Curious to see Dhirubhai's first house? Now, you can visit
The Ambani family, Asia's wealthiest, resides in Mumbai's grand 27-floor Antilia. However, their ancestral roots lie in Chorwad, a picturesque seaside village in Gujarat's Junagadh district. There, their century-old family home stands as a symbol of heritage. The exciting news is that this ancestral house has now opened its doors to the public, inviting everyone to experience its rich heritage firsthand.
This is where Dhirubhai Ambani took his first breath
This impressive property was partially rented by the Ambani family in the 20th century before they bought it in 2002. It holds great significance for the Ambanis as it was within these walls that Dhirubhai Ambani, the visionary behind Reliance Industries, took his first breath. In 2011, this historic two-story mansion underwent a transformation, becoming 'The Dhirubhai Ambani Memorial House.'
The property underwent renovations worth Rs. 5 crore
In recent years, the mansion has been extensively renovated, and the cost of these transformations reached an impressive Rs. 4-5 crore. The Ambanis managed to keep its original design while recreating the area where Dhirubhai Ambani used to live. Inside, you can find traditional brass and copper utensils, wooden furniture, and other items that beautifully showcase the family's cultural heritage.
The ancestral property spans 1.2 acres
The 1.2-acre ancestral estate of the Ambanis is surrounded by a lush green area called Mangarolvalano Delo. The charming garden is divided into three sections: a public area, a private coconut palm grove, and another private courtyard. An intriguing highlight is a small theater where a film showcasing the remarkable life of Dhirubhai Ambani is screened.
Mukesh Ambani hired Abhikram & Amitabh Teaotia Designs for renovations
Mukesh Ambani hired Abhikram & Amitabh Teaotia Designs, an architectural company, to complete the renovations on his ancestral property. Interestingly, despite the updates, the property's enormous doors, window entrance, and overall structure elevation are still the same, as mentioned on the official website.
You can explore this ancestral house for just Rs. 2
The property is divided into two sections: a private area and a public area, each with its own entrance and exit. The public section is accessible to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday, between 9:30 am and 5:00 pm. It has been reported that there is an entry fee of just Rs. 2 to enter the Dhirubhai Ambani Memorial House.
They officially unveiled the memorial house in 2011
The memorial house was inaugurated in 2011. At that time, there were rumors about rifts between Dhirubhai Ambani's sons, Mukesh and Anil. But during the inauguration, the whole family came together, dispelling the rumors. Kokilaben Ambani declared their unity by saying, "Hum sab saath hain" (We are all together). The house was formally inaugurated by Rameshbhai Oza, the spiritual guru of the Ambani family.
