo, photos of people who had a place in his life, copies of Gandhiji’s old letters, his sunglasses and glasses.
The statue and memories related to Gandhiji’s wife Kasturba Gandhi, who left her mark on Gandhiji’s life and taught him the lesson of non-violence, can also be seen in this museum. This museum of Gandhiji is really a place worth seeing. Although so much has been written and read about Gandhiji, still, by visiting this museum, one gets to see and understand those aspects of Gandhiji’s life which perhaps cannot be found otherwise.
Gandhiji’s Dandi March started from Sabarmati Ashram itself. On March 12, 1930, Gandhiji conducted Salt Satyagraha in protest against the British government’s decision to impose tax on salt. For this, he decided to march on foot to a village called Dandi on the sea coast, 787 kilometers away from Sabarmati, and vowed not to return to the ashram until India became independent. On the same day Gandhiji left Sabarmati Ashram and did not return here after that.
Information related to the Dandi March and photos related to it are also shown in the museum. The museum has a painting gallery which contains impressive paintings of Gandhiji. Apart from this, there is a section in the museum in which the letters written by children in the name of Gandhiji are shown on a board.
Hriday Kunj – Sabarmati Ashram Ahmedabad
Hriday Kunj is a place in Sabarmati Ashram, where Gandhiji lived from 1919 to 1930. Kaka Saheb Kalekar had named this house Hriday Kunj. Here there was a room for guests in which people coming from far away places to meet Gandhiji used to stay. Currently, a spinning wheel and a desk replica of Gandhiji’s writing desk are kept in this room. It was while living in this house that Gandhiji transformed from Mohandas to Mahatma.
Prayer Ground – Sabarmati Ashram Ahmedabad
There is an open prayer place inside the ashram where the people of the ashram used to pray together and Gandhiji used to sit here and answer the questions of the people. This was an important part of the daily routine of the people of the ashram. Everyone would sit here and discuss all their day’s activities and also plan for the next day.
The specialty of this prayer place was that people of all religions and castes used to live in the ashram and everyone used to pray together at this place. A small temple was also built near the prayer place which was open to all. This prayer place of the Ashram, away from the untouchability prevalent in the Indian society, was very important for the Ashram.
Vinoba – Meera Kuteer – Sabarmati Ashram Ahmedabad
Acharya Vinoba Bhave, the pioneer of Bhoodan movement, also got influenced by Gandhiji’s thoughts and came to live with Gandhiji in Sabarmati Ashram. He stayed here for a few months between 1918 and 1921. Madeleine Slade, influenced by Gandhiji’s ideas, who later became Gandhiji’s disciple and was called Meera, lived in this cottage from 1925 to 1933.
Nandini – Guest House – Sabarmati Ashram Ahmedabad
Nandini Kutir in the Ashram is a proof of the immense popularity of Gandhiji, Rabindranath Tagore, Pandit Nehru, Dr. Rajendra Prashad, Deenbandhu Andrew and popular personalities of the country and abroad used to stay in this hut.
Udyog Mandir – Sabarmati Ashram Ahmedabad
Charkha had a lot of influence and contribution in the life of Gandhiji. Khadi emerged as a movement in the Udyog Mandir within the Ashram itself. The slogan of Adopt Swadeshi gave Khadi a different and very special place in the Indian society. In this part of the Ashram, training was given to people who wanted to make Khadi and adopt it as a business. Udyog Mandir was established in 1918.
Magan Niwas – Sabarmati Ashram Ahmedabad
Magan Lal was Gandhiji’s nephew and being influenced by Gandhi’s principles, he dedicated his life to Gandhi and his principles. Sabarmati Ashram was planned in Kocharba itself and the responsibility of preparing it was of Magan Lal. Magan Niwas used to belong to the same Magan Lal. Shri Magan Lal has made a huge contribution in establishing Sabarmati Ashram and running it smoothly.
How to Reach Sabarmati Ashram
It is easy to reach Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad as it is a famous attraction of the city.
By Flight
The nearest airport to the Ashram is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport which is about 9 kilometers from Sabarmati Ashram. Tourists can hire a taxi or use app-based services to reach the ashram from the airport.
By Train
Ahmedabad Railway Station is the main railway station of the city and is well connected to major cities across India. From the railway station one can take a taxi, auto-rickshaw or local bus to reach the ashram.
By Road
Ahmedabad is well connected by road network. The ashram is a popular tourist attraction and hence many buses pass through its vicinity.
One can easily reach Sabarmati Ashram by car or taxi. Auto-rickshaw is the easiest mode of transport within Ahmedabad.
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