Aga
Khan Palace is situated in the Yerwada area of Pune. Sultan Mohammed
Shah, Aga Khan III, got the palace constructed in the year 1892. The aim
behind the construction of the Aga Khan Palace was to provide employment
to the people of the nearby areas, who were hit by famine. Prince Karim
El Husseni, Aga Khan IV, donated the palace to India in 1969, in the
honor of Gandhiji and his philosophy. Aga Khan Palace is also known as
Gandhi National Memorial because of its close association with Mahatma
Gandhi.
One of the major attractions of the Aga Khan Palace comprises of the
samadhis (memorials) of Kasturba Gandhi (wife of Mahatma Gandhi) and
Mahadev Desai (a long time aid of Mahatma Gandhi). Since both of them
breathed their last in here, Charles Correa got their built samadhis in
the grounds of the palace itself. Gandhi's ashes are also interred at
the Gandhi National Memorial of Poona. Exhibitions are held at the
palace on a regular basis to acquaint people with the life and career of
Mahatma Gandhi. Get more information on the Gandhi National Memorial of
Puna, India.
The palace served as the venue for the famous movie 'Gandhi'. Since
1980, the management of the museum, samadhis and campus of the Agakhan
Palace is under the Gandhi Memorial Society. The museum inside the
palace complex has rich collection of pictures, depicting almost all the
important incidents in the life of Mahatma Gandhi. There is also a wide
assortment of his personal items like utensils, clothes, mala, chappals
(slippers), letter written by Gandhiji on the death of his secretary,
etc.
AFMC Pune
