The Delhi Tour – In the Footsteps of Gandhi takes you on public transport to visit historical monuments in the Indian capital associated with Mahatma Gandhi. At the start of the excursion, you will be picked up from your hotel in Metropolitan Delhi at the time pre-arranged with the tour operator. If your hotel is close to a Metro station you will be met at the hotel by a tour guide. If your hotel is far from a Metro station you will be picked up by vehicle and taken to meet your guide.
Born in 1869 in Porbander, in western India, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi on January 30th, 1948. His legacy of non-violent protest lives on in spirit today as a major influence on Indian society and the international community. In India he is officially regarded as the ‘Father of the Nation’ and his birthday, 2nd October, is a national holiday.
After studying in London, Gandhi became a barrister in Bombay before moving to South Africa in 1907. Here he became involved in his first ‘passive action’ when protesting against the Transvaal government for their treatment of Indian settlers. On returning to India in 1915, he took on leadership of the Indian National Congress and led nationwide campaigns against injustices perpetrated by the colonial government. Jailed in South Africa and India on a number of occasions, his motivation never faltered.
Your tour includes a visit to Gandhi Smriti (formerly known as Birla House or Birla Bhavan). This is the place where Gandhi spent the last 144 days of his life and where he was assassinated on 30 January 1948. It now houses a museum dedicated to Gandhi’s life and work.
You can tour the building and grounds, viewing artefacts associated with Gandhi, as well as the room where he stayed and the ‘Martyr’s Column’ that marks the place where he was assassinated.
You will also visit the Raj Ghat, a revered place of pilgrimage. Located on the west bank of the Yamuna River, a black marble platform marks the place where Gandhi was cremated on 31 January 1948. An eternal flame burns perpetually at one end and the memorial is inscribed with the epitaph ‘He Ram’, (literally 'O' Ram, but also translated as 'O God'.
The final stop on the tour will be the 'National Gandhi Museum', which showcases personal relics, manuscripts, books, journals and documents as well as photographic and audio-visual material.
At the end of the trip you are free to explore further on your own or the guide can assist with arranging a taxi back to your hotel.