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{{Short description|Building in Pune, India, built 1892}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = The Aga Khan Palace
| image = Pune Palace.jpg
| caption = 
| size = 
| location = [[Pune]], India
| locmapin = Maharashtra
| map_width = 220
| map_caption = Location of Aga Khan Palace in Maharashtra
| coordinates = {{coord|18.5523|73.9015|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| area = {{convert|19|acre|m2}}
| built = 1892
| visitation_num = 
| visitation_year = 
| governing_body = Gandhi National Memorial Society
| designation1_free1name = Designated by
| designation1_free1value = [[Archaeological Survey of India]]
| designation1_date = 2003
| designation1_type = Historical significance
}}
The '''Aga Khan Palace''' was built by [[Aga Khan III|Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III]] in the city of [[Pune]], India.

The palace was an act of charity by the spiritual leader of the [[Isma'ilism|Nizari Ismaili Muslims]], who wanted to help the poor in the neighbouring areas of Pune, who were drastically hit by famine.<ref name="dnaindia">{{cite news|last=Suryawanshi|first=Sudhir|title=State govt to set up special cell to preserve heritage structures|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2575325011.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019222920/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2575325011.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 October 2017|access-date=12 May 2012|newspaper=[[DNA India]] via [[HighBeam Research]]|date=1 February 2012}}</ref>

The Aga Khan Palace is a majestic building.<ref name="deccan" /> The palace is closely linked to the [[Indian freedom movement]] as it served as a prison for [[Mahatma Gandhi]], his wife [[Kasturba Gandhi]], his secretary [[Mahadev Desai]] and [[Sarojini Naidu]]. It is also the place where Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai died.<ref name="deccan">{{cite news|title=Respecting our legacy|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/245537/respecting-our-legacy.html|access-date=10 May 2012|newspaper=[[Deccan Herald]]|date=29 April 2012}}</ref> In 2003, [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI) declared the site as a monument of national importance.<ref>{{cite news|title=On Gandhi Heritage Sites list, Aga Khan Palace, Yerawada jail|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/on-gandhi-heritage-sites-list-aga-khan-palace-yerawada-jail/677604/0|access-date=10 May 2012|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=5 September 2010}}</ref> Aga Khan Palace is major attraction of photographers for various kind of photo shoot because of its special architecture, greenery and perfect for photography lighting.

[[File:Kasturba Samadhi.jpg|thumb|:Kasturba Gandhi Samadhi.]]

==Museum and history==
Museums and History: At the Aga khan palace in Pune, we can see different objects and documents providing information about life of Mahatma Gandhi

Historically, the palace holds great significance. [[Mahatma Gandhi]], his wife [[Kasturba Gandhi]] and his secretary [[Mahadev Desai]] were interned in the palace from 9 August 1942 to 6 May 1944, following the launch of [[Quit India Movement]]. Kasturba Gandhi and [[Mahadev Desai]] died during their captivity period in the palace and have their [[Samadhi]]s located over there. Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi have their memorials located in the same complex, near [[Mula River (India)|Mula river]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Aga Khan Palace History|url=http://www.virtualpune.com/html/localguide/attractions/html/aga_khan_palace.shtml|access-date=9 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504005357/http://virtualpune.com/html/localguide/attractions/html/aga_khan_palace.shtml|archive-date=4 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Legend goes that the Sultan built the palace to provide employment to the famine struck villagers of the surrounding region; so he employed 1000 people, and the palace was constructed in five years. It was built in Rs 12 lakhs. The total area is 13 acres and built up palace covers seven acres, and the rest is a well maintained garden.

The palace housed National Model School until early 1970s.

In 1969, Aga Khan Palace was donated to the [[Indian people]] by [[Aga Khan IV]] as a mark of respect to Gandhi and his philosophy.<ref name=dnaindia/> Today the palace houses a memorial on Gandhi where his ashes were kept. The then prime minister [[Indira Gandhi]] had visited the place in 1974 where she allotted a sum of {{INRConvert|200000}} every year, for its maintenance. The amount rose to {{INRConvert|1|m}} until the 1990s,<ref>{{cite news|last=Deshmukh |first=Vinita |title=In Shiv shahi, Aga Khan Palace has no place? |url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19990716/ige16145.html |access-date=10 May 2012 |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |date=16 July 1999 |location=Pune |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010223112433/http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19990716/ige16145.html |archive-date=23 February 2001 }}</ref> after which the national monument of India, was neglected for many years due to improper allocation of funds. There was a protest held at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi near [[Pune railway station]] in July 1999 to protest against the worsening condition of the monument. The present condition has improved quite a lot.<ref>{{cite news|title=Congress flays State Govt for neglect of Aga Khan palace|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/Storyold/109864/|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=17 July 1999|access-date=10 May 2012|place=Pune}}</ref>

==Significance==
Aga Khan palace has Italian arches and spacious lawns. The building comprises five halls. It covers an area of {{convert|19|acre|m2}}, out of which {{convert|7|acre|m2}} is the built up area. The palace captivates the eye of a spectator with its magnificence and picturesque architecture. It took 5 years and an estimated budget of {{INRConvert|1.2|m}} to complete this Palace. The area of the ground floor is 1756 m{{sup|2}}, that of the first floor is 1080 m{{sup|2}}, whereas the second floor has a construction of 445 m{{sup|2}}. The speciality of this structure is its corridor of 2.5 meters around the entire building. Prince Karim Aga Khan donated this palace to Gandhi Smarak Samittee in 1972 and since then Parks and Gardens organisation is maintaining it.

The palace archives a number of photos and portraits depicting glimpses from the life of [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and other personalities of the [[Indian freedom struggle]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-05-01/pune/28328512_1_paint-photos-damage|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708083651/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-05-01/pune/28328512_1_paint-photos-damage|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 July 2012|title=Paint job 'taints' historic photos|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=1 May 2004|access-date=12 May 2012|place=Pune|author=Times News Network|author-link=Times News Network}}</ref>

This palace is also the headquarters of the Gandhi National Memorial Society.<ref>[http://www.punediary.com/html/aga_khan_palaceinfo.htm Aga Khan Palace] Punediary.com. Retrieved 10 May 2012.</ref> It also hosts a shop that deals in ''khaadi'' and other hand loomed textiles.<ref>{{cite news|title=Try these places|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/places-delhi-bangalore-hyderabad-mumbai-pune/1/173686.html|access-date=22 May 2012|newspaper=[[India Today]]|date=15 February 2012}}</ref>

==Activities organised at the palace==
Gandhi Memorial society celebrates the following public functions at the palace:
*[[Martyrs' Day (India)|Martyr's Day]] – 30 January.
*[[Mahashivratri]] – Kasturbha Gandhi's Death Day Celebrated As Mother's Day.
*[[Independence Day (India)|Independence Day]] – 15 August.
*[[Republic Day of India|Republic Day]] – 26 January.
*[[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s Birth Anniversary – 2 October.

Other than yearly events, morning prayer sessions are held daily at the samadhi since decades. The prayer draws huge crowds everyday, and the number goes up threefold on 2 October as people visit the place to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.<ref>{{cite news|title=Following the Mahatma|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/following-the-mahatma/523999/0|access-date=10 May 2012|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=2 October 2009}}</ref>

==Gallery==
[[File:Aga Khan Palace Isometric View.jpg|thumb|143x143px|Aga Khan Palace as viewed from the left rear side]]
<gallery>
File:Aga Khan Palace, Puna.jpg|A scanned image of Aga Khan Palace before India's independence.
File:Kasturba_gandhi_burial.JPG|[[Kasturba Gandhi]] Memorial Stone (One on the right) with the memorial stone of [[Mahadev Desai]] in the palace where she died.
File:AgaKhan Palace.jpg|Distance view of the palace.
File:Gandhis ashes.jpg|Gandhi's ashes at the palace.
File:Agah_khan_palace-front_view.JPG|Front View of Aga Khan Palace
File:Agah_khan_palace_-side_view.JPG|Side View of Aga Khan Palace
File:Aga_Khan_Palace_Pune_Preeti-Parashar_05.JPG|Aga Khan Palace Full View
File:Milestone of Gandhi's Life, at Aga Khan Palace, Pune, India.jpg|Milestones related to Mahatma Gandhi at Aga Khan Palace
File:Aga khan palace pune-plaque.jpg|Information Plaque at Aga Khan Palace
File:Aga Khan Palace side view.jpg|Aga Khan Palace Side View
</gallery>
{{Panorama
|image   = File:Agakhanpalacepanaroma.JPG
|height  = 230
|alt     = Panoramic view Aga Khan Palace
|caption = Panoramic view from the palace
}}

==See also==

* [[Quit India Movement|Mahatma Gandhi and the Quit India Movement]]
* [[Mani Bhavan]]
* [[Aga Khan III]]
* [[Aga Khan IV]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Aga Khan Palace}}{{Mohandas K. Gandhi}}
{{Pune topics}}

[[Category:Houses completed in 1892]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Pune]]
[[Category:Memorials to Mahatma Gandhi]]
[[Category:Palaces in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Pune]]
[[Category:Indian independence movement in Maharashtra]]