Salar Jung Museum to re-open this week

 Naveen S Garewal 
Tribune News Service 
Hyderabad, November 8  

The historic Salar Jung Museum at Hyderabad that houses world famous artefacts like the “Veiled Rebecca” will once again be open to public this week.

The museum was shut down in March following the increase in COVID-19 cases. The museum management has announced stringent COVID-19 protocol before it would allow people to enter the building.

Wrongly known as the world’s largest one-man collection of antiques, the museum that has a collection spread over three generations of the former Prime Ministers’ of Nizam of Hyderabad is located on the banks of River Musi that flows through the old city. It used to receive 3,000 to 4,000 on week days, taking the number of visitors to as high as 6,000 on weekends.

The museum, spread over 10 acres, has 9,000 manuscripts, 43,000 art objects and 47,000 printed books. The special attractions to the museum include the 19th century British Musical Clock, a veiled marble statue of Rebecca created by Italian sculptor GB Benzoni. Ivory chairs presented by Louis XVI of France to Tipu Sultan of Mysore, the dagger of Mughal King Aurangzeb, paintings, carpets, manuscripts of holy books written in gold etc.

The museum is on the “must visit” list of places of every visitor to the city and is located close to the famous Charminar.

All visitors will have to wear a mask, maintain social distance and follow the pandemic protocol. The elderly and children have been advised to avoid visiting the museum, officials said.