Where the Mahatma was born
In the heart of old Porbandar stands Kirti Mandir, the memorial to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi — the Mahatma — built beside the modest three-storey haveli where he was born on 2 October 1869.
Completed in 1950, the memorial is a graceful structure that blends temple, mosque and church motifs to reflect Gandhi’s faith in the unity of all religions; its spire rises about 79 feet — one foot for each year of his life. The adjoining ancestral house is preserved much as it was: narrow wooden staircases, small rooms, and a swastika marking the very spot of his birth.
A library, prayer hall and exhibits on Gandhi and Kasturba complete the site. Quiet and deeply moving, Kirti Mandir is the spiritual heart of Porbandar — a place of pilgrimage for anyone drawn to Gandhi’s life and message.
Inside Gandhi’s ancestral haveli.
The house where Gandhi was born
The 1950 Kirti Mandir memorial.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 in his family's haveli in the old quarter of Porbandar.
The house, already old when he was born, has been preserved, and the exact spot of the birth is marked in one of its rooms.
Kirti Mandir was raised beside it in 1950 as a memorial, funded by the Porbandar merchant Nanji Kalidas Mehta.
It now holds a library, a prayer hall and exhibits, and it is the site every visitor to Porbandar comes for.
Reasons to make the time
Gandhi's birthplace
This is the actual house — a working family home of the 1860s, not a reconstruction or a museum built to look like one.
1950 memorial
The memorial next door is deliberately restrained, a tall spire above a simple hall rather than anything triumphal.
All faiths
Its design draws on temple, mosque and church motifs together, reflecting Gandhi's insistence on the equal standing of faiths.
79-ft spire
The spire stands 79 feet high — one foot for each year of Gandhi's life.
Library & exhibits
Kasturba is honoured here alongside him, and her own birthplace stands nearby in the same quarter.
Pilgrim heart
It is the most visited site in Porbandar, and for most Indians a place of pilgrimage rather than sightseeing.
What to look for inside
MEMORIALKirti Mandir
The 1950 memorial building, its spire 79 feet for 79 years of life.
THE HOUSEThe birthplace
Gandhi's ancestral haveli, preserved as it stood.
How to spend an hour or two
See the birth-spot
Find the swastika on the floor of the haveli, which marks the exact spot where Gandhi was born.
Tour the house
Climb the narrow wooden stairs through the house; the rooms are small, plain and give a clear sense of the family's life.
Visit the memorial
Look at how the memorial is designed — temple, mosque and church forms deliberately used together.
Browse the library
Spend time in the library and the exhibits, which cover Gandhi's life and the independence movement.
Learn of Kasturba
Note Kasturba's place here. She was born in the same quarter and is honoured alongside him.
Reflect a while
Sit for a while in the prayer hall, which is quiet and is used as intended rather than shown.
Temple, mosque and church in one.
A shrine to all faiths
Kirti Mandir was conceived as a symbol as much as a building. Its design deliberately weaves together motifs from India’s faiths — a temple shikhara, mosque-like arches and church-like forms — embodying Gandhi’s conviction that all religions lead to the same truth.
The memorial spire stands about 79 feet tall, one foot for each of the Mahatma’s 79 years. Beside it, the unadorned ancestral haveli is left simple and authentic, a deliberate contrast that lets the ordinary house where greatness began speak for itself.
Our Porbandar travel guide maps out the other places worth your time here.
Our overview of temples across Gujarat puts it in context.
All-faiths symbolic design
~79-ft memorial spire
Preserved ancestral haveli
Library & prayer hall
When to go
November to February is the best season on the Porbandar coast — comfortable for walking the old city on foot.
The monsoon is green and breezy here, and the sea air keeps Porbandar more pleasant than inland Saurashtra.
April to June is hot; come early in the morning, when the light on the memorial stone is best in any case.
⏰ Visit in the cooler morning, allow time for both the memorial and the haveli, and keep a quiet, respectful demeanour.
Timings & entry
- Open through the day (check weekly closures)
- Remove footwear in the haveli
- Photography norms vary — ask inside
- Allow about an hour
- No entry fee
- Maintain a quiet, respectful manner
- Mind the narrow, steep staircases
- Combine it with the Sudama Mandir nearby
Getting there
By Air
Porbandar Airport (~5 km) is close.
By Rail
Porbandar station is a short ride away.
On Foot
In the old city, walkable from the centre.
At the memorial
SPIRE & HOME
A memorial and a humble birthplace
What to shoot
The memorial spire and its facade.
The house
The plain rooms and steep wooden stairs of the haveli.
Be discreet
Respect worshippers and any posted restrictions.
Best light
Soft morning light on the stone of the memorial.
Know before you go
More to see close by
HERITAGEOld Port & City
Stone havelis & the historic harbour
Madhavrai Temple
Popular city temples & ashrams
COASTMiyani
A windswept Harshad Mata shrine by the sea
BIRDSPorbandar Bird Sanctuary
A central wetland alive with migratory birds
PALACEHuzoor Palace
A seafront royal palace of the Jethwa rulers
ANCIENTGhumli Ruins
A grand stepwell & temples of a lost capital
Where to eat near Kirti Mandir
THALIKathiawadi Thali
Rotla, kadhi, shaak and ghee-rich fare.
SNACKSGanthiya & fafda
Saurashtra's beloved farsan.
SWEETSKhaja & sweets
Treats from the Sudamapuri bazaars.
Pure-veg town
Porbandar's food is largely vegetarian.
Kirti Mandir FAQ
What is Kirti Mandir?
A memorial completed in 1950, standing beside the house in Porbandar where Mahatma Gandhi was born. It holds a prayer hall, a library and exhibits on Gandhi and Kasturba.
When was Gandhi born?
On 2 October 1869, in his family's ancestral haveli in the old quarter of Porbandar — the same house that stands beside the memorial today.
Why is the spire 79 feet?
The spire is 79 feet tall, one foot for each of the 79 years of Gandhi's life.
What's special about its design?
It combines temple, mosque and church motifs in a single building, a deliberate expression of Gandhi's belief in the equal standing of all faiths.
Can I see the birth-room?
Yes. A swastika set into the floor of the preserved haveli marks the exact spot of his birth.
Is there an entry fee?
No, entry is free. It is maintained as a national memorial rather than a ticketed attraction.
What else is on site?
A library, a prayer hall, and exhibits covering the lives of both Gandhi and Kasturba, whose own birthplace stands nearby in the same quarter.
What's nearby?
Sudama Mandir, the old city quarter around it, and the Porbandar seafront — all within easy walking or a very short drive.
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 24 August 2026