Telangana State Archaeology Museum

Telangana State Archaeology Museum or Hyderabad Museum is a museum located in Hyderabad, India. It is the oldest museum in Hyderabad.

Telangana State Archeology Museum

The museum building
Established	1930
Location	Public Gardens, Nampally, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Public transit access	Nampally Metro Station
Nearest parking	On site (no charge)

History

Archaeologist Henry Cousens first explored the site in the beginning of the 19th century, and around 1940 the mound was excavated under the supervision of Nizam of Hyderabad. The excavated items were placed in a museum built on the ancient site. In 1952, the museum's contents were moved to the current building, under the administrative control of Archaeological Survey of India.^[1]

In 1930, (Nizam VII) Mir Osman Ali Khan, who wanted to preserve the Hyderabad's state's heritage, had named the museum as Hyderabad Museum.^[2]

It was named as Andhra Pradesh State Archaeology Museum in 1960.^[3]

In 2008, a sword belonging to the Nizam and other artifacts were stolen from the museum.^[4][5]

After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2014, the museum was renamed Telangana State Archeology Museum.

Egyptian Mummy at the museum

Mummy of daughter of the VI Pharaoh of the Egypt (300-100)BC

Bust of Buddha in the Telangana State Archeology Museum

Collection

Egyptian

This museum's most popular attraction is its Egyptian mummy of Princess Naishu which was brought in 1930 to Hyderabad by Nasir Nawaz Jung, the son-in-law of Asaf Jah VI. He presented it to the Asaf Jah VII, who donated it to the museum.^[6] He had reportedly bought it for 1000 pounds.^[7] It is one of the six Egyptian mummies in India, the others being in Lucknow, Mumbai, Vadodara, Jaipur, and Kolkata.^[8]

The mummy, which previously was deteriorating, was restored in 2016 and placed in an oxygen-free case.^[9][10]

Indian

There is a huge gallery on Buddha dating back to the last century. The museum has a wide variety of archaeological artifacts from the Nizam and Kakatiya dynasty.

Bronze Sculpture Gallery

• 
  Vishnu - Bhoga Sayana Murthy in Bronze
• 
  Vishnu - Viswarupa Sandarsana.
• 
  Statue of Sita Ram Lakshman
• 
  Bronze Deepmala
• 
  Statue of Tara on throne

Ajanta Fresco Gallery

The world famous Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra are adorned with beautiful paintings depicting Buddha's doctrine, life events and Jakarta stories, the caves were discovered accidentally by British Soldiers in 1819. The paintings are dated from 1st -2nd and 6th-7th century. The paintings have been copied by John Griffiths.^[11]

• 
  Vessantara Jataka - Ajanta Caves XVII
• 
  Bodhitsatva Padmapani in Compassionate Mood
• 
  The ogress in disguise enters the King harem Ajanta Caves
• 
  Hamsa Jataka - Cave no, XVII- Ajanta Caves

Gallery

• 
  Gallery
• 
  Chariot
• 
  Bronze idols
• 
  Kakatiya mandapam
• 
  Buddha stupa
• 
  Mahavira Statue, 12th Century

See also

• Nizam's Museum

References

1. "Archaeological Museum. Kondapur (Andhra Pradesh)". Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
2. "Telanagana effect: Hyderabad's oldest museum faces division - The Times of India". The Times Of India.
3. Murali, D (22 April 2006). "Floods proved a blessing in disguise". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 14 May 2006. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
4. "Theft at museum in high-security zone - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
5. "Nizam's sword stolen from museum". Hindustan Times. 17 January 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
6. "Hyderabad Scan Of 2000-Year-Old Mummy Shows Parts Of Brain Still Intact". NDTV.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
7. B., Nitin (11 January 2017). "The legend of Princess Naishu: An Egyptian mummy in Hyderabad in dire need of attention". The News Minute. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
8. "The Mummy rests well at State Museum in Hyderabad". Telangana Today. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
9. Karri, Sriram (3 July 2016). "The Indian man who restored a 4,500-year-old mummy". BBC News. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
10. Nanisetti, Serish (15 July 2017). "Princess Naishu gets a new 'house' costing ₹58 lakh". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
11. Plaque displayed at the entrance of the Museum Gallery - Telangana State of Archaeology Museum

External links

17.385044°N 78.486671°E / 17.385044; 78.486671

AP State Archaeological Museum in Hyderabad. http://hyderabadattractions.com/?p=244.