On January 31st in the year 1948, the nation mourned the death of its father, Mahatma Gandhi, after he was assassinated by Nathuram Godse. The word Mahatma, which translates as “The great spirit, ” resides in a place, which, patriotic Indians call the National Shrine. The Rajghat – The National Shrine or Gandhi Samadhi is a famous monument built in memory of the Father of the Nation. It was at this place, on a black day, he was cremated. Today this Mausoleum stands between the beautifully manicured green lawns.
A wonder along the bank:
Rajghatis situated in between the banks of the river Yamuna and Mahatma Gandhi Ring road of Delhi. The Red Fort is towards North West from this location. It is well connected by roads and there are plenty of rides one could choose from. Being one of the most popular destinations in Delhi, lot of transport vehicle ply every day to this location.
Ornamented glory of Rajghat – The National Shrine.
A stone footpath along the verdant lawn leads to the tomb of Gandhi, the centre of attraction of this beautiful place. The tomb is a black platform that is decorated with colourful garlands made of marigold and roses. At one side of the tomb, there an eternal flame that burns. On the other side, the words “Hey Ram”, which is believed to be Gandhi’s last words are engraved with golden letters in Devanagari script. The open tomb is also a mark of simplicity which depicts Gandhi’s way of life. This platform is situatedover a bigger platform that has stairs on all the sides for accessing the elegant Mausoleum.
A place of Memory:
The area around the Gandhi Samadhi has cremation sites of various other important personalities. The Samadhi of India’s first Prime Minister Dr. Jawaharlal Nehru is situated in thenorth, Samadhis of his daughter Indira Gandhi and her sons Sanjay and Rajiv are notable ones among many.
Elegance in every detail:
The entire area of the Rajghat is themark of elegance and greatness. Owing to it, the area is decorated with beautiful gardens that give peace and serenity to its visitors. A notable feature of the great garden is the trees which were planted by several world famous personalities which include Queen Elizabeth II, Ho Chi Minh, Former Australian Prime Minister G. Whitman, and Former United States President Eisenhower. The garden is enclosed with light-brown stone walls. These encircling walls are inscribed with Mahatma Gandhi’s greatest sayings in different Indian Languages. This wall is a symbol the diversity and unity of India.
Never ending prayers:
The place itself is considered to be a shrine.Untiltoday, a prayer is held every Friday, And every day Gandhi’s philosophy is projected through pictures and sculptures. There is also a Memorial Museum within the Rajghat, where films are projected to show Gandhi’s life and principles. The place also features an excellent parking facility and various amenities to ensure the comfort of the tourists.
Multitudinous spot:
Rajghat also has several other notable attractions nearby. The Vijay Ghat, The Vir Bhumi, The Shakti Sthal, Shanti Van, The Zinatul masjid, Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium and KhuniDarwaza are some of the notable places to visit.
Undoubtedly the place is filled tourists from various parts India and the world. People fly in and get overwhelmed with emotions witnessing journey through Gandhi’s memorial which depicts his greatness and remarkable simplicity.
