The land of the Andhra Pradesh state is mixed of many cultures, here plenty dynasties were served that’s why the soil of this state is blended by different history, art, cultures and craft. This blend has done a contribution to the cultural and sociological structure of this state. Within the museums of Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana), you will get to see great diversity in the cultural factors which has been presented in the museums. This state’s museums are the rich architectural structure which has been preserved the historical memories of this state’s culture such as palm leaf, sculptures, handicrafts and paintings and anatomy and also many scarce artifacts which contain cultural and historical value.
The museums of Andhra Pradesh have been preserved essential historical items with lots of care and protection. The museums are rich places of this state because it has historical, artistic and cultural things which include fabulous statuettes and nice structures which shows Saracenic Indo architecture. Numbers of tourists especially come to visit Andhra Pradesh state’s museums which display the historical society and culture of ancient Andhra Pradesh. within the well maintained excavated objects, you will get to see pottery, terracotta, statuettes made of metal, coins, ancient time’s beads and Buddhist’s household items all these things and also of prehistoric time’s items. Here you will get the chance to experience the arms, weapons and epigraph etc dangerous items.
The whole structure of the Andhra Pradesh state’s museum is showcase the ancient time. There are few museums which are prime points of arts which depict the Megalithic, Neolithic era and also era of contemporary. The museums also contain huge relevance with nationally important factors. The museums have been showcase the ornaments, materials, tools and objects of household, which are belongs to the historical period. More than just museum, these structures are like books which have been stored each and every small aspect which belongs to the ancient period. Here are some of the major museums of Andhra Pradesh state such as A.P. State, which is located in the Hyderabad city. This museum has Jain gallery, Bronze gallery, Brahmanical gallery, Buddhist Gallery, Ajanta galley and Armor chamber etc.
The Nizam museum is also situated in the capital city Hyderabad because it contains desirable cars such as Mark V Jaguar, Roll Royce made in 1930 and Packard. Amaravati museum, this is another museum of Andhra Pradesh, it is also very well known structure, This museum is very much famous because of its Gummadidurru gold necklace, flowers made of gold and bones casket. Another prime museum is Salar Jung; it is situated in the Hyderabad city. This is very popular because of its stored Mughal miniatures, chine ceramic, Persia’s carpet and more historical items. Museums are the real wealth of Andhra Pradesh state.
Salarjung Museum
- Region: Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad city, situated over the Musi River’s banks.
- Popular As: World’s biggest collections
- Showcases: European paintings, carpets, Persian carpets, silk paintings of Japanese, miniature of Mughal, clocks and Chinese pottery.
- Special Characteristics: World’s prominent collections
This museum of the Andhra Pradesh is most appreciated museum by the visitors and tourist. This is a prime attractive characteristic of the city Hyderabad. This museum is biggest preserved items museum in the entire world. The artifacts preserved, which are available in the museum are preserved through Yusuf Ali Khan. This person is very well known during the period of 1889 o 1949 by the name Salar Jung III. He was major minister within the 1912 of the Nizam. He was twenty three years old, when he constructed this museum but he reconstructed it after 2 & ½ years. Yusuf Khan had spent his entire life in the collection of art & old articles; collecting the rich wealth was an important and only motto of his life. In the collection of these oldest antiques, he paid a big part of his prosperity.
In the whole India, this Salarjung museum is famous; because of its rich collections, which is around forty thousand articles, these are belongs to the various civilizations of first century. This museum got the title of Institution of National Importance, during the year of 1961, by the Parliament Act; the act was 1961, Salar Jung Museum Act. In actual, this museum was located within the Dewan Devdi. Later on in 1968, this museum was transferred into the current structure, which is situated over the Musi River bank. You will find numbers of interesting artifacts in this ancient museum. Salarjung museum has been distinguished into the various parts such as Children art, European art, Indian art, and long Eastern art & Center Eastern art.
Here you can see the preserves of swords, sculptures, armours, vases, wood carving, furniture, utensils, religious, snuff boxes, daggers, ornaments, portraits, pottery, clocks, manuscripts, costumes, archer’s rings, miniature paintings and toys also, all these objects were collected from the entire world, nations like Persia, Sri Lanka, England, Japan, France, Burma, Germany, China and Switzerland. This Salarjung museum contains clock room, which is very nice gallery with the stored clocks that is more than three hundred.
The prime attractive interesting feature of Salarjung museum is musical clock. This clock was vended by the Kelvey & Cook of England. This is master piece of mechanical skills, in the unique clock, the artificial model of the watchmen pushes door to open it, after every one hour, with the sweet rhythmic music. Veiled Rebecca, woman with lamp, Mestophiles are the other special features of this museum. Around 10 lakh visitors gave a look to Salarjung museum in every year.
You can experience the objects of this museum during the visiting time of 10:30am – 00:05pm; don’t go on public holidays and Fridays, to capture the amazing look of this museum in the camera, first you have to take permission. Reaching at this place is very simple, because of the developed transport facilities. Hyderabad is a very well developed city, that’s it has its own separate airport; which would be helpful for you. This city also nicely connected by the rail and road transport; that’s why there won’t b any inconvenience. Hyderabad is very pleasant and cultural city, numbers of tourists come to visit this city, that’s why it has good accommodation service provider hotels and resorts.
Archeological Museum at Amaravati
- Region: Andhra Pradesh, district Guntur, Sattenapalli Taluk
- Popular as: wonder archeological museum
- Displays: Monographs, sculptures of Kakatiya periods and Chalukyan western
- Period of: Third to twelfth century
This museum is situates on the Krishna river. Amaravati is a very tiny town; this place also contains religious importance because it is a prime pilgrimage spot, which comes under the district Guntur, of Andhra Pradesh. As this place is spiritual pilgrimage, it consist archeological museum which displays the Amaravati place’s history. At Amaravati town, you will get to see 3 galleries, these galleries displays the various cultures, traditions and also explorations. In the 1st gallery, which is also popular by key gallery. Here you will get to see Amaravati town’s traditions and culture. It is at the center of the Purnakumbha and lotus, these are drum slabs. The Lord Buddha has been showcased symbolically, through the type Svastika. There is a Buddha’s structure which is in standing position, it is oldest structure, made in during the eighth century, and this gives a unique aura to this museum.
After visiting this museum, you will defiantly realize why this museum is so important, because of so much old structure. Here you can see the sculpture which belongs to the second century. This sculpture is a Yakshi and the tradition of Bharhut. This Amravati town’s museum also includes the images of Buddha and Asoka from the Dharma Chakra and Alluru. While seeing the historical structure, you will surely surprise by the huge bull with ornaments, this is belongs to the period of Satavahana; this sculpture undoubtedly receive appreciation from the tourists. Archeological museum of the Amaravati also contain the other artifacts like Vajrayana period’s images, garland, some structure of Jain Tirthankara’s period.
This museum showcases the disappearance of Gautama Siddhartha from home, Nilgiris episode, female worshipping the Lord Buddha’s feet, earlier period’s Lakshmi, Ganesani & Ganesa forms etc. the historical items which you will you get to see at this archeological museum, you will hardly get to see anywhere else. This actually shows the older image of the Andhra Pradesh state. You can visit this museum during the visiting time that is from 10:00am to 05:00pm, don’t go on Friday. To experience those rich ancient structures, you have to pay some amount that is 2 Rs. for each person. You can go by rail; because you can get down at either Vijayawada railway station or Guntur station, these 2 stations are closest railway stations from archeological museum at Amaravati. By road is also good option, as this town is well connected by roads.
Bhagavan Mahavir Government Museum
- Region: Andhra Pradesh, Kadapa (Cuddapah)
- Started In: 1982
- Showcases: Monographs, sculptures of Kakatiya period & Chalukyan western
This museum is located about eight kilometers on Pennar River south side. This Bhagavan museum is situated in the Cuddapah district, this place is bounded on its 3 sides by Palkonda hills and Nallamalai. The name of this district came from the word of Telugu language Kudapa. The meaning of this word is gate. This district is a gateway of religious place of Shri Venkateshwara. The Bhagavan museum is a major attraction of this place. This museum was built by the Government; it contains historical and archeological relevance. The name of this museum has separate individual story.
In 1982, this museum was built through the contribution of Jain businessman and from their God Mahavir, they gave name to this museum called, Bhagavan Mahavir Museum. this structure is place where all historical structure made of stone, limestone, granite structure, bronze icons, dolomite all these items, which are belongs to the oldest centuries. All these structures, which are preserved, were founded below the mine but from various places of Hyderabad, Cuddapah and districts of Kurnool. Here you will get to see of fifth and eighth century’s sculptures, which were founded in the Gundluru, Kolathur, Nandalur, Poli, Mantapampally, Thimmayapalem, Attirala, Kolathur and many more villages. Bhagavan Mahavir museum contains scarce items. Among the scarce sculptures, there is a Lord Ganapathi ‘s statue; this sculpture has been made during the period of Vijayanagar.
You will be surprised after seeing the sculptures of the Chalukya period, which is of ninth and tenth century; among this century’s sculptures, you will find the Lord Shiva and head of goat. You must have seen the common sculpture of Lord Vishnu carrying Chakram in his right hand, but in this museum, you will get the chance to see the unusual sculpture that is Lord Vishnu having Sankhu within the right hand and within the left hand, club. In this museum, you will get to see many attention catching things. It contains oldest coins belongs to the period of Satavahana, Mughals, Ikshvakus, Qutub Shahi, Vishnukundins and Bahmanis.
There are ancient miniature paintings and weapons like knives, swords belong to the period of Mughal. Additional, it also includes tools made of stone, arms in various shapes and sizes. Every museum of the Andhra Pradesh has contributed in preserving the old Andhra Pradesh state, through beautiful sculptures. Except Friday, you can visit this museum during the timing of 10:30am to 05:00pm.
Kolanupaka Museum
- Region: Andhra Pradesh, district Warangal, from Aler around six kilomerters & from city Hyderabad about eighty kilometers.
- Uniqueness: Someswara shrine’s architecture
- Architecture Style: Kakatiyan & Chalukyan styles
Andhra Pradesh state’s Kolanupaka town is a very small town, but it is very well known because of the museums, which are situated there. During the 11th century, this town came to eminence. This town became capital Kalyani Chalukya’s kingdom. In the current time, Andhra Pradesh state’s rest of the parts are nicely connected with this town. The distance between Aler & Kolanupaka is around six kilometers, and it can cover through railways and roadways; that’s why for there would not be any problem to reach at this town to explore the Kolanupaka museum. By the initiative of State Department of Archeology, the Kolanupaka museum was established.
This museum has a rich perseverance of artifacts & archeology. Because of the responsible step of State Department, people getting an opportunity to experience the old historical items, which they hardly get to see. This museum has collected all the ancient essential items from the different oldest monuments, which has been located in the Kolanupaka. The historical items has been displayed in this museum are belongs to the Kakatiya dynasty & Chalukya, where they were ruled in their period. You will defiantly like those historical images, which depict the oldest civilization in this museum. Kolanupaka museum has round hundreds of pictures, founded in the Kolanupaka. The specialist of this museum is Someswara shrine’s architecture.
The major help of this museum got to the researcher; those who do research over the calligraphy & sculpture, belongs to the Kakatiyan & Chalukyan dynasty. Museums plays prime role in storing the older memory, which are as valuable as anything, to know & understand the ancient period. To enter into this museum, you need not to pay any amount as fee, it is free. You can visit this museum in the visiting time that is 10:30m to 00:05pm. Here you cannot take photos, it is restricted. You can reach at Kolanupaka museum through road or rail transport, till the Aler you can reach by rail or bus & from there you can take rickshaws or tongas. There are hotels and resort at Warangal & Hyderabad, here you can stay.
Nagarjuna Konda Museum
- Region: Hyderabad’s south east area, about 150 kilometers
- Earlier Called As: Vijayapuri
- Showcases: Jewels, sculptures made of stone, library, artifacts, writings between the Stone Age period and medieval period.
Earlier this place was called as Vijayapuri. This place is also very essential center of Buddhist. This place is a very beautiful island which contains very well maintained museum, in this museum you will get to see 3rd centuries historical artifacts which has been preserved very carefully. This Nagarjuna Konda museum includes sculptures of the stone period and medieval period. These artifacts contain artifacts such as writings, library, stone sculptures and jewels. Because all these sculptures, the Mahachaitya place came into the focus, it is a holy place. As per the founded writings of the Brahmi, the spiritual place of the Lord Buddha comes under the Mahachaitya. The other sculptures, which are showcased, are founded from the destroyed structures, monasteries and Vihara.
The pre-historical items contain tools, which belongs to the Neolithic and Palaeolithic times. Here you will get to see numbers of artifacts such as hammers, age picks, spears and hoes. It also displays oldest coins, which were used by the local emperors such as Satavahanas. The attractive and interesting artifact of Nagarjuna Konda museum is huge sculpture of big lady and too over the extended slabs Jataka stories. This museum has replica of environs and valley’s blend.
There is a slab, which has the carving of the Lord Buddha’s life. This was present at Buddhist Stupas in the earlier time, but at present you can see it, in this Nagarjuna Konda museum. This museum has so much small but important things, that you will feel that your trip to Andhra Pradesh is actually worthy, because here you will also see the earrings and tooth of the Lord Buddha. This museum was prime spot of the Buddhist, in the earlier time. This place is holy, because numbers of Buddhist people were lived here; this museum has a touch of those spiritual people. This museum is majorly popular because of the perseverance of Buddhist religion’s essential historical artifacts.
Through this museum, you will get to see the ancient civilization of the Buddhist people. Each and every aspect of this museum is enough expressive to impress the visitors. The amazing statue of the Lord Buddha is a monolithic, it is a very long statue, which is posses in very elegant way. This museum got the name after the establisher of Mahayana Buddhism.
Also Read:
- Fair & Festivals of Andhra Pradesh
- Folk Dance & Music of Andhra
- Famous Gardens in Andhra Pradesh
- Fort & Palaces in Andhra Pradesh
