New Delhi: When we think of our Independence Movement, some places have instant recall, while others have faded to the fringes. Here, some of these lesser-known places from across the country.

Monuments

Kashmere Gate, Delhi

Past the Red Fort, near St James Church, Kashmere Gate is a culmination of the lead up to it: a Mughal structure with British additions. In the mostly-exposed-brick structure, narrow Mughal-style Lahori bricks coexist with the bigger colonial-era ones.

Sankagiri Fort, Salem

The Sankagiri Fort was built in the 15th Century by the Vijayanagar Empire and as years went by Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan, and later, the British added to it. “Earlier, it was used as a watchtower by Kongu chieftains,” says J Barnabas, general secretary, Salem Historical Society.

Jhansi Rani ka Qila (Palace of Jhansi Rani) in Bangira, Uttar Pradesh

Strategically located on Bangara Hill, the fort has 10 gates, and is spread over 20 hectares. The Fort was a stronghold of the Chandela Kings in Balwant Nagar from the 11th through the 17th century and Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, who led the 1857 revolt against the British, there.

As the British advanced towards her fort, Rani Lakshmi Bai tried to escape and proceed to capture the fort of Gwalior. But before she could reach, she succumbed to the battle with the British forces who took her Jhansi fort from her. The Fort withstood heavy bombardment by the British forces for 17 days before it fell. (This structure is recognised as a monument by the ASI)

Temples

Sabarmati Ashram

The Sabarmati Ashram or Gandhi Ashram is a place of pilgrimage for Indians as this was where the Mahatma once lived and launched several famous movements of India’s freedom struggle. The most famous of these is the Dandi March. Nestled near the banks of the River Sabarmati, the Gandhi Ashram is wrapped with a serene calm and one can almost feel the presence of Mahatma Gandhi. There is a museum here which showcases the life and times of the Mahatma. There is a very vibrant and touching Sound & Light Show in the evenings which must be experienced.

Mani Bhavan

One of the other famous places related to the Indian freedom struggle in Mumbai is Mani Bhavan in Gamdevi, Mumbai. This place which is today a museum dedicated to the Father of The Nation once served as the residential quarters of Mahatma Gandhi for 17 eventful years of India’s freedom struggle from 1917 to 1934.

Muesum

Birla Bhavan/Gandhi Smriti

Birla Bhavan is the place where Mahatma Gandhi spent his last days and also where he was assassinated by Nathuram Godse. This was a house owned by the Birla family. The place is now known as Gandhi Smriti and is turned into a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. A canopy called Martyrs column now stands at the place where Mahatma Gandhi breathed his last. Gandhi Smiriti is a place one must visit to pay homage to the memory of the Father of the Nation.

Swatantra Sangram Sangrahalaya 

The Swatantra Sangram Sangrahalaya is a popular museum in Delhi which displays India’s history from Colonial rule onwards. The museum also emphasises India’s first war for Independence in 1857. The museum is owned and maintained by the Archeological Survey of India and has on display paintings, photographs and maps of India during various periods of history. Other than this the museum is also home to letters and papers of various political leaders.