The Swaraj Bhawan, formerly known as Anand Bhavan, is the ancestral house of the Nehru family and the birthplace of India's first and only female Prime Minister, Late Indira Gandhi. Moti Lal Nehru owned the historical residence in the early nineteenth century. He bequeathed this massive palace to the country in 1930 to serve as the headquarters of the Congress Committee. It now contains the Jawahar Planetarium, which is one of Prayagraj's most popular tourist attractions.

The Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Fund presently manages this historic site in Prayagraj, which has been transformed into a public museum. There are 42 rooms in all. You may expect to view a variety of historic artifacts in the museum, one of the most notable of which being Mahatma Gandhi's Charkha. Personal possessions of the Nehru family, as well as countless images from the Indian freedom movement, are on display in the museum. The basement room, which is reported to have been utilized for Congress sessions during that period, is one of the important aspects of the architecture of this renowned museum in Prayagraj.

Swaraj Bhawan History

Shaikh Fayyaz Ali possessed 20 acres of land in Prayagraj where this renowned historical landmark was created. The foundation stone for this massive palace was set in 1868. The building of Swaraj Bhawan was finished in the year 1871. The house was formerly known as Mahmud Manzil until it was renamed Anand Bhavan. It was primarily built for Syed Ahmad Khan, an educationist and Muslim leader. After Syed Ahmad Khan's son, the name 'Mahmud Manzil' was maintained.

Syed Muhmad, the Judge of Allahabad Court, later made his residence in the house. However, after Shaikh Fayyaz Ali's death in 1873, this land was turned over to the Allahabad courts of wards for management. The mansion was sold by the government to Rai Bahadur Permanand Pathak, a judge at Shahjahanpur, in 1888. Following that, the house fell into disrepair as a result of being uninhabited for such a long time. As a result, it was sold to Pandit Motilal Nehru in 1900, who renamed it Anand Bhavan.

Best Time to Visit

The museum is open to the public all year for tourists. During the winter months, however, there is a large influx of visitors. The winter season, which begins in October and lasts until April, is all about good weather. Exploration is simple and enjoyable in such weather. The season comes to a close in February.

Location : Swaraj Bhawan Road, Tagore Town, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 211002, India.

Timings : From Tuesday through Sunday, Swaraj Bhawan is open. The museum is closed on Mondays and federal holidays. The location is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.