The AP State Museum in Hyderabad is the oldest and one of the finest museums in the state of Andhra Pradesh. With the objective of preserving the rich cultural heritage of the state of Andhra Pradesh, the erstwhile ruler of the state Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan created the Department of Archaeology in the year 1915. Alongside explorations and excavations of historical sites and preservation of historical monuments, this archaeological department engaged itself in the collection of various art objects. Finally this collection became so huge that a museum was set up in the year 1930 within the premises of the public gardens in Hyderabad. It was then known as the Hyderabad Museum.
From 1950, the museum started collecting pieces of contemporary art. Finally in the year 1968 the name of the museum was changed to AP State Museum. A visit to the AP State Museum is surely going to be a thoroughly enjoyable and enriching experience. The collection of objects housed in the AP State Museum provides us with a vision of the land’s rich legacy in art and crafts.
The building of the AP State Museum is itself very impressive. It stands as an embodiment of the Indo Saracenic style of architecture and was built by the Nizam himself in the year 1928. There are a number of galleries in the AP State Museum. Some of them are Buddhist gallery, Brahmanical gallery, Jain gallery, Bronze gallery, Arms & Armor gallery, Numismatics gallery, Ajanta gallery. Each gallery has an exquisite and rare collection of arts and artifacts.
The Buddhist gallery and the Brahmanical gallery contain statues that date back to the second and third centuries B.C. and reflect remarkable sculptural dexterity. One will certainly be amazed to know that the Numismatics gallery contains as many as 1 lakh silver coins, 14,000 gold coins and innumerable lead, copper coins which belong to various dynasties that ruled this state at different points of time. The wooden chariot is sure to impress you. There is an Egyptian mummy too in the AP State Museum. A variety of textiles and Bidriware, Chinaware and Porcelain are displayed in this museum. Letters written by Mahatma Gandhi are to be seen in the museum.
The AP State Museum in Hyderabad is open on all days from 10’o clock in the morning to 5.30 in the evening on all days except Fridays. The visitors are permitted to take photographs within the museum only by permission.
