Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad

 

History of Salar Jung Museum

The Salar Jung Museum was established in 1951. The major portion of the collection of the museum was acquired by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, popularly known as Salar Jung III. In the absence of any direct descendants of Salar Jung III, the Government of India appointed a Committee to administer the Salar Jung Estate. Later on with the idea of perpetuating his name, the Salar Jung Museum was brought into existence on 16th December, 1951 in Diwan Deodi, the residential palace of Salar Jung III and opened to the public by Pandit Jawarharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India. In 1958, the Government of India took over the museum through a compromise deed. Till 1958 this museum was administered by the Salar Jung Estate Committee. Thereafter the Museum continued to be administered by the Ministry of Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs, Government of India till 1961. In 1961, through an Act of Parliament, the Salar Jung Museum along with its library was declared as an “Institution of National Importance”.

 

The administration of the museum was transferred to an Autonomous Board, having the Governor of A.P. as its Chairman. The museum was transferred to its present building in the year 1968.

The family of Salar Jungs had assumed such great importance that five of its family members served as Prime Ministers to the Nizams, who were the erstwhile rulers of Hyderabad.

Mir Turab Ali Khan - Salar Jung I, was awarded the title of Salar Jung Bahadur at the age of 13 years. At the age of 24 years he was appointed as Prime Minister by the then Nizam, Nasir-ud- Daulah. He was a great administrator, known for his reforms and also a connoisseur of art. He died in the year 1882.

His eldest son, Mir Laiq Ali Khan was appointed as first Secretary to the Council of Regency and later on as a member of the Council of State. He was appointed as Prime Minister in 1884 A.D. by the then Nizam, Mir Mehboob Ali Khan. He spent most of his time in continuing the social reforms which were discontinued by his father Mir Turab Ali Khan, Salar Jung I. When he was only 26 years old he died at Poona, leaving behind an infant of 24 days, Abul Qasim Mir Yousuf Ali Khan.

When Mir Yousuf Ali Khan became 10 years old, the then Nizam bestowed upon him the family title of Salar Jung Bahadur and restored his Mansab and other titles.

Mir Osman Ali Khan, Nizam VII, selected Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Salar Jung III as his Prime Minister. Due to some difference of opinion, Salar Jung III relinquished the post of Prime Minister in November 1914. Thereafter his entire life he devoted in enriching his treasures of art.

Mir Yousuf Ali Khan was not only a collector of antiques but he also patronized poets, writers and artists, encouraging literary and cultural activities. He continued with his zeal as an art connoisseur till the very end of his life enriching his art collections and died as a bachelor on 2nd March,1949 at the age of 60.


GENERAL INFORMATION


Location

Situated on the southern bank of the river Musi, the Salar Jung Museum is not far from the other important monuments of the old city. The historic Charminar, Mecca Masjid, High Court, State Central Library and the Osmania General Hospital are all within a radius of one mile from the Salar Jung Museum.

How to reach Salar Jung Museum

The Museum has an easy approach by road and rail. The important railway Stations Kachiguda and Nampally are within a distance of three miles. Road transport buses run frequently from all parts of the city to Afzalgunj which is within walking distance from the museum.



At the Museum...

There are 38 galleries in the Museum spread over in three buildings viz., Central Block, Eastern Block (Mir Laiq Ali Khan Bhavan) and Western Block (Mir Turab Ali Khan Bhavan) on two floors. The Central Block with 27 galleries (ground floor 15 galleries, first floor 12 galleries) Even then, the total exhibited art objects constitute a little over 25% of the entire collection.

The museum has many coordinating sections such as the Education Wing, Chemical Conservation Laboratory, Photo section, Display section, Reception and a Sales counter. The museum security is being looked after by CISF.

There are also public facilities such as cloak rooms, restrooms at all cardinal points and a cafeteria run by AP Tourism.

Admission fee

Entrance to the Museum is by ticket, the rate of which is Rs.10/- for general public. Students with identity cards are given 50% concession. Besides, defence personnel in uniform, organized Kisan parties and children below 12 years are also given 50% concession. For foreign visitors the fee is Rs. 150/-.

During 'Children's Week' (14th-20th November) school children upto 12 years of age accompanied by teachers are allowed free of charge. During the 'Museum Week' (8th - 14th January) public is given concession in the entrance ticket.

Publications

To meet the needs of scholars and research students and also interested visitors, the museum has been publishing catalogues on certain important collections of the museum. So far it has come out with catalogues on Persian, Arabic and Urdu manuscripts, special monographs apart from the 'SJM Bi-Annual Research Journal' to facilitate the researchers.

Museum publications, including popular leaflets and picture postcards of the collection are sold at the publication sales counter.

Reading Room

The Reading Room is located in the second floor and equipped with all the daily local papers and magazines in English, Telugu and Urdu. Some foreign magazines are also available for the benefit of the readers.

Facilities to Scholars

The museum has a rich collection of printed books covering various subjects and a rich collection of thousands of manuscripts in Persian, Arabic and Urdu languages. Scholars are permitted to use the library on request by obtaining passes from the reception counter.

Request to the visitors:

    Smoking is strictly prohibited.

    Avail the cloak room facility located near the booking counter for depositing luggage.
   

Photography is not allowed inside the museum – deposit your cameras in lockers provided in the cloak room.

    Do not touch the objects on display as they are prone to disfigure.
    Preserve our culture for future generations.
    Try to avoid use of cell phone in the gallery.

    Do not carry the notified objects such as knives, scissors, blades, razors, match boxes or lighters.

    Cooperate with the security personnel.
    Please use garbage box and keep the surroundings neat and clean.

    If you are willing to make a comment or complement please use the suggestion book kept at exit gates.



Holidays

The museum is closed on all Fridays (weekly holiday).

Besides, the museum will remain closed on the following public holidays.

Milad Un Nabi (Birthday of Prophet Mohammad)     Wednesday     16-02-2011@

Holi     Sunday     20-03-2011

Dr. BR Ambedkar's Birthday     Thursday     14-04-2011

Salar Jung Death Anniversar     Thursday     05-05-2011@

Idu’l Fitr (Ramzan)     Wednesday     31-08-2011@

Dassehra     Thursday     06-10-2011

Idu’l Zuha (Bakrid)     Monday     07-11-2011@

Muharram     Tuesday     06-12-2011@


@ Subject to change depending on appearance of Moon


Working hours:

From 10.00 A.M. to 5.00 P.M. without interruption.

CONTRACT:

Director

Salar Jung Museum
Hyderabad - 500 002
Andhra Pradesh, India.
Phone: 91 040 24576443
              91 040 24523211, 13 Ext: 301
Fax: 040-24572558
Email :salarjung@hotmail.com

Reference:  http://www.salarjungmuseum.in