About Raj Ghat |
Raj
Ghat is a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Originally it was the
name of a historic ghat of Old Delhi on the banks of Yamuna
river. Close to it, and east of Daryaganj was “Raj Ghat Gate”
of the walled city, opening at Raj Ghat on Yamuna River. Later
the memorial area was also called Raj ghat. It is a black
marble platform that marks the spot of Mahatma Gandhi's
cremation, Antyesti (Antim Sanskar) on 31 January 1948, a day
after his assassination. It is left open to the sky while an
everlasting flame burns perpetually at one end. It is situated
on the banks of the river Yamuna in Delhi in India on Ring
Road officially known as Mahatma Gandhi Road. A stone footpath
flanked by lawns leads to the walled enclosure that houses the
memorial. All guests must remove their footwear before
entering the Raj Ghat walls. |
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Location |
The
Raj Ghat is situated to the southeast of Red Fort, between the
Yamuna and the Ring Road. It is the memorial to the Father of
the Nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. The Mahatma was cremated
here on 31 January, 1948. Raj Ghat is a National Memorial. A
stone walkway, with well kept lawns on either side, lead to a
walled enclosure open to the sky, with a stone platform in black
marble marking the site. |
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Other Memorials |
Raj
Ghat loosely translates to King's Bank (where King alludes to
the importance of the place and Bank as in -on the bank of river
Yamuna). Various other samādhis or cremation spots of other
well-known leaders can be found in the surrounding area of Raj
Ghat on the banks of the Yamuna. The planting and landscaping of
these memorials was done by Alick Percy-Lancaster, the last
Englishman to hold the post of Superintendent of Horticultural
Operations, Government of India.
Jawaharlal Nehru's samadhi is to the north of the Raj Ghat and
is known as the Shantivanor Shanti Vana meaning the forest of
peace. The area has a park decorated with trees planted by
visiting dignitaries and heads of state. |
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