GANDHI HILL

GANDHI HILL-GANDHI MEMORIAL STUPA

HISTORY OF GANDHI HILL

                                                    The Gandhi Hill (elevation 500 ft (150 m)) is a popular hill and tourist attraction in Vijayawada. It is located behind the Vijayawada railway station in the Tarapet neighbourhood. A Gandhi Memorial, built on this hill, is the first in the country to have seven stupas. The hill is also popularly known by the name of Gandhi. The hill was formerly known as ORR hill.

GANDHI STATUE

GANDHI MEMORIAL STUPA

                                             Gandhi Hill is considered as a monument of Indian Independence struggle and pays homage to Father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. The Gandhi Hill Memorial has a stone slab with inscriptions of Gandhi quotations. The facility has a library and a planetarium, and offers a show on the father of the nation. On 6 October 1968, a stupa 52 ft (16 m) tall was unveiled by former President of India, Dr. Zakir Hussain. There are also seven tall pillars, each 150 m (490 ft) tall.The Gandhi hill offers a spectacular view of the city of Vijayawada, and you may also enjoy a toy train ride as well.

GANDHI MEMORIAL STUPA

                                                     The haze is finally gone and a clear picture is emerging. The Gandhi Hill, a popular tourist attraction located at an elevation of 500 ft (150 m) above the main city of Vijayawada.To develop the hill project at an estimated cost of Rs. 3 crore allocated under the Central Financial Assistance, local officials of the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) have called for tenders to allocate works.Perched on a hill-top behind the Vijayawada railway station in Tarapet area of the city, the Gandhi memorial is the first of its kind in the country with seven stupas and hence, the place is also popularly known by the name of Gandhi.The memorial includes stone slab inscriptions of the Mahatma’s teachings, a library housing large collection of books, a planetarium and a toy train, all in a dilapidated condition.

TOY TRAIN IN GANDHI HILL

                                                  “The first phase of the works will be taken up at a cost of Rs. 61 lakh. Restoration of the project includes upgradation of the existing planetarium, setting up of food courts and an amphitheatre besides replacing the remnants of the existing toy train with battery-operated buggies and illuminating the entire area. The library with a large collection of books will also be brought into use.

                                                     The place has immense significance yet it was left in a neglected state for a prolonged period. On October 6, 1968, a 52-ft tall Gandhi stupa was unveiled here by then President Zakir Hussain. There are also seven other tall pillars, each one of 490-ft height. Considered a monument of Indian independence struggle, this place pays homage to the Father of the Nation.

                                                     This historic place also had served as the venue for the 1921 AICC meeting where Mahatma Gandhi called for prohibition. “The hill has a vast potential as a tourist spot. Its elevated location provides a panoramic view of the city. We also intend to develop the planetarium in collaboration with the Birla Science Planetarium in Hyderabad".

                                                     Restoration of the lost glory of the hill project is one of the several priorities of the APTDC.

DEVELOPMENT OF GANDHI HILL

                                                        Development of Gandhi Hill, the first Gandhi memorial in India constructed on a hillock, has been on cards for some time.The local officials of the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) are enthusiastically working on a master plan to groom the historic place that served as the venue for the 1921 AICC meeting where Mahatma Gandhi called for prohibition.

ANCIENT ARTS IN GANDHI HILL

                                                      “The hill spot has a very high potential for development of tourism. Located in the heart of the city, it has a toy train, a planetarium, a conference hall with a seating capacity for 1,000 people, a library with a rare collection of books on Gandhiji and three historic halls.

                                                        Meanwhile, the APTDC talks of a series of activities it plans to take up on the hill to attract tourists. “The hill is located at a height of 500 feet and provides a panoramic view of the city. There is wide scope to develop the light and sound show at the planetarium, besides taking up landscaping, introducing adventure sports and even providing accommodation at the foot of the hill,” . A huge Gandhi structure of 15.8 meter height was unveiled in 1968 by Dr. Zakir Hussain on this hill to propagate the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi. It also has seven stupas placed at a height of nearly 150 meters.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

                The best time to visit Vijayawada is between the months of November and March.

TRIVIA

 Gandhi Hill holds the distinction of being the first Gandhi Memorial in India to be built on a hillock!

TIMINGS

 The Gandhi Hill is open to the public from 4:00 pm to 8:30pm from Wednesday to Monday. 

 The hill   is closed to the public on Tuesday