Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was first invited by Maharaja Partap singh in 1915 to visit kashmir but this could not materialize on account of various factors. Again during 1932 and 1946 Gandhi planned a visit to Srinagar but could not make it due his political engagements. On 1st August 1947, Gandhi visited Kashmir via Rawalpinidi entering through Chaklala. Since Sheikh Mohd Abdullah was in prison, he was received at Chaklala by Bakshi Ghulam Mohd and Khwaja Ghulam Mohd Sadiq as representatives of National Conference.
The Entire NC leadership was either imprisoned or exiled by Maharaja’s Government at that point of time .
On his arrival day , Gandhi was taken around Dal lake. R C kak was the first official dignitary to visit Gandhi. Kak also brought an invitation from the Maharaja to Gandhi for a visit to Maharaja’s palace known as Hari Niwas. Gandhi Visited Hari Niwas on 3rd august 1947. No one actually knows what transpired between Maharaja and Gandhi during that meeting.