SALARJAUNG MUSEUM

The Salar Jung Museum is located on Musi river in Hyderabad. It is the third largest museum in India having one of the biggest one-man collections of antiques in the world. This museum was set up by Yusuf Ali Salar Jung, the prime minister of Nizam of Hyderabad. He collected objects that are now presented in the museum. The museum is open every day except Friday, from 10.00 a.m. To 5.00 p.m. This museum displays an impressive collection of European and Indian paintings.


¤ Establishment of The Museum

The outstanding Salarjung Museum set up by Mir Yusuf Ali Khan was popularly known as Salar Jung III. At the age of 23, he became the Prime Minister to Nizam in 1912, but he resigned two and a half years later. After this, he started collecting antiques and art pieces. Collection of objects wasn't his hobby, it was his passion. He spent a sizable amount of his wealth on collection. In his entire lifespan he collected art objects, rare manuscripts and paintings from all over the world. This collection was basically started by his father and grandfather.

In the year 1961, this museum was declared as the "Institution of National Importance" by an Act of Parliament. This act is known as the Salar Jung Museum Act, 1961. Earlier, it was set up in Diwan Devdi. Later, the museum was re-established at the present building in 1968, situated on the banks of the Musi.


¤ A Valuable Collection

The Salar Jung museum at Hyderabad is famous for its wide collection of rare items. The museum has a wonderful collection on Indian Art, Children's Art, Middle Eastern Art, Far Eastern Art and European Art. Here, you can see sculptures, wood carvings, religious objects, manuscripts, furniture, vases, snuff boxes, utensils, archer's rings and ornaments. There are other items also like pottery, clocks, miniature paintings, portraits, silver and costumes. The museum also owns some toys, collected from countries like France, England, Switzerland, Germany, Persia, China, Japan, Burma, and Sri Lanka.

There is a vast collection of printed books on various subjects. Interested scholars can also go through a rich collection of thousands of manuscripts in Persian, Arabic and Urdu languages.


¤ The Clock Room, Highlight of The Museum

The highlight of the museum is the clock room, which is one of the best galleries here. It has a collection of more than 300 clocks. of special interest is a musical clock, sold by Cook and Kelvy of England.


¤¤ Other Attractions of The Museum

The Jade Room of the museum has some outstanding objects, belonging to the ancient Indian rulers like Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan. The museum also has world's largest private collections of art and artifacts. The Salar Jung Museum has a huge collection of over 43000 art objects, 9000 manuscripts and 47000 printed books. Some exquisite objects of art like Chinese Porcelain, Aurangazeb's Sword, and Daggers belonging to Queen Noor Jehan, Emperor Jahangir and Shah Jahan are also on display. Apart from these, sculptures, Indian paintings and Persian carpets are also exhibited. Other highlights in the museum include the "veiled Rebecca", "Mestophiles" and "the Lady with the lamp". Thus, attracting innumerable tourists.