History can’t be experienced but people can peep into it to know what it was and how it was through number of tales and historical events that carry from one generation to another. In the early 20th century, this same interest drove erstwhile ruler of Hyderabad state Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam, to preserve the rich cultural heritage of his governed kingdom amidst British rule to avoid any manipulation of history.
This noble thought of the seventh Nizam lead to forming department of Archaeology in 1915, which undertook several extensive explorations and excavations in his dominion states under the leadership of Dr. Ghulam Yuzdani with huge collection of antiquities and artifacts ranging from different time periods of the history.
The proposal to preserve this huge collection had led to setting up a museum in the premises of Public Gardens, Hyderabad, with the name of Hyderabad Museum in 1930, which later converted to ‘Andhra Pradesh State Archeology Museum (‘AP State Museum’) in 1968, as the time line passed from monarchy to democracy.
The galleries of the museum were categorized into specific sculptures, weapons, arms and armory, bronzes, manuscripts, Bidri ware, textiles, Kakatiya Mandapa, brahmanical and Jaina, modern paintings, coins, miniatures, porcelean, Chineseware and etc. Antiquities dating back to 2nd CAD to 3rd CAD are available in main Buddhist and Hindu sculpture gallery along with sculptures from Chalukyan period to recent Vijayanagara period.
The most sought collection of the museum is an authentic Egyptian mummy, the daughter of the sixth pharaoh, donated by the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad to museum.
The visitors of the museum can experience the Hyderabad’s royalty and nobility of the then ruler’s unique collection like reproductions of the Ajanta paintings, not available anywhere in India. The manuscripts section contains a Quran that bears the seal of Moghul ruler Shah Jahan. The rich collection of coins includes thousands of gold, silver, potin also from every melted metal that proudly makes the museum next to the world’s first British Museum, London.
Currently, the State Museum’s approach is research oriented and marching ahead by bringing several publications in connection with its rich collection. It is also undergoing the digitization of the document section to preserve for next generations in this quickly changing world.
The AP State Museum is one of the highly recommended place for every visitor of the city to travel a time zone of nearly 2000 years.
Distance:
• 2.5 Kms from Hyderabad Railway Station
• 8 Kms from Central bus stand, Hyderabad
• 5.5 Kms from Secunderabad Railway Station
Location: Public Gardens, Hyderabad.
Journey Time by Road:
• 8 minutes from Hyderabad Railway station
• 20 minutes from Central bus stand, Hyderabad
Route by road: Nampally Railway Station > Public Gardens.
Food Facilities: All kinds of cuisine available ranging from East to West with unique mixture of Hyderabadi style.
Nearby Tourist Attractions: State Assembly, Gun Park, Birla Mandir, B.M. Birla Planetarium,Tank Bund,Hussain Sagar, Lumbini Park, NTR Gardens, etc.
Timings: 10:30 AM – 5.00 PM (Friday Closed) Entry Fee: Rs 10 for adults, Rs 5 for kids.
Transport: Public Gardens is very well connected with road transport (APSRTC buses). Lakdikapool is the nearest MMTS station.
• Plenty of Buses from Secunderabad, Bus No. 8A
• MMTS Traind available from Secunderaded. One has to get down at Lakdikapool MMTS Station.
• Many buses are available from MGBS Bus Stop Hyderabad. Bus Nos are: 9X, 65GP, 225D, etc.
Address : Directorate of Archaeology & Museums, Gunfoundry, Hyderabad -500 001;
Phone Nos:+91-40-23234942 Fax: +91-040-23234942
Photo Source:
www.pbase.com