Andhra City Honors Mahatma Gandhi With Temple Instead of Statues

When people want to remember a great leader, they usually build a statue.

But in the town of Srikakulam in India, people did something different: they built a whole temple for Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhi was a leader who helped India become free.

Long ago, in December 1927, Gandhi visited Srikakulam and talked to people about freedom, khadi and swadeshi.

The temple, called Gandhi Mandiram, sits inside a big park of about 50 acres.

Inside, Gandhi is shown sitting peacefully, with scenes from his life and the freedom struggle around him.

A very tall national flag, 105 feet high, stands on the grounds.

There is also a garden called Sphurthi Vanam with statues of 35 freedom fighters and five social reformers.

The temple reminds everyone that freedom came with sacrifice, and that values like truth, peace and non-violence should never be forgotten.

Visitors can go there to remember Gandhi and the people who dreamed of a free India.