Salarjung Museum at Hyderabad

Salarjung Museum at Hyderabad 

Salarjung Museum

Situated on the southern bank of the river Musi, the Salarjung Museum is the third largest museum in India housing the biggest one-man collections of antiques in the world. It is well known throughout India for its prized collections belonging to different civilizations dating back to the 1st century. Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III (1889-1949), former Prime Minister of the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, spent a substantial amount of his income over thirty five years to make this priceless collection, his life's passion. The collections left behind in his ancestral palace, 'Diwan Deodi' were formerly exhibited there as a private museum which was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951. Later in 1968, the museum shifted to its present location at Afzalgunj and is administered by a Board of Trustees with the Governor of Andhra Pradesh as ex-officio chairperson under the Salar Jung Museum Act of 1961. The Salarjung Museum is a royal treat to the connoisseurs with a collection of over 43000 art objects and 50000 books and manuscripts. The collections include Indian Art, Middle Eastern Art, Far Eastern Art, European Art, Children Art along with a Founders gallery and a rare manuscript section. Indian Art includes stone sculptures, bronze images, jade carvings, painted textiles, wood carvings, miniature paintings, modern art, ivory carvings, textiles, metal-ware, manuscript, arms & armour etc. Middle Eastern Art contains the collection of carpets, paper (manuscripts), glass, metal-ware, furniture, lacquer etc. from Persia, Arabia, Syria, and Egypt. Collection of Far Eastern Art exhibit porcelain, bronze, enamel, lacquerware, embroidery, painting, wood & inlay work from China, Japan, Tibet, Nepal and Thailand etc. Oil and watercolor paintings form an important part of the European Collection. This museum houses one of the biggest one-man collections of antiques of the world by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Salar Jung III. The objects d’art include Persian carpets, Moghal miniatures, Chinese porcelain, Japanese lacquerware, famous statues including the Veiled Rebecca and Marguerite and Mephistopheles, a superb collection of jade, daggers belonging to Queen Noor Jahan and the Emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb’s sword and many other fabulous items. The museum building in a semicircular shape with 38 galleries spread on two floors displays only a part of the original collections. The ground floor has 20 galleries and the first floor has 18 galleries. The exhibits on different subjects are displayed in separate galleries. For More Information Visit www.aptdc.in , www.en.wikipedia.org

Read More

Hyderabad Charminar - Place to see or Visit

Hyderabad Charminar - Place to see

Charminar

The Charminar is situated in the southern sector of Hyderabad city and south of the Musi river in the centre of the erstwhile walled city. The walls do not exist any more, barring ruins and small stretches at a few places. It was declared a protected monument in 1886. This eloquent structure is the most important landmark of the city. A charming blend of the ancient and the modern, Hyderabad, also known as the Istanbul of India, is a vital centre of Islamic culture, and central India's answer to the Mughal grandeur of the northern cities of Delhi, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri. Consisting of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, it is the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. It boasts of some fine examples of Qutub Shahi architecture - the Jami Masjid, the Mecca Masjid, Toli Masjid, and of course, the impressive symbol of Hyderabad, the Charminar. Standing majestically in the midst of the crowded old city, is the Charminar - the huge but elegant arch - a masterpiece of Qutub Shahi architecture. It is located amidst the colourful shops of Lad Bazaar (Choodi Bazaar) with its glittering traditional bangles, pearls and bridal ware in the Old City. Unique to Hyderabad, this square structure has delicate stucco ornamentation, four tall minarets and a mosque on its top floor. This imposing monument was built, as the legend goes, by Sultan Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah in honour of his Hindu Wife, Bhagmati, between 1591 and 1612 AD, soon after he shifted his capital from Golconda to Hyderabad. Built upon four grand arches facing the four directions with its high slender minarets and spiral staircases, the structure reflects the glory of the Qutub Shahi dynasty. Charminar gets its name from its four gracefully carved minarets literally meaning 'Four (char) Pillars (minars)'. The design is said to be based on Shia "tazias" erected in honor of Hussain, the son-in-law of Prophet Mohammad. The massive square structure, built entirely of granite and lime mortar, stands on a square base and opens up to four directions through grand arches. Each arch is 11 metres wide and rises 20 metres to the pinnacle from the plinth. The clocks above each of the four archways were added in 1889. These arches support two floors of rooms and a gallery of archways. The structure stands in a junction and the arches overlook four major thoroughfares. There are four minarets in the four corners which soar upwards about 22 metres from the roof of the square structure. Each minaret stands on a lotus-leaf base; this is a recurrent motif in Qutub Shahi buildings. Each has four floors, each floor looking like a skillfully carved ring around the minaret. In between the floors of each minaret, there are spiral staircases of 149 steps which ascend to triple tiers of balconies from where one can have beautiful views of the Old City. From the ground to the apex, the minarets cover a length of 56 meters and on top they taper off to a bulbous dome crowned by a brass spire. The dome is decorated with petal-like motifs. The upper levels of the Charminar were used as a madrasa and mosque, from where royal proclamations were read out to the assembled public. The beautiful mosque is situated on the western section of the top floor facing the holy city of Mecca. The rear wall of the mosque is indicated by blank niches framed by petalled ornamentation. There are 45 open-air prayer spaces, to accommodate more people during Friday prayers. To the east of this space is a spacious verandah with large, open arches in the centre, flanked by smaller ones on both sides. There is a water tank in the middle. The first floor has beautiful balconies from where one has a fantastic view of the historic city. For More Information Visit www.aptdc.in , www.en.wikipedia.org

Read More