Salar Jung Museum

The world-renowned Salar Jung Museum is among the best tourist attractions in Hyderabad. It is one of the most noteworthy National Museums of India, originally started as a private art collection of the Salar Jung family. Most of the artefacts were acquired by Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, also known as Salar Jung III, who spent well over 35 years of his life and a substantial amount of his own wealth collecting them from various corners of the world. Following his demise in 1949, the collection remained in Diwan Devdi, which was his ancestral palace. However, towards the end of 1951, it was opened as a museum, inaugurated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1961, the Salar Jung Museum and its library were declared an “Institution of National Importance” through an “Act of Parliament”. The transfer of the museum to its current building took place in 1968 and was inaugurated by Dr Zakir Husain, the then President of India. 

The Salar Jung Hyderabad Museum is a significant part of it’s history. It shows the love for antiques and arts that Nawab Mir Yusuf Khan worked tirelessly after. It is the perfect place for history buffs and individuals who have a keen eye for art. Thousands of tourists visit the Salar Jung Museum throughout the year whenever they visit Hyderabad. From numerous paintings, manuscripts and sculptures to Tipu Sultan’s wardrobe, Shah Jahan’s daggers and Aurangzeb’s sword, there’s a lot to see at the Salar Jung Museum. Besides witnessing exemplary art and artefacts, individuals can also browse through thousands of books and manuscripts displayed at the massive library within the museum. Individuals can also attend the various seminars, exhibitions and workshops frequently held at the Salarjung Sangrahalaya in collaboration with other International museums. 

Location

The Salar Jung Museum location is Dar-ul-Shifa in Hyderabad, Telangana, along the Musi River’s southern bank. It is about 3.3 kilometres from the Hyderabad city centre via the Chaderghat Road and Main Road. In terms of notable nearby landmarks, the Nizam’s Museum is just 1.3 kilometres south of the Salar Jung Museum. Individuals visiting Charminar in Hyderabad can take a taxi to Salar Jung Museum, which is about a 2.7-kilometre journey. The official Salar Jung Museum address is Darulshifa, Hyderabad, Telangana 500002.

Language spoken

Individuals visiting Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad won’t have problems communicating with the locals. The official languages used in the city are Telegu and Urdu, and most locals are bilingual. Besides these, English and Hindi are the two other languages commonly used in the region. If individuals want the best sightseeing experience, getting a local guide when visiting Salar Jung Museum is recommended. 

Known for?

The Salar Jung Museum is a prominent tourist attraction and a standard inclusion in Hyderabad tour package. The highlights of the museum that makes it famous are:

• Massive collection: The most notable aspect of the Salar Jung Museum is its huge collection of art and artefacts acquired from various parts of India and other countries within Asia and Europe. From Jahangir’s dagger and Noorjehan’s knife to the marble statue of Veiled Rebecca and 19th century-British musical clock, the fascinating list goes on.
• Beautiful structure: The building structure of the Salarjung or Salajan Museum is a popular attraction in itself. It houses over 38 galleries across 2 massive floors, and it's gorgeous balconies, spacious cellars, round staircases, etc., add an elegant charm to the whole museum browsing experience. 
• Library: Another significant aspect of the Salar Jung Museum that makes it popular is its library. It houses over sixty thousand printed books and around eight thousand manuscripts ranging between multiple languages. It is truly a treasure trove for history buffs and art lovers. 

Type of place

Hyderabad’s Salar Jung Museum is a massive art museum displaying the collection of art and artefacts acquired by Salar Jung III and his family. Initially, it was a private collection, but after Salar Jung III’s death, it was endowed to the government of India. It is a hub of history and art belonging to various corners of the world. The Salarjung or Salargium Museum is among the most visited tourist places in Hyderabad city, also known for its collection of books and manuscripts, reading rooms, souvenir shop and cafeteria.

How to get to Salar Jung Museum?

If you are thinking about “How to reach Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad?”, here are some viable options you can choose from:

By air

The nearest airport to the Salar Jung Museum is the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. It is the main airport serving Hyderabad, about an hour’s drive from the city centre. Individuals can get frequent domestic and international flights from and to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport from reputed carriers. Individuals flying into the city can take a taxi to reach Salar Jung Museum, which is about 23 kilometres from the airport.

By train

The railway connectivity of Hyderabad is well-established, offering fast and reliable transportation. The three main railway stations serving the city are Hyderabad Deccan, Kachiguda and Secunderabad Railway Stations, which are all very close to the Salar Jung Museum. For example, after stepping foot in Hyderabad Deccan railway station, individuals can reach the museum, which is about 4 kilometres away, by cab.

By road

The Hyderabad Central Bus Station is just a few minutes from Salar Jung Museum. Besides buses, individuals can travel via cab or auto rickshaw to reach the museum from nearly any part of the city. Individuals can also opt for a rental car and drive to the Salar Jung Museum. For example, a drive to the museum from the famous Charminar is about 2.7 kilometres via Mir Alam Mandi Road and NH 765.

Interesting facts about Salar Jung Museum

Here are some interesting facts about Salar Jung Museum Hyderabad that individuals should know about:

• The Salar Jung Museum is the third largest museum in all of India. It features 38 galleries across 2 floors and houses a library with a huge collection of old books and manuscripts. 
• The museum also featured the world’s largest one-man collection of antiques and was originally a private collection of art of Hyderabad’s Salar Jung family.
• A lot of tourists visit the historic building to gaze at the remarkable Salar Jung Museum architecture. The Salar Jung Museum inside contains curved stairs, massive cellars and elegant balconies.
• The main attraction in the Salar Jung Museum is the giant British Musical Clock. It is one of the most beautiful artefacts in the museum’s massive collection, also known for its complicated mechanical work.
• The museum also houses the well-known Veiled Rebecca by Italian sculptor Giovanni Maria Benzoni. This structure is known for Benzoni’s intricate detailing and impeccable chiselling skills that made marble look like a paper-thin, transparent veil on the statue’s face. 
• Another interesting thing about the Salar Jung Museum is its famous Quran collection, with different designs and fonts acquired from various parts of the world; the Quran is written in Gold and Silver.
• The collection of Indian arts and artefacts in the museum contains a variety of items, including rare paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, the stone-studded sword of Aurangzeb, the wardrobe of Tipu Sultan, etc.
• The massive collection of paintings in the museum ranges from Oriental art to Indian miniature art. One of the most notable ones is the Italian pictures, which include the works of Marc Aldine, Matteini, Hayez, Blass, Canaletto and so on.

Why is Salar Jung Museum recommended?

The Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad is a treasure trove for art lovers and history buffs, with a collection featuring over fifty thousand books and manuscripts and forty thousand paintings and artefacts. It contains works from India, Middle-east and European countries, Japan, China, etc. From marble sculptures and paintings to royal antiques and weapons, individuals can find hours' worth of things to look at and learn about. It makes up for a great day trip with family and friends within the city. The museum, sometimes just called Salar Museum, is also recommended for educational trips, where individuals can not only learn about Hyderabad’s history but also a part of India’s rich past through its art and artefact collection. Individuals can easily learn about Salar Jung Museum in English as most of its content descriptions are well-articulated in this language. It is a great place to visit during the weekends and falls under the famous sightseeing route, which also includes Chowmahalla Palace, Charminar and Nizam Museum. 

Operating hours

The Salar Jung Museum hours are from 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM without any interruption. It remains open on all days of the week except for Fridays. Besides that, the Salar Jung Museum holidays when it stays closed are on the occasion of Holi, Ugadi, Ramzan, Idu’l Zuha, Muharram, Milad Un Nabi, Vijaya Dashami and Deepavali. You can get a Salar Jung Museum ticket from its booking counter, which closes at 04:15 PM. 

Chart for Salar Jung Museum