Gandhi Museum in Mumbai: Explore the Indian Independence History

Mahatma Gandhi, primarily renowned as 'The Father of the Nation', has a mark and some reminiscent at every corner of the country, and also at many edges in the world. Mumbai, the commercial hub of the country, also holds a very important landmark, where Gandhi had left an imprint. Gandhi Museum, is one of those tourist places in Mumbai, which gives a deeper penetration into the Indian history, with a wider inclination towards Gandhi and his blocks and principles of life, which eventually led to the liberation of the nation from the shackles of domination and slavery.

Facts of Gandhi Museum

Location: 19, Laburnum Rd, Gamdevi, Mumbai.

Timings: The Gandhi Museum is open for public display on all the seven days of the week and the timings are 9:30 AM to 06:00 PM.

It is closed on the second and fourth Saturdays in the month and every day in the year which is a government or public holiday.

Ticket fare: The entry to Gandhi Museum is free for Indian and foreign nationals.

History and Mahatma Gandhi

Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya, now popular as Gandhi Museum, was the chief working center of Mahatma Gandhi in Mumbai for a span of 17 years from 1917 to 1934. Structurally, it is an ancient house having the typical Gujarati ambience and covered with greenery at the entrance and around the courtyard.

The archaic house had the ownership of Revashankar Jagjeevan Jhaveri, a close friend of Gandhi. During his regular visits to the city, Gandhi resided and operated for all the major activities from here.

Gandhi established the foundation for the movements led by him in the independence struggle, such as movement against the Rowlatt Act, Non-Cooperation Movement, Satyagraha, Swadeshi campaign, Khadi movement and Khilafat movement. In 1921, Gandhi had kept a four day fast at the Bhavan, to normalize the violence and stress of the city and let peace be settled in. Gandhi initiated the usage of ‘charkha’ or the ‘spinning wheel’, while based in the museum.

In 1955, the museum was taken over by the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, to maintain and manage the inheritance and heritage of the place. Further, this two-storey building was converted into a museum as a contribution to the man who has honored the integrity, liberty and peace of the nation as his first priority.

In November 2010, Gandhi Museum was visited by Barack Obama, during his tour to India. His visit is marked as privileged due to the exclusive visit by an internationally renowned political figure in the last 50 years and prior to his presence at the Bhavan, Martin King Luther Junior had sojourned.

Things to Visit and Explore

Relics of Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi Museum consists of the restored elements of Gandhi's existence in the residence. Every part of this two storey building has some essentials depicting his contributions towards the country or an element from his life.

It beholds an institute having the research facilities with the subject of Gandhian Thoughts and Principles and Rural Development for postgraduate students under Mumbai University. Further on, the museum consists of a research centric library comprising of around 40,000 books, periodicals and previously recorded data maybe videos, pictures based on the journey of Mahatma Gandhi.

Watch the Documentary about Gandhi

The first floor of the Mani Bhavan has an auditorium, which has a constant screening of films representing the journey of the freedom struggle of Gandhi and also the recordings of the powerful speeches given by Gandhi. The zone of auditorium is also given to various schools and colleges for the seminars, discussions and competitions planned by them for the students.

Former Residence of Gandhi

The second floor comprises of the room where Mahatma Gandhi lived during his stay in Mumbai. There is a glass pane separating it, and giving the view of the intricacies of the room, where two spinning wheels, book and the bedding on the floor. The decor and alignment of things in the room has been maintained exactly in the original manner as Gandhi managed it. The adjacent room has a systematic display of the photographs and illustrations designed and placed by Smt Sushila Patel depicting the political course, activities and movements engaged in freedom struggle. The nearby rooms have arrayed arcades of pictures, slogans, posters and personal items of Gandhi like charkhas.

Above the two storeys is the wide terrace where Gandhi was arrested. There is a bronze inscription symbolic of the spot where Gandhi was arrested in January 1932. The terrace is the place where Gandhi found solace while chanting prayers, sleeping and meditating.

Facilities Provided

Near the entrance hall, at a shop counter, books signifying Gandhian literature, Gandhian stamps, statues and emblems with carvings are available for sale to the tourists covering the place.

Gandhi Museum has all the amenities provided for the visitors which includes availability of food vendors, restrooms. Allowance for the access to the place for photography and videography. The visitors are allowed to walk in the premises with the footwear. Also, lockers for temporary storage are provided.

How to reach Gandhi Museum?

Nearest Railway Station: Grant Road Railway Station and Charni Road Railway Station (Western Line). You can take a train to Dadar from Mumbai CSMT and then change trains in Dadar to reach Charni Road Station. On the Western Line, Lower Parel is also the point from where you can take a direct train to Charni Road Station or Grant Road Station.

See more about Mumbai Local Trains

Nearest Airport: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Andheri. To reach Mani Bhavan from Mumbai airport by train, you can take a direct train from Vile Parle. It will take 25-35 minutes and the fare is Rs. 20. The best way to reach Mani Bhavan from the airport is by train or taxi. Taxis take 1 hour and cost Rs. 300-600.

Nearest bus station: The buses which reach Gandhi Museum follow the route are - 102 Ring, 124, 14, 15, 51. Those coming to Mumbai by train can catch a bus directly from Mumbai CSMT to reach Mani Bhavan. Buses are available every 30 minutes and the ticket price is Rs. 30.

Nearby Places to Visit

Precisely located in Gamdevi at Grant Road, Gandhi Museum, is in proximity to other attractive places like Mahalakshmi Temple, Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Jain temple, Kamla Nehru Park and Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens. The Museum is also in vicinity to August Kranti Maidan, the iconic place where the Quit India Movement was initiated in 1942.

Overall, Gandhi Museum is an ideal place to spend hours to time travel in the freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi and take away the principles of non-violence and Satyagraha, which gained pace from Mani Bhavan.