Anand Bhawan was bought by Motilal Nehru in the 1930s and served as a residence to the Nehru-Gandhi family for nearly four decades, making it the home of not one but three Prime Ministers of India Pt Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. The building was originally designed by Motilal Nehru himself and a specialist architect sent by the Tatas. It was later donated to the Indian Government in November 1970 by Indira Gandhi, the first woman Prime Minister of India.

Anand Bhawan was a prime centre of the Indian National Congress during India’s freedom struggle and now serves as a home museum exhibiting the personalia of the Nehru-Gandhi family. The residence is also famous for hosting Mahatma Gandhi several times during his visits to Prayagraj, previously known as Allahabad. During his visits, the Anand Bhawan became the centre of activism. To acquaint visitors with the lives of Anand Bhawan’s politically influential residents, all the rooms of the mansion have been preserved and restored to be authentic to pre-Independence times. Interesting exhibits include the museum’s library containing over 8000 books, the memorabilia of Motilal and Jawaharlal Nehru, the antique household items and the room of Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi.

In 1980, Indira Gandhi inaugurated a planetarium in the museum premises that hosts six night sky watching shows throughout the year. Every year, lectures and memorial functions held at the museum commemorate the importance of Anand Bhawan in India’s historical legacy and are attended by several visitors. In 2020, the monument completed 100 years of its building.