Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) was one of the 20th century's most influential figures, using a philosophy of ahimsa, or non-violence, to elevate India's poor and lead the country to independence from British rule. He's so revered by Indians today that monuments dedicated to him and his accomplishments can be found all over the country, but one of the best is located in the western city of Pune. There, the Aga Khan Palace provides a home to a memorial and museum dedicated to the small, peaceful man who inspired a nation. Gandhi, his wife Kasturba, and his secretary Mahadevbhai Desai were confined to the palace during the Quit India movement, and it now has one of the nation's most extensive collections of his writings, personal possessions, and photographs, as well as the urn containing his ashes. The palace itself is an impressive structure. Built in 1892 by Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah Agakhan III, it features dozens of ornate rooms and is surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens. It's just the place to visit when you're looking for a few things that are right in the world. Guests at Le Méridien Pune might enjoy a visit to a palace dedicated to India's freedom movement and its most strident defender.
[image via virtualpune.com]
