You can stand in the same house where Gandhi lived, Martin Luther King Jr. stayed overnight, and Barack and Michelle Obama later paid their respects.
Mani Bhavan has hosted several major political and cultural figures, both during Gandhi’s lifetime and after it became a museum.
Notable visitors
- Martin Luther King Jr. — visited in 1959 and stayed at Mani Bhavan for about one and a half days. He reportedly chose to stay there because of its connection with Gandhi rather than use his hotel accommodation. Hindustan Times
- Barack Obama — visited on 6 November 2010, accompanied by Michelle Obama. They toured Gandhi’s preserved room, museum and exhibits and signed the visitors’ book. whitehouse.gov
- Jawaharlal Nehru — visited Mani Bhavan several times and specifically revisited it in 1959 when it was being converted into a Gandhi memorial. Mani Bhavan
- Sarojini Naidu — was among the prominent national leaders associated with Mani Bhavan during Gandhi’s years there. MyBMC
- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad — also visited/was hosted at Mani Bhavan during the freedom movement period. MyBMC
The fascinating Gandhi–King–Obama connection
One of the most interesting facts about Mani Bhavan is the three-generation historical connection:
Mahatma Gandhi → Martin Luther King Jr. → Barack Obama
King visited and stayed at the house in 1959. More than five decades later, Obama visited the same building in 2010 and explicitly connected Gandhi’s influence with King’s civil-rights movement. GovInfo
The Maharashtra Governor’s office also specifically records the Mani Bhavan trustees highlighting King’s 1959 visit and Obama’s 2010 visit as landmark visits. Raj Bhavan Maharashtra
Below are pictures of his belongings and musuem created through mini statues-
MANI BHAVAN- Google Maps
Mani Bhavan, 19, Laburnum Rd, Babulnath, Gamdevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400007
02223805864
Interesting facts about Mani Bhavan
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It was Gandhi’s Mumbai headquarters for 17 years
Gandhi stayed there frequently from 1917 to 1934. The house belonged to Revashankar Jagjeevan Jhaveri, a friend and devoted supporter of Gandhi. Mani Bhavan -
The Rowlatt Satyagraha was launched from here
In March 1919, Gandhi launched the Satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act from Mani Bhavan. This makes the building directly connected with one of the early major nationwide anti-colonial movements. Mani Bhavan -
Gandhi started a newspaper from here
On 7 April 1919, he issued the unregistered newspaper “Satyagrahi” from Mani Bhavan and even sent a copy to the Police Commissioner. Mani Bhavan -
His spinning-wheel journey is strongly connected to the house
While recovering at Mani Bhavan, Gandhi learned carding and spinning. A spinning class was started there, and the charkha became an important part of his constructive programme. Mani Bhavan -
Gandhi’s health crisis happened here
In December 1918, Gandhi arrived at Mani Bhavan from Matheran in poor health after severe dysentery. His decision to accept goat’s milk, after Kasturba suggested it, became an interesting episode in his life. Mani Bhavan -
He was operated on here
After beginning goat’s milk, Gandhi underwent an operation for fissures on 21 January 1919 at Mani Bhavan. Mani Bhavan -
Gandhi conducted a historic fast here in 1921
Following violence and disorder associated with the boycott of the Prince of Wales’ visit, Gandhi began a four-day fast on 19 November 1921 to promote peace in Bombay. Mani Bhavan -
The Congress Working Committee met here
On 9 June 1931, the Congress Working Committee met at Mani Bhavan and decided that Gandhi would represent the Congress at the Second Round Table Conference in London. Mani Bhavan -
Gandhi was arrested from the terrace
In the early hours of 4 January 1932, Gandhi was arrested from his tent on the terrace of Mani Bhavan. Mani Bhavan -
Gandhi’s changing clothing style can be traced here
The museum notes that Mani Bhavan is one of the few places, along with Sabarmati Ashram, where visitors can see the sequence of Gandhi’s changing attire—from more conventional Indian clothing eventually to the loincloth associated with his later public identity. Mani Bhavan -
It has a huge Gandhi reference library
The ground floor houses a library containing approximately 40,000 books in its reference and lending collections. Mani Bhavan -
The actual room where Gandhi lived is preserved
His room and workspace on the second floor have been maintained in their original setting, while the adjacent area contains miniature dioramas depicting episodes from his life. Mani Bhavan -
It became a memorial only later
The building was taken over by the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi in 1955 to preserve it as a memorial. Jawaharlal Nehru visited in 1959 and expressed support for converting it into a Gandhi memorial. Mani Bhavan -
It is deliberately an ordinary-looking house
One striking aspect is that this major historical site is a modest two-storey residential building, rather than a monumental structure. Its historical importance comes from what happened inside it. Mani Bhavan
A particularly fascinating connection
Mani Bhavan links several generations of non-violent civil-rights history: Gandhi’s activities there influenced Martin Luther King Jr.'s understanding of non-violence, and King later visited Mani Bhavan in 1959. Barack and Michelle Obama visited the building in 2010.
Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya is at 19 Laburnum Road, Gamdevi, Mumbai; the museum’s official site lists hours of 9:30 AM–6:00 PM daily. Mani Bhavan
