Quick answer: Gandhi Smriti is the national memorial at the former Birla House, 5 Tees January Marg, New Delhi, where Mahatma Gandhi lived for the last 144 days of his life and where he was assassinated on 30 January 1948. The Government of India acquired the house in 1971 and opened it to the public on 15 August 1973. It is run by the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti under the Ministry of Culture. The Samiti’s website does not publish visiting hours or an entry fee, so call 011-23392796 before you visit.
Gandhi Smriti at a glance
| Detail | What we verified (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Address | Gandhi Smriti, 5 Tees January Marg, New Delhi 110011 |
| Run by | Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture |
| Phone | 011-23392796 |
| Timings, closed days and entry fee | Not published on the official website; call before visiting |
| Time needed | One to two hours |
An earlier version of this article gave timings of 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday to Sunday, closure on the second Saturday of each month, and a daily film screening at 1 pm. We could not confirm any of these on the Samiti’s website, so they have been removed. Please check by phone.
History of Gandhi Smriti
Birla House was the Delhi home of the Birlas, the Indian industrial family. Mahatma Gandhi stayed here from 9 September 1947 until his death on 30 January 1948: the last 144 days of his life. During those months, after Independence and Partition, he held daily prayer meetings on the lawns, met leaders and visitors and worked for peace between communities. On the evening of 30 January 1948, on his way to the prayer meeting, he was shot dead by Nathuram Godse.
The entrance gate has its own place in history. According to the Samiti, it was from the top of this gate that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru announced Gandhi’s death to the world, saying “the light has gone out of our lives”.
The Government of India acquired the house in 1971 and converted it into a national memorial to the Father of the Nation, which opened to the public on 15 August 1973. The road outside was renamed Tees January Marg (“30 January Road”) in memory of the date of his death. In September 1984, Gandhi Smriti and Gandhi Darshan at Rajghat were merged into the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, whose chairperson is the Prime Minister of India.
What to see at Gandhi Smriti
Gandhi’s room
The room where Gandhi lived has been kept as it was on the day of his assassination. His few possessions are on display: his glasses, walking stick, a knife, fork and spoon, the rough stone he used instead of soap, and a well-used copy of the Gita. His bed was a plain white mattress on the floor beside a low wooden desk.
Martyr’s Column and the prayer ground
A Martyr’s Column marks the spot where Gandhi was shot, with a stone path around it for visitors to walk around in respect. The prayer ground has green lawns, a pavilion with frescoes, and a red sandstone bench on which Gandhi used to sit during prayer meetings. Nearby are inscriptions of words by Rabindranath Tagore and Albert Einstein, and a bronze “Eternal Flame” sculpture by the artist Sankho Chowdhury.
The museum galleries
- The south wing traces how Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi became the Mahatma, through black-and-white photographs and a simple narrative.
- The north wing has sections on his peace pilgrimage, the last 48 hours of his life, the “India of Gandhi’s Dreams” and his eighteen-point Constructive Programme.
- A gallery of dioramas by Sushila Rajni Patel shows important events in Gandhi’s life, from boyhood to his death.
- A short multimedia animation depicts his last journey to the prayer ground.
- Sanmati, the literature centre, has a large collection of books by and about Gandhi.
Sculpture, gong and exhibitions
A larger-than-life statue by the sculptor Ram Sutar welcomes visitors at the main entrance. It shows Gandhi with a boy and a girl holding a dove, emerging from a globe, with the words “My Life is My Message” at the base. The World Peace Gong, received from the World Peace Gong Committee of Indonesia, was inaugurated in 2006. The pergola houses the exhibition “From Mohan to Mahatma”, opened on Gandhi Jayanti in 2015.
Swaraj and khadi
A section called Swaraj shows Gandhi’s emphasis on khadi, cottage industries and rural development. The Samiti also runs Srijan, an education centre offering skills training to underprivileged people.
How to reach Gandhi Smriti
- Location: 5 Tees January Marg, in central New Delhi, near Lodhi Gardens and Khan Market.
- Metro: The nearest stations are on the Yellow Line (such as Lok Kalyan Marg) and the Violet Line (Khan Market). From either, take an auto-rickshaw or walk; use the Delhi Metro journey planner to choose the closest station.
- Road: Auto-rickshaws and app-based cabs are easy to find. Ask for “Gandhi Smriti, Tees January Marg”.
Tips for visiting
- This is a place of mourning as well as a museum, so keep voices low near the Martyr’s Column and in Gandhi’s room.
- Allow time for the galleries; many visitors rush to the Martyr’s Column and miss the dioramas and the room.
- Weekdays are quieter than weekends and public holidays. 30 January (Martyrs’ Day) and 2 October (Gandhi Jayanti) are major anniversaries, so expect crowds and possible restrictions on those days.
- Ask at the entrance about photography rules before you take pictures inside.
Places to visit nearby
Gandhi Smriti is close to Lodhi Gardens and Safdarjung’s Tomb, and the Nehru Planetarium at Teen Murti is a short drive away. To complete a Gandhi trail, visit Rajghat, where he was cremated, and the Gandhi Darshan campus next to it.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Mahatma Gandhi assassinated?
At Birla House, now Gandhi Smriti, 5 Tees January Marg, New Delhi, on 30 January 1948.
How long did Gandhi stay at Birla House?
144 days, from 9 September 1947 to 30 January 1948.
When did Gandhi Smriti open to the public?
On 15 August 1973, after the Government of India acquired Birla House in 1971.
What are Gandhi Smriti’s timings and entry fee?
They are not published on the Samiti’s website. Call 011-23392796 before visiting.
Who made the statue at the entrance of Gandhi Smriti?
The sculptor Ram Sutar.
History and exhibits were checked in October 2026 against the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti’s official website. Visiting hours are not published there, so confirm by phone before you go.
