Satyagraha House

Between 1908 and 1909, Mahatma Gandhi lived in this house in Johannesburg's Orchards district, sharing it with his close friend Hermann Kallenbach. It was here that Gandhi developed his philosophy of passive resistance, Satyagraha, which translates as "insistence on truth" in Sanskrit. 

Gandhi spent 21 years in South Africa, and it was here that he first experienced racial discrimination and began to formulate the principles of non-violent resistance that would later define India's independence movement. He slept in an attic room accessed by ladder, grew his own vegetables, practiced meditation, and lived with extraordinary simplicity.  

Today, Satyagraha House functions as both a museum and guesthouse. Seven rooms are spread between the original house, a later cottage, and a modern wing. Each opens onto peaceful gardens where magnolia trees bloom. The museum traces Gandhi's South African journey through photographs, correspondence, and journal entries displayed throughout the property. 

The guesthouse maintains Gandhi's vegetarian principles, serving excellent meals made with quality local produce. Complimentary wellness treatments including massage, meditation, and yoga are offered to guests. The atmosphere is one of contemplation and serenity.  

From here, you're well positioned to explore Johannesburg's complex history. Visit Constitution Hill, where both Gandhi and Nelson Mandela were imprisoned. Spend time in Soweto, explore the Apartheid Museum, or discover the regenerated Maboneng district.

Staying at Satyagraha House offers something rare: the chance to sleep where history was made, in a place where one man's philosophy changed the world.