System for Museums & Archives for Research and Access to Knowledge
| Place | Ahmedabad |
|---|---|
| State | Gujarat |
| Virtual Museum | No |
| Year of Establishment | 1915 |
| Museum Type | Memorial / Biographical Museum |
| National Importance Museum | Yes |
| Address | Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya, Ashram Rd, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380027 |
| Visiting Time | 08:30 AM – 06:30 PM (Daily). Open on all Sundays and Public Holidays. |
| Entry Fee | Free Entry |
Established in 1963 and designed by the legendary architect Charles Correa, the Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya is the centerpiece of the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. It stands on the very site where Mahatma Gandhi lived from 1917 to 1930. The museum was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru and is world-renowned for its "Critical Regionalist" architecture, which reflects Gandhian simplicity through modular 6m x 6m units.
The museum serves as one of the largest archival repositories of Gandhian history. It houses nearly 34,117 letters (original and photocopies) to and from Gandhi, 8,781 pages of original manuscripts from Harijan and Navajivan, and over 6,000 photographs. The galleries are divided into themes: "My Life is My Message," "Gandhi in Ahmedabad," and a specialized Painting Gallery.
Original Letters: A massive collection of Gandhi's personal correspondence. Hridaya Kunj Relics: Personal items displayed in Gandhi's actual cottage, including his writing desk and spinning wheel. Oil Paintings: Eight life-size paintings by artists Chandulal Shah and Hiralal Khatri, uniquely created using heated peanut shells to achieve specific textures and tones.
| Archaeological Survey of India | No |
|---|---|
| Notes | The architecture is a landmark of modern Indian design, using H-shaped brick piers, stone floors, and tiled roofs to create an "isotropic" (infinitely expandable) structure. The museum is currently part of the larger Sabarmati Ashram Redevelopment Project aimed at restoring the precinct to its original 1944 state. |
| Artifacts | Gandhi’s charkha (spinning wheel); Writing table; Personal spectacles and sandals (chappals); Original manuscripts; Commemorative stamps and coins; Large-scale photographic enlargements; 134 reels of microfilm of his writings. |
| Highly Descriptive | Yes |
| Contact Details | +91 79 2755 7277 |
| Email ID | mahatma@sabarmati.org |
