Museums & Art Galleries: 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
Closed on Mondays and government holidays.
SalarJung
Museum, Hyderabad
The
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
Closed on Fridays and government holidays.
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