Yousuf Ali Khan, also known as SalarJung III. Some of the items he inherited were collected by his father and grandfather.The Museum has 40,000 pieces spread over 78 rooms of the palace. As we started our journey towards galleries wewere getting more and more amused. Stones of 1A.D (CAN YOU BELIEVE, 1 A.D!!!) are also there, whichmade us feel more curious to know what’s more stored in other rooms.Let me give you a brief introduction to the galleries I liked the most –Gallery 1 has personal artifacts, mementos received and portraits of the SalarJung’s and the Nizams's. Royalclothes, porcelain and silver bowls, books furniture etc. Gallery 3 and 3A contains collection of Indian art and articles.This section displays Indian textiles; bronze images of Jain, Cholas and Kakatiyas dynasty and brass articlesbelonging to Vijanagar dynasty etc. Kalamkari paintings on cloth have various scenes of Ramayana, 'ParvatiKalyanam', Lord Krishna along with Gopis etc. Gallery 4 and 5 contains minor arts of South India and wood carvings.The special attraction is the armed Vishnu of 1st and 2nd centuries found in Nagarjuna hill. Gallery 9, 10 and 11 isthe Children’s section and has a marvelous assemblage of toys from all over the world. It displays puppets, model trainsand objects acquired by Salar Jung III during his childhood. Gallery 14 contains carved ivory works belonging to 18thand 19th century. These ivory chairs were presented to Tippu Sultan by Louis XV of France. Gallery 15 and 16contains metal ware and European artifacts including the world famous statue of Veiled Rebecca, her beautiful facehazily visible through a flimsy marble veil. Rebecca’s statue is so amazing that one can look at the statue for hours andadmire her beauty.Gallery 28 is the clock room is one of the best galleries displaying more than 300 clocksin various sizes ranging from Sandiers to modern day huge pieces. There are tiny piecesset in magnifying glasses to huge and stately grandfather clocks from France, England,Germany, Italy and Switzerland. An interesting exhibit here is a musical clock fromCook and Kelvy of England with a toy figure of a watchman, who pushes open the door every hour in a great hurry, to beat the melodious gong and indicate time.When we gathered in lobby, there were more than 100 people sitting to watch, watchmancoming out. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… and here it goes Tring Tring!!! (Two Trings,because time was 2p.m). And this is how the clock show ended!!!*pictures showing sculptures or any related thing which is part of museum have been taken from internet asphotography is prohibited inside.
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