Aga Khan Palace is a magnificent 1892 Italian-arch palace set on 19 acres of lawns in Kalyani Nagar, Pune City, Pune district, Maharashtra. Built by Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III to provide famine relief employment to locals, it was commandeered by the British in 1942 as a prison for Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba Gandhi, and senior Congress leaders during the Quit India Movement — making it one of India's most significant freedom struggle memorials.
Aga Khan Palace
Pune's Elegant Memorial — Where Gandhi's Freedom Struggle Lived
A Glimpse into History of Aga Khan Palace
Construction as Famine Relief (1892)
Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III built this palace in 1892 primarily as a labour project to provide livelihood to famine-affected locals in the Pune region. The palace's distinctive Italian arch colonnaded design was inspired by European palazzo architecture, making it architecturally unique in Maharashtra. The 19-acre estate included landscaped gardens, fountains, and separate residential quarters.
Gandhi's Imprisonment (1942–1944)
After the Quit India Movement launched on 9 August 1942, British authorities arrested Mahatma Gandhi and interned him with Kasturba Gandhi, secretary Mahadev Desai, and Sarojini Naidu at Aga Khan Palace. Kasturba Gandhi died here on 22 February 1944 after prolonged illness. Mahadev Desai also died within days of arrest. Both are interred in the palace gardens.
National Memorial & Gandhi Smarak
Aga Khan III donated the palace to India in 1969 as a tribute to the Gandhi family. It was declared a protected monument and the Gandhi National Memorial Society took charge, establishing a museum with Gandhi's personal belongings, letters, and photographs. Kasturba's and Mahadev Desai's samadhis (memorial shrines) in the gardens draw thousands of visitors annually.
Architectural & Historical Significance
Aga Khan Palace is the only palace in India whose Italian-arch colonnade design runs continuously around all four sides of the main building. The 2.75-acre main building has 6 halls and 19 rooms. The palace museum preserves Gandhi's spinning wheel (charkha), handwritten letters to the British Viceroy, and Kasturba's personal belongings — offering unparalleled insight into the Quit India era.
Events & Commemorations
Kasturba Gandhi Death Anniversary (22 February)
Every 22nd February, a national commemorative ceremony is held at Kasturba's samadhi in the palace gardens. Senior political leaders, Gandhi scholars, and school students attend the memorial prayer. The event keeps alive Kasturba's legacy as an unsung pillar of the independence movement alongside Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhi Jayanti Celebrations (2 October)
On Gandhi's birthday, the palace hosts special public programs including spinning wheel demonstrations (charkha competitions), readings from Gandhi's writings, and cultural performances. The palace remains specially illuminated and the garden samadhis receive floral tributes from municipal authorities, schools, and visiting dignitaries.
Did You Know?
Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned at Aga Khan Palace for 635 days (August 1942 to May 1944) — his last and longest imprisonment. During this period he observed a 21-day fast and wrote the "Constructive Programme" document. The spinning wheel he used daily during internment is still on display in the palace — one of the few surviving objects touched by Gandhi during captivity.
Travel Guide to Aga Khan Palace
How to Reach
By Air: Pune Airport (PNQ) — 10 km via Nagar Road; ~20 min drive.
By Train: Pune Junction Railway Station — 5 km; autos/taxis available to Nagar Road, Kalyani Nagar.
By Road: Located on Nagar Road (NH-60), Kalyani Nagar, Pune. Well-marked from Yerawada and Hadapsar junctions.
Best Time to Visit
October to March is best — the 19-acre gardens are well-maintained and pleasant to walk in cooler weather. Morning visits (9–11 AM) are ideal before tour groups arrive. 2nd October (Gandhi Jayanti) and 22nd February (Kasturba's death anniversary) offer special programs. The palace museum is informative year-round and requires 60–90 minutes for a thorough visit.
Local Attractions Nearby
Shaniwar Wada: 6 km — iconic Peshwa fortress palace with Sound & Light show.
Osho Ashram: 4 km — world-famous meditation centre in Koregaon Park.
Pune Zoo (Peshwe Park): 8 km — Maharashta's oldest zoological garden.
Sinhagad Fort: 28 km — historic Maratha trekking fort with scenic views.
Tips for Visitors
Entry fee: ₹5 for Indians, ₹100 for foreigners. Open 9 AM–5:30 PM daily including weekends. Photography of the museum interior requires a camera ticket.
Gandhi Museum visit takes 45–60 minutes — don't skip the original letters section; handwritten correspondence between Gandhi and the Viceroy from 1942 is genuinely moving.
Garden samadhis of Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai are in the rose garden behind the palace — maintain silence and remove footwear before entering the samadhi enclosures.
Allow 2 hours — museum, samadhis, garden walk, and the palace exterior photography all deserve dedicated time. Guides available in English and Marathi at the gate.