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Rajghat
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A simple open platform inscribed
with the Mahatma's last words, 'Hey Ram' (Oh God) is set in a garden with
fountains and a variety of exotic trees.
The mortal remains of Mahatma
Gandhi were cremated on this spot on the west bank of the river Yamuna
on the evening of January 31, 1948 |

Raj Ghat, the cremation site
of Mahatma Gandhi is one of the most visited sites in Delhi. It consists
of a simple square black-marble platform that stands on the spot where
Mahatma
Gandhi was cremated. Nearby, there are cremation sites of Jawaharlal
Nehru - the first Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi,
Rajiv Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Raj Ghat is situated to the
south of Red Fort and is very peaceful. The black marble tomb is inscribed
by the words 'Hey Ram!', the last words that were spoken by Mahatma Gandhi,
as he fell down after being shot by Nathuram Godse. The whole edifice of
the Samadhi reflects the simple and nature-loving personality of the great
leader. The cenotaph stands surrounded by earthworks that protect it from
the flooding of the Yamuna. These walls have resulted in the open space
of the memorial being converted into an enclosed garden.
It is customary to circumambulate
the tomb three times. The powerful spiritual aura of the place touches
one's heart. This national shrine has an eternal flame and the sandstone
walls enclosing it are inscribed with various passages written by Gandhi.
The entire area of Rajghat stands surrounded by trees and here, one can
see some of the most exotic shrubs of the country. This greenery is what
lends such a serene aura to the Samadhi. The affairs of the Rajghat are
being managed by an autonomous statutory body.
It is known by the name of
Rajghat Samadhi Committee and was created by an Act of Parliament in 1951.
One can also visit the National Gandhi Museum in the vicinity, which houses
a collection of rare photographs and trivia related to Gandhiji. Vijay
Ghat is the memorial of Prime Minister Lal Bhadur Shastri, while Indira
Gandhi was cremated in Shakti Sthal. Rajeev Gandhi followed his mother's
footsteps and was the most beloved Prime Minister of India, when he was
slaughtered in a terrorist attack. He was cremated at the Veer Bhoomi. |
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