Nizam's Museum (Purani Haveli)

The Nizam's Museum occupies part of the Purani Haveli palace in the Old City of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It was set up to house the gifts presented to the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, on the occasion of his silver jubilee in 1936, marking twenty-five years on the throne of Hyderabad State. In that year the Nizam was among the wealthiest men in the world, and delegations, nobles and institutions from across the state and beyond offered presents in tribute. The museum reflects the Asaf Jahi era, which lasted from 1724 to 1948, and the court culture of the late princely period. The collection consists of gifts, caskets, silver and gold objects, models and personal items. Its best-known pieces include a silver-filigree model of a jubilee pavilion and a replica of the jewelled throne used at the celebrations, along with silver caskets holding the addresses presented to the Nizam, decorative vessels, clothing and everyday items belonging to the ruler. Many gifts are displayed in glass cases in the former residential rooms of the palace, so the setting is part of the exhibition. The display is broadly thematic, grouping objects by type and donor rather than following a strict chronology, and labelling is functional, mostly in English. The building itself is an 18th and 19th century mansion with arched galleries and courtyards, associated with the second and sixth Nizams before it became a museum space. Preservation of exhibits and rooms is modest, with some wings restored and others needing repair, and the collection is presented in a fairly traditional style without interactive features. A visit takes around 45 to 90 minutes and is often combined with the Salar Jung Museum, Chowmahalla Palace and Charminar, all in the same part of the city. The museum has been closed on Fridays.