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12 MARCH 1930 · SALT MARCH · GANDHIDandi March
On 12 March 1930 Mahatma Gandhi set out from Sabarmati Ashram on the Salt March — a 385-km walk to the coast of Dandi, in Navsari district, where he broke the salt law and lit the flame of civil disobedience.
The march that shook an empire
On 12 March 1930 Mahatma Gandhi and 78 companions left Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad on foot, walking roughly 385 km over 24 days to the coastal village of Dandi in Navsari district. There, on 6 April, Gandhi scooped up salt from the sea and defied the British salt monopoly — a simple act that ignited the nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement.
From Sabarmati to the sea
Gandhi left Sabarmati Ashram on the morning of 12 March 1930 with 78 chosen satyagrahis, having written to the Viceroy in advance to say exactly what he intended to do.
The march covered roughly 385 km over 24 days, through villages of Kheda, Anand, Bharuch and Surat, with Gandhi speaking at every halt and the column growing as it went.
On the morning of 6 April at Dandi, Gandhi picked up a lump of natural salt from the shore — a deliberate breach of the British salt monopoly, chosen because the law touched every household in India.
Salt-making spread along the coast within days and the Civil Disobedience Movement followed. Around 60,000 people, Gandhi among them, were imprisoned over the following year.
Why it matters
The salt act
The salt laws taxed a necessity and forbade Indians from making their own — which is precisely why Gandhi chose them as the point of defiance.
Gandhi led
Gandhi was 61 and walked the entire distance on foot, refusing transport, which was itself part of the argument he was making.
385 kilometres
Twenty-four days of walking, with daily halts and public meetings, gave the Indian and international press time to follow the march the whole way.
Dandi coast
Dandi was chosen for its obscurity as much as its coast — a small village where salt lay free on the shore.
A movement
Within weeks, salt was being made illegally along the entire Indian coastline, and the movement spread far beyond the original 78 marchers.
History made
The march made India's case to a global audience and became the model of mass non-violent resistance later studied by civil-rights movements elsewhere.
The story in brief
THE MARCHSalt March
385 km on foot from Ahmedabad to the Arabian Sea, through the villages of central and south Gujarat.
THE PLACEDandi
Dandi, on the Navsari coast, where the march ended and the salt law was broken.
How to follow the trail
Start at Sabarmati
Begin at Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, where the march started and where Gandhi's rooms are preserved as he left them.
Trace the route
Follow the route south through Kheda, Anand, Bharuch and Surat — much of it is marked, and the halt villages still identify their stopping places.
Reach Dandi
Reach Dandi itself, still a small coastal village, and see how little the setting of a world-famous event actually is.
Stand at the shore
See the memorial at Dandi and the National Salt Satyagraha Memorial, which reconstructs the march and names all 81 who completed it.
See the memorial
Visit around 6 April, the anniversary of the salt-making, when commemorations are held at Dandi and along the route.
Reflect
Combine Dandi with the Navsari coast and Surat for a full day in the district.
A footstep heard worldwide
The Salt March turned an everyday commodity into a symbol of freedom and showed the power of non-violent resistance to the world. Ending on the quiet Navsari coast, it drew global attention to India’s struggle and inspired civil-rights movements far beyond its shores.
It sits within Navsari district — browse more places to visit in Navsari.
The story of the beach where the march ended is told in Dandi: The Beach Where the Salt March Ended.
Timing
The march dates.
Best to travel.
Coast turns wet.
⏰ The march anniversary falls between 12 March and 6 April; the Dandi coast is pleasant in the cooler months.
Getting there
By Air
Surat (~50 km).
By Rail
Navsari station.
By Road
Navsari to Dandi.
More in Navsari
PARSI
Navroz
Navroz, the Parsi New Year, glows in Navsari — one of India’s oldest Zoroastrian centres — with prayers at the ancient fire temple, new clothes, feasting and warm community cheer. Explore →
TRIBAL
Dangi Culture
In the forested uplands around Vansda, the tribal culture of Navsari comes alive — dhol-driven dances, colourful fairs and folk custom set among the teak woods of Vansda National Park. Explore →
HARVEST
Mango Festival
Each summer the orchards of the Navsari–Gandevi belt ripen with Alphonso and Kesar mangoes, and a mango festival celebrates the king of fruits with tastings, stalls and orchard visits. Explore →
NATIONAL
Dandi Day
At Dandi today, the nation remembers the Salt March at the National Salt Satyagraha Memorial and Saifee Villa, where Gandhi stayed the night before making salt on 6 April 1930. Explore →
What to eat
THALIGujarati Thali
A hearty spread.
COASTALSeaside Snacks
By the shore.
FARSANFarsan
Savoury bites.
CHAASChaas
Spiced buttermilk.
Dandi March FAQ
What was the Dandi March?
Gandhi's 1930 Salt March — a 385-km walk from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi to defy the British salt law.
When did it happen?
It began on 12 March 1930 and reached Dandi on 6 April 1930.
Where is Dandi?
A coastal village in Navsari district, south Gujarat, about 20 km from Navsari town.
Why was it important?
Breaking the salt law sparked the nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement against British rule.
How long did the march take?
Twenty-four days on foot, covering roughly 385 kilometres.
What can I see there today?
The coast, the Salt Satyagraha Memorial and monuments recalling the historic act.
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 3 July 2026