5 Places to travel to that are reminiscent of our freedom struggle

Today is the 77th year of Independence for our country. Throughout the entire journey of attaining this independence, there are many places and monuments that the freedom struggle has touched. Places that will forever have a place in history because of their significance in relation to our freedom struggle. Here is a list of 5 such places that you can travel to while reminiscing about the path to the attainment of our Independence Day:

RED FORT

Flag hoisting at Delhi's Red Fort

In 1639, Shah Jahan built this giant red sandstone structure as the palace in his capital. Since then, the Red Fort has seen many tumultuous episodes. The most famous of these occurrences is the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. After gaining control of the fort from the Maratha forces in 1803, the British East India Company placed a residence in it. The Mughal emperor occupying the fort at this time was Bahadur Shah II. Even though he valiantly rebelled against the British forces, his aggression was eventually crushed and he was exiled. Following that, the entire palace was looted and plundered. Many valuables from the fort, including the Kohinoor diamond and Shah Jahan’s jade cup are still in London’s museums. It is no doubt that the Red Fort will always remain a symbol of India’s independence. Every year on Independence Day, the Prime Minister of the country hoists the Indian flag from the ramparts of this iconic castle.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT RED FORT

Type: Monument

Status: UNESCO World Heritage Site 

Timings: Tuesday to Sunday - 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Entry Fee: Rs 35 for Indians, additional charges for equipment

Other Info: Light and sound show in the evenings 

SABARMATI ASHRAM

The museum inside the Sabarmati Ashram

The 26-day long Civil Disobedience March that began at Sabarmati Ashram and ended at Dandi, was one of the most memorable and courageous acts undertaken by the Father of the Nation. Since the British officials were levying heavy taxation on salt production and using force to kept aforementioned rules in place; Mahatma Gandhi decided to march for a tax resisting non-violent protest. Even though the movement saw minimal support from the Muslims and drew almost no concessions from the British Raj, it is still remembered as one of the most important events preceding our independence. Gandhi lived a long 12 years at this ashram, and even today the spot is flocked to by thousands of people wanting to pay respects.  

QUICK FACTS ABOUT SABARMATI ASHRAM

Type: Memorial

Status: Heritage Site

Timings: Daily - 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM

Entry Fee: Free

Other Info: Guided tours available upon request

CHANDNI CHOWK

An Old Drawing of Chandni Chowk

This place might come as a shock to many but in fact, Chandni Chowk has been a witness to a plethora of events related to our Independence Day. Famous freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Azad, Mahadev Desai, C. Rajgopalachari and Hakeem Ajmal Khan held numerous meetings here, a lot of which were endorsed as being held by the Satyagraha Committee. The most memorable of these meets was the one on the 30th of March, 1919. More than 40,000 people gathered there to protest the Rowlatt Act and the police even shot and killed quite a few protestors before the numbers grew radically. The brutal hanging of more than 200 ulemas (a body of Muslim scholars who are recognized as having specialist knowledge of Islamic sacred law and theology) also took place in this very area.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT CHANDNI CHOWK

Type: Market

Status: Heritage Street

Timings: Daily - All Day

Entry Fee: Free

Other Info: Excellent place to taste Delhi's street food and buy spices

CELLULAR JAIL

Port Blair's Cellular Jail's front facade

Located in Port Blair, the Cellular Jail was built and completed between 1896 and 1906. It is a grim reminder of the atrocities that freedom fighters had to face in the long struggle for independence. The other name for it was Kala Pani; kala meaning death and pani meaning water. Built specifically to isolate and torture Indian political prisoners, this prison is now a national visitable monument. A lot of famous freedom fighters like Batukeshwar Dutt, Diwan Singh Kalepani, Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, and the Savarkar brothers were housed and interrogated here in many cruel forms. Every single cell was built such as to ensure minimal interaction between prisoners. It was only after Mahatma Gandhi and Jawarhal Nehru’s constant intervention that many of these freedom fighters were sent back to live in the country.  

QUICK FACTS ABOUT CELLULAR JAIL

Type: Jail

Status: Heritage Site

Timings: Daily - Monday to Sunday - 9 AM to 9 PM

Entry Fee: Rs 30

Other Info: Light show in the evenings  

JALLIANWALA BAGH

The infamous Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar

Many scholars argue that this incident is one that can be marked as the beginning of Indian Nationalism. On the day of 13th April 1919; the park was filled with people of all sexes and ages, protesting nonviolently for the deportation of two national leaders. Under the command of villainous General Reginald Dyer, the British forces blocked almost all the entrances and fired violently into the crowd. Even though the British Indian sources claimed the death rate to be 379, Indian National Congress estimates the actual number to be a lot more than 1500. The inquiry against Dyer was extremely poor and lax, which caused widespread tension and anger among people. This eventually led to the Non-Cooperation Movement of the early 1920s.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT JALLIANWALA BAGH

Type: Park

Status: Heritage Site

Timings: Monday to Sunday - 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Entry Fee: Free

Other Info: The park is located right next to the iconic Golden Temple

Embrace the spirit of Independence Day by casting aside your usual responsibilities and diving headfirst into the breathtaking embrace of nature. Picture yourself surrounded by the grandeur of mountains, the soothing waves of seasides, the allure of sandy beaches, and the serene beauty of forests. And guess what? You don't have to worry about breaking the bank because we've got an incredible deal just for you. Use the code 'FREEDORM' when you book, and you'll get a fantastic BOGO (Buy One Get One) offer on all dorm stays. It's the perfect chance to let loose, explore, and revel in the freedom that this beautiful country has to offer.