Museums in Andhra Pradesh
State Museum, Hyderabad
The State Museum, housed in a building converted from one of the Nizam's mansions, has been in existence since 1930. On the ground' floor arc-bronzes. weaponry and Stone Age implements. The bronzes are the museum's best section. Amongst the many images on view are a number of bronzes, especially Taras and temple lamps from Nepal. However, the interesting objects are a life-size lizard, a mother and child dating to the 2nd century BC, three enormous temple bells, an unusual boyish rendering of Parvati and a Narasimha, seated with Lakshmi on his lap.
Upstairs are cases of ivory, enamel and porcelain ware as well as examples of Bidri, the state's best known craft technique. The first floor also displays , huge reproductions ofAjanta frescoes. The contemporary art collection is placed in a building adjacent to the museum.
In the semi circular ground surrounding the buildings are ancient stone sculpture embedded in the walls, while a number of cannons lie scattered around. Suddenly, one stumbles upon an enormous, magnificent wooden rath and a reconstructed temple with a huge shivalinga covered by a beautifully carved ancient stone canopy.
State Museum
Public Gardens (Near Nampally Station)
Hyderabad
Timing: 10.30 am to 5.00 pm
SalarJung Museum, Hyderabad
SalarJung Museum, Hyderabad ToursThe SalarJung Museum houses the private collections of SalarJung, the Nizam of Hyderabad's prime minister. Besides exhibiting SalarJung's personal belongings, the museum has fine collections of jade, metalware, textiles and weapons.
The Jade Room displays beautiful wine bowls, daggers with jade handles, plates, mirror frames in soft translucent colours: white, pink and shades of green. The metalware includes Bidri hookah stands, trays and plates. There are carved ivory chess sets, screens and images. The textile section exhibits kalamkaris (painted and printed cotton spreads) from Masulipatnam and Kalahasti, shawls from Kashmir, brocades and embroideries.
The paintings on view include Jain palm leaf miniatures, miniatures from the Deccani, Malwa, Mewar and Kangra schools. There is also a Western Art section which contains glass from Venice, Bohemia and England, imitations of European painters and the museum's pride: The Veiled Rebecca by G B Benzoni(1876).
SalarJung Museum
Hyderabad
Timing: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
Other Museums in Andhra Pradesh
1. A.P.State Museum, Hyderabad
A visit to the Andhra Pradesh State Museum is a delight for art lovers. Amaravati Museum, Amaravati Travel GuideLocated in the picturesque Public Gardens, the museum boasts of one of the richest repositories of antiques.
2. Amaravati Museum, Amaravati
The collection includes the antiquities from other Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh belonging to the 3rd Century BC to about the 12th Century AD, a gold necklace from Gummadidurru, relic-caskets.
3. Bhagavan Mahavir Government Museum, Cuddapah
A museum of historical and archeological significance is the Bhagavan Mahavir Government Museum in Cuddapah.
4. District Archeological Museum, Nizamabad
The District Archeological Museum houses number of artefacts and anthiquities representing the evolutions of human civilisation right from Paleolithic to Asafjahi times.
5. Kolanupaka Museum, Kolanupaka
Kolanupaka came into prominence when it was made the capital of the Kalyani Chalukyas in the 11th century AD.
6. Kondapur
Kondapur was a very important Buddhist center of the Satavahana period(2ndCentury B.B - 2nd Century A.D) . Lead coins of the Satavahana kings were discovered here.
7. Nagarjuna Konda Museum, Nagarjunasagar
The finds of Nagarjuna valley are housed in a museum specially designed in the model of Buddhist Vihara.
8. The Nizam's Museum, Hyderabad
Located in the stately Purani Haveli, the palace acquired around the year 1750 by the second Nizam is now converted into a museum with a fascinating collection.
9. The Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad
This museum houses one of the biggest one-man collections of antiques of the world by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III.
10. Victoria Jubilee Museum, Vijayawada
The Museum of the Archaeological Department situated on Bandar Road contains beautiful sculptures and attractive paintings worth seeing.
