The Pearl City, Hyderabad possesses an unmatched blend of history and modernity. With an interesting confluence of the traditional and the contemporary, the past and the present, museums built in this city paint a vibrant picture of its heritage. The unique culture can be traced back to the lineage of the Nizams who were great patrons of literature, art, architecture and jewellery.

One can indulge in a variety of museum experiences presented in the form of archeological spectacles, inventive science tours and customised vintage vehicles. Here are four interesting exhibits to visit across the city of Hyderabad that combine history with culture and tech.

I. Salar Jung Museum

The third largest museum in India, Salar Jung was declared open on 16th December, 1951 by the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. Spread across an area of 10 acres the space presents a wide range of artefacts and antiques from the long lineage of Hyderabadi Nawabs. Created in the memory of Salar Jung III (Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan), the museum has commemorated the vast collection of antique mementos gathered from all over the world. With an impressive number of around 13,654 objects being displayed in all the 37 galleries, the collection in the museum consists of Indian Art, Far Eastern Art, European Art, Middle Eastern Art, as well as rare manuscripts. Some noteworthy artefacts being a set of ivory chairs which were presented to Tippu Sultan of Mysore by Louis XVI of France, a dagger of Jehangir, Arabic and Persian Manuscripts and a rare manuscript on mathematics - Lilawati.

II. Birla Science Museum

Inaugurated in 1990, The B.M. Birla Science Museum has designed hands-on exhibits based on simple laws of physics, perception and mechanics. One can brace themselves for a variety of optical illusions and mathematical puzzles to get through the entire museum experience. The innovative space has a built in environment that plays with electricity, vibrations, sound, energy and motors. A haven of knowledge for those with special interest in science, the exhibits make learning a fun-filled process across all ages. Additionally the museum is divided into various sections as each one presents a set of exhibits dedicated to a specialised field. Action-Reaction, The Magic Ball, Pedal Power and See Sounds are a few of the displays at the Interaction Science Section. Furthermore the galleries are arranged in chronological order to better showcase history as a coherent whole.

III. Telangana State Archeology Museum

Set up during British Rule, the Telangana State Archaeology Museum is the oldest museum in the city of Hyderabad. A result of the last Nizam’s efforts to preserve the rich history and heritage of the state and country, the Museum consists of various ancient artefacts which were excavated in the 1940s. The exhibit was curated under the guidance of Archaeological Survey of India, presenting a ranging collection of bronze artefacts, armour, stone sculptures, manuscripts, modern paintings and textiles. The museum has a separate gallery of Buddhist sculptures and an extensive collection of Hindu sculptures belonging to the Chalukyan period and the Vijayanagara period. The main attraction is a 2,353-year old Egyptian mummy, reportedly brought to Hyderabad by Nazir Nawaz Jung for a sum of 1000 British pounds. Recently the mummy was restored from damages through expert intervention.

IV. Sudha Cars Museum

One of the most unique spaces in India, Sudha Cars Museum was established by K Sudhakar, who was featured in the Guinness World Record for creating the largest tricycle in the world, which is about 41 feet and seven inches tall. Deemed as the first handmade car museum in the world, each piece on display showcases the sheer genius and unmatched innovation of the creator. The wide range of cars and bikes are designed in a unique way, owning a different shape and structure along with bright colours. Some of the eclectic shapes being an ornament, train with bogies or the shapes of jewellery. What makes the collection stand out is the fact that most of the vehicles are customised and have been built by using old and unwanted pieces. Beyond curated versions, Sudha Cars Museum also houses vintage cars and displays various kinds of modified cars as well.

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