Museums In Andhra Pradesh:

Andhra Pradesh is a state with a rich historical past. Several dynasties have ruled the state and each has had a remarkable contribution in molding the culture of the state. This multi hued culture of the state is reflected in each and every aspect of Andhra society. The legacy is being carried forward very successfully. The cuisine, the literature, music, dance and various other art forms mirror the culture of the state. In addition to that, the Museums of Andhra Pradesh also represents its diverse culture.

The Museums of Andhra Pradesh are depositories of a variety of objects that manifest the rich historical and cultural heritage of the land. A visit to the Museums of Andhra Pradesh provides valuable insights into the history of the place.

The Museums of Andhra Pradesh are the storehouses of an impressive selection of sculptures, paintings and various other artifacts that are of immense historical and artistic value. It is a matter of immense pleasure to all art and history lovers to witness all the beautiful works of art housed in the Museums of Andhra Pradesh.

Amaravati Museum:

Located on the right banks of the River Krishna, Amaravati is a historical town that was once the capital of the Satavahana kingdom. The Satavahana dynasty ruled the region for four centuries. During this period Amaravati emerged as a major center of Buddhist art and culture. The Amaravati Museum in Amaravati is an amazing repository of relics that have been gathered from the ruins of this 2000 year old Buddhist settlement as well as from nearby places which were also under the influence of this religion.

A visit to the Amaravati Museum in Amaravati gives you an excellent opportunity to witness the superb collection of antiquities that have been collected from various Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh. The three galleries of the Amaravati Museum in Amaravati exhibit these rare artifacts. They mostly belong to the period 3rd century B.C. to 12th century A.D. Some of the precious objects housed in the Amaravati Museum in Amaravati include a gold necklace from Gummadiduru, several caskets, Bone relics and gold flowers.

Gallery I of the Amaravati Museum in Amaravati provides valuable insight into the art tradition of Amaravati.

Birla Planetarium and Science Museum:

A visit to Hyderabad is incomplete without a stopover at the Birla Planetarium and Science Museum in Hyderabad. Located at Naubat Pahad, the Birla Planetarium and Science Museum in Hyderabad was inaugurated on 8th September 1985 by N.T. Rama Rao. It is one of those rare entertainment spots that enlightens at the same time.

The Birla Planetarium and Science Museum in Hyderabad is housed in a dome shaped building that reflects admirable architectural skills. This modern museum is emblematic of the progress made in the field of science and technology by Indians.

Every day sky shows are held in the Birla Planetarium and Science Museum in Hyderabad both in Telegu and English. These shows are thoroughly enjoyed by children. Several mysteries of the Universe are unraveled before them. They come to know about the Comets, the Cosmos, the Eclipses and several other scientific phenomenons. It serves to educate these young minds who are also familiarized with the Hubble Space telescope and the Unidentified Flying Objects.

Kolanupaka Museum:

The small town of Kolanupaka in Andhra Pradesh is best known for its museum. It came into prominence in the eleventh century A.D. when it was made the capital of their kingdom by the Kalyani Chalukyas. Presently it is well connected to other parts of Andhra Pradesh. Roadways and railways link Kolanupaka to Aler which is at a distance of about 6 km. So a visit to the Kolanupaka Museum in Kolanupaka will be no problem at all.

The Kolanupaka Museum in Kolanupaka was set up by the State Department of Archaeology and Museums. The Kolanupaka Museum in Kolanupaka houses an amazing collection of arts and artifacts. This unique collection exhibited in the Kolanupaka Museum in Kolanupaka is the result of the initiative taken by the state department of archeology and museum. They have gathered it from the various historical monuments of Kolanupaka.

Most of the objects displayed belong to the period when the Chalukya and the Kakatiya dynasty ruled the area. Any visitor will surely like to witness the hundred images that have been housed in the Kolanupaka Museum in Kolanupaka. The sculptural gallery is truly impressive.

Salar Jung Museum:

A visit to the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad is indeed a very enriching experience. You are sure to be startled at the amazing collection of art and artifacts. The fact that the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad is visited by more than a million visitors each year speaks volumes about its popularity as a tourist attraction.

The Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad is believed to be the result of the initiative taken by a single man. Nawab Mir Yusuf Ali Khan, popularly known as Salar Jung III was an art lover and is regarded as the chief architect of this conglomeration. In fact the collection in this Andhra Pradesh museum is the largest one man collection in the world.

Inaugurated on 16th December 1951 by Jawaharlal Nehru, the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad was originally housed in the Dewan Devdi palace. Later in the year 1968, the museum was shifted to a new site. During the colonial rule, a large chunk of the vast treasure of Indian art was shifted to other countries. But on account of the efforts taken by Salar Jung III, a part of it could be retrieved.

Victoria Jubilee Museum:

Situated on the banks of the Krishna River, the city of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh is known as the business capital of the state. However it is visited by a large number of tourists as well. The chief attractions are the temples and the Victoria Jubilee Museum in Vijayawada.

The Victoria Jubilee Museum in Vijayawada is an archeological museum that was established way back in the year 1887. Even after the passage of more than a hundred years this museum has managed to retain its popularity because of its varied and unique collection of arts and artifacts. It is located on the Bandar Road in Vijayawada.

The greatest draw of the Victoria Jubilee Museum in Vijayawada is the black granite statue of Lord Buddha. This magnificent statue is indeed very impressive. Apart from this many other stone and bronze sculptures are also to be sighted in the museum. Significant among them is the white limestone figure of Lord Buddha which has been brought to this museum from Alluru. It is several centuries old and is still very well preserved.

AP State Museum:

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 in Hyderabad is surely going to be a thoroughly enjoyable and enriching experience. The collection of objects housed in the AP State Museum in Hyderabad provides us with a vision of the land’s rich legacy in art and crafts.

District Archeological Museum:

In the year 2001, the District Collector of Nizamabad thought of setting up a District Archeological Museum in Nizamabad. That very year the project materialized. He first sought the permission of the Commissioner of Archeology and Museums in Hyderabad who deputed his assistant to inspect the town hall of Nizamabad.

The town hall was built in the year 1936 by Mir Osman Alikhan. It was formerly under the Municipal Administration of Nizamabad Town. When it was decided that the building would house the District Archeological Museum in Nizamabad, the control of the building was transferred to the department of Archeology and Museum. It was then renovated and the premise of the building was also beautified. The District Archeological Museum in Nizamabad was inaugurated in this building on 24th October in 2001.

The arts and artifacts housed in the District Archeological Museum in Nizamabad covers a large time span. A look at them will help you to trace the evolution of human civilization. Objects belonging to the Paleolithic Age to the 16th century A.D. are exhibited in the District Archeological Museum in Nizamabad.

Nagarjunakonda Museum:

A visit to the Nagarjunakonda Museum in Nagarjunakonda promises to be an experience of a kind. The Nagarjunakonda Museum in Nagarjunakonda has the unique distinction of being the sole island museum in the whole world. It is located in the midst of the Nagarjuna Sagar Lake in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.

Nagarjunakonda was a major Buddhist center at one point of time. A large number of Buddhists lived here. The Nagarjunakonda Museum in Nagarjunakonda attempts to preserve the excavated remains of the Buddhist civilization at Nagarjunakonda. In fact the building of the Nagarjunakonda Museum in Nagarjunakonda is akin to that of a Buddhist Vihara. The museum is also named after the founder of Mahayana Buddhism, Nagarjuna.

One can get valuable insight into the Buddhist culture prevalent in this region by wandering around the museum. It is almost like taking a walk back in time. One will simply be amazed to see the astounding collection of relics of Buddhist art and culture housed in the Nagarjunakonda Museum in Nagarjunakonda.

The Nizam’s Museum:

When referring to Museums in Hyderabad, the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad is often mentioned because of the exclusive collection that it houses while we often tend to miss out on The Nizam’s Museum in Hyderabad. The Nizam’s Museum in Hyderabad also has a very interesting collection of arts and artifacts. A visit to this museum in Hyderabad will also be a fascinating experience.

The Nizam’s Museum in Hyderabad is housed in the Purana Haveli of Hyderabad. It is very prominently located in the heart of the city and is merely 2 km from the Charminar. A visit to the city of Hyderabad is incomplete without a visit to The Nizam’s Museum in Hyderabad.

This rich repository is dedicated to the last and seventh Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan. In fact the contribution of the Nizam in various fields is noteworthy. He was presented with many gifts and presents on the occasion of completion of 25 years of his reign. All these souvenirs and mementos form an integral part of the unique collection of The Nizam’s Museum in Hyderabad.