“Museums in Hyderabad are evolving beyond artefacts into spaces of cultural unity, public engagement”

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Archeology Jupally Krishna Rao along with Special Chief Secretary to the Government A. Vani Prasad and World Heritage Fund Board Member and International Council Chairperson Shalini Bhupal releasing the poster on ‘Tourist Guide in Telangana’ on the occasion of International Museum Day at the State Museum, Hyderabad on Monday. | Photo credit: NAGARA GOPAL

Hyderabad’s museums are no longer just repositories of artefacts and royal collections, but have evolved into spaces that promote cultural exchange, preserve traditional craftsmanship and create shared public experiences in an increasingly polarized world, said architect and conservation curator Anuradha S. Naik. On Monday, she delivered a lecture at the State Museum in Hyderabad on the occasion of International Museum Day.

Speaking on ‘Museums Connecting a Divided World: A Case Study of Hyderabad’, Ms Naik explored how Hyderabad’s three major museums, the State Museum, Salar Jung Museum and Chowmahalla Palace, serve as spaces where people from different regions, cultures and countries interact through history, heritage and art.

Starting with the State Museum, where the lecture was held, Ms. Naik described it as one of the most important public museums in Hyderabad next to the centrally managed Salar Jung Museum and the privately managed Chowmahalla Palace Museum, with which she has been associated for the past two decades. “Museums in the city attract visitors not only because of their collections, but also because they create emotional and cultural connections that cross borders,” she said.

Students admiring a photo exhibition on heritage structures comprising ancient temples, medieval forts and Nizam era palaces, primarily influenced by the Kakatiya and Qutb Shahi dynasties, on the occasion of International Museum Day at the State Museum, Hyderabad on Monday. | Photo credit: NAGARA GOPAL

Ms. Naik said the State Museum records nearly 25,000 visitors annually, while the Salar Jung Museum attracts more than 10 million visitors annually, with foreign tourists making up a small but significant component.

Turning to the Chowmahalla Palace, Ms Naik described how the former residence of the Asaf Jahi Nizams had been converted into a museum by the family of the last Nizam, Nawab Mir Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah, through a non-profit trust to give something back to Hyderabad. She said the palace, once restricted to only a select few, had been opened to the public and had since become deeply integrated into the social and cultural life of the city.

She said the Chowmahalla Palace, which received around 20,000 visitors annually when it opened in 2005, saw more than 6.25 million visitors in 2025. According to her, the museum has created employment for more than 100 people and boosted the micro-economy around the Old Town by encouraging the growth of antique shops and heritage-themed cafes.

Telangana Tourism and Culture Minister Jupally Krishna Rao was also present at the event. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Rao announced that the government would allocate ₹5 million for a specialized training and recruitment program for tourist guides aimed at creating employment opportunities for local youth in historic destinations while ensuring that visitors receive high-quality information.

On the occasion, the minister released official pamphlets along with two books titled ‘Inscriptions of Paramara Jagaddeva in Telangana’ and ‘Stucco Sculptures in Centenary Museum’.

Published – 18 May 2026 20:42 IST