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 former rulers of Hyderabad
- Mir Turab Ali Khan Bahadur (Salar Jung I)
- Mir Laiq Ali Khan (Salar Jung II)
- Mir Yousuf Ali Khan (Salar Jung III)
Salar Jung Museum Collectons:
The collections of the Salar Jung Museum are the mirrors of the past human environment, ranging from 2nd century B.C to early 20th century A.D of different cultures such as Greek, Roman, Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Christian and Islamic of various countries and of various materials.
The collection of the Museum can be divided into Indian Art, Middle Eastern Art, Far Eastern Art, European Art and Children’s Section. Apart from this, a gallery is devoted to the illustrious Salar Jung family, which was mainly responsible for acquiring the collection.
The Indian Art Objects Comprises of stone sculptures, bronze images, painted textiles (Kalamkari), wood Carvings, Jade carvings, metal-ware, manuscripts arms and armor etc.
Middle East is represented through its art objects from Persia, Syria and Egypt covering the diverse media like carpets, paper (manuscripts), ceramics, glass, metal ware, furniture, lacquer etc.
Salar Jung Museum is one of the few Indian museums which can boast of a fairy extensive collection of Far Eastern Art consisting of Sino-Japanese art objects of porcelain, bronze, enamel, lacquer ware, embroidery, paintings, wood and inlay work.
European collection comprising of art objects ranging from resplendent and excellent examples of oil paintings, aesthetically attractive glass objects to majestic furniture, splendid examples of ivory, enamel ware and clocks.
The objects on display in the children’s section of the museum are a testimony to the vast range of interest and diverse nature of Salar Jung III, in collecting objects. The objects housed in the section provide informal education to the children apart from providing delight to them.
Salar Jung Museum is an institutional member of various historical and musicological organizations, like ICOM-INC, Museums Association of India etc. The museum organizes temporary exhibitions periodically on various themes and efforts are being made to make them more aesthetic, educative and informative. It is also maintaining a ‘Mobile Exhibition Van’ arranging exhibits on different themes on the museum’s collections and the cultural heritage of India to present the museum at the doorstep of schools, villages and other public places as part of Museum Education.
The museum publishes guide-Books, brochures, research Journals, and books on selected subjects in English, Hindi and Urdu languages.
Seminars and workshops are being organized on special occasions such as – Birthday celebrations of Salar Jung III, Museum Week, Childrens Week etc., as part of its educational activities.
During the Museum Week (8th –14th January) the visitors are allowed on 50% concession on entrance fee. Rangoli Competition for women of different age groups are being conducted every year to maintain the traditional culture.
During the Children’s Week (from14th to 20th November) students and children are allowed free entry to the Museum. Competitions are also conducted on different aspects amongst the school-children of different age groups- such as elocution, essay writing, drawing etc. in English, Hindi, Telugu and Urdu languages.
The Salar Jung Museum is also possessing a huge library consisting of nearly sixty thousand books, manuscripts, journals etc., and it is a monument to the love of learning of the Salar Jung family.
As part of the re-organization of museum, two huge buildings were constructed on either of side of the main building. Plans are on afoot to arrange the galleries on a wide range like all the objects belonging to European countries to be housed in the Western Block and all the objects of East and Far East countries are to be housed in the Eastern Block. The oriental and Indian objects will be housed in the present main building.
As one of the museums of “National importance” in India, the Salar Jung Museum is meant to function as a cultural centre through its exhibits, research projects and planned activities.
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
Holidays
The museum is closed on all Fridays (weekly holiday). Besides, the museum will remain closed on the following public holidays.
Sankranthi
Mi lad-un-Nabi
Republic Day
Salar Jung III Death Anniversay
Holi / Dhulandi
Ugadi
Sri Rama Navami
Idu'l Fitr (Ramzan)
Independence Day
Ganesh Chaturdhi
Mahatma Gandhi's Jayanthi
Dussehra
Idul'Zuha (Bakrid)
Deepavali
Muharram
Christmas Day
