Hyderabad is possibly one of the best cities to be in if you love history, or just have a penchant to discover new things in Indian museums. From historical museums that stock some of the oldest antiques in the world to whimsical ones, these museums in Hyderabad are ideal to discover leisurely.
14 Interesting Museums In Hyderabad If You're A History Person
Salar Jung Museum
The most iconic museum in Hyderabad, Salarjung Museum houses the world's largest one-man collection of antiques collected by Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III, the former Prime Minister of the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad. It houses extensive collection of antiques including weapons, crockery, and art collected from all around the world. One of the main attractions of the place is the Grand Clock which is run mechanically, the clock contains puppets that get activated at specific times during the day. Another piece of art you cannot miss is the Veiled Rebecca acquired from Rome — the statue is carved in a way that looks like a woman is covered in a thin piece of cloth., it is stunning to say the least. The craftsmanship is par excellence, which makes Salarjung a must visit.
Google rating: 4.4 stars
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM
Entry Fee: INR 50 per adult, INR 20 per child
How To Reach: Get down at the Charminar metro station
Nizam's Museum
If you'd like to get a taste of the royal life and experience how the Nizams lived, we highly recommend visiting the Nizam's Museum in Purani Haveli, the erstwhile residence of the rulers. This famous museum in Hyderabad contains everyday serveware that was used by the royals, the throne, beds, clothing, and even the longest closet in the world. You will also find a charming manually operated elevator here that was used back in the day.
Google rating: 4.2 stars
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM, Friday closed
Entry Fee: INR 100 per adult, INR 15 per child
How To Reach: Get down at the Charminar metro station
Telangana State Archaeology Museum
The Telangana State Archaeology Museum houses Ajanta paintings, bronze artefacts, armours, numismatics, stone sculptures, manuscripts, modern paintings, and textiles. You will also find Buddhist and Hindu sculptures belonging to the Chalukyan and Vijayanagara period. One of the coolest additions to the museum is an Egyptian Mummy of the daughter of the sixth pharaoh of Egypt. There's also a copy of the Holy Quran with the seal from Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor who built the Taj Mahal.
Google rating: 4.2 stars
Timings: 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Friday closed
Entry Fee: INR 10 per adult, INR 5 per child
How To Reach: Get down at the Assembly metro station
YK Antiques Museum
This home museum in Hyderabad contains an extensive collection of antiques that were used back in the day. Personal care items like combs, mirrors, and kitchenware in brass and cast iron as well as other artefacts are on display. It is a must visit if you'd like to get a taste of traditional South Indian homes and how they operated.
Google rating: 4.9 stars
Timings: 11 AM to 8 PM
Entry Fee: INR 100 per person
How To Reach: Get down at the Parade Grounds metro station
Sudha Car Museum
Possibly one of the most amusing and famous museum in Hyderabad you will ever visit, the Sudha Car Museum set up by Sudhakar Yadav, houses over 150 varieties of cars. The difference? The car maker is known to create quirkily shaped cars including ones that look like a condom, a camera lens, toilet, helmet, handbag, and even a stiletto! All the cars are handmade, complete with information on the make and manufacture, the manufacturing time, and their average velocity. There are several vintage cars on display as well.
Google rating: 3.9 stars
Timings: 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Entry Fee: INR 100 per adult, INR 80 per child
How To Reach: Get down at the Malakpet metro station
Chowmahalla Palace
A must visit place, Chowmahalla Palace also has a famous museum in Hyderabad that houses pictures of the erstwhile Nizams, a few documents, paintings, and a fully set-up study room exactly the way it was kept back in the day. The coolest part of the Palace, is their car museum with some of the best vintage cars including a 1912 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.
Google rating: 4.4 stars
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM
Entry Fee: INR 100 per adult, INR 40 per child
How To Reach: Get down at the Charminar metro station
Nehru Centenary Tribal Museum
If you're fascinated by how various tribes in India live in harmony with nature, then you must make a visit to the Nehru Centenary Tribal Museum in Masab Tank. The two storey Indian museum showcases the simple yet vibrant lifestyle of tribes from Andhra Pradesh like Kondareddi, Bagata, Lambadas and Chenchus. Stories here are depicted through pictures, literature, and an audio-visual experience.You can also browse through a variety of tools they used like bird, rat, and fish traps; bows and arrows and other hunting equipment. Several wooden musical instruments and scenes of tribal dances are on display as well.
Google rating: 4.2 stars
Timings: 10:30 AM to 5 PM, Sunday closed
Entry Fee: free
How To Reach: Get down at the Lakdi Ka Pul metro station
Surendrapuri Mythological Museum
Take a long drive to Surendrapuri to witness all the mythologies we've heard growing up, live in action. The Surendrapuri Theme Park/Museum has live scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharatha depicted through statues and life-size structures. You will also find a host of Hindu temples around the museum.
Google rating: 4.5 stars
Timings: 9 AM to 7 PM
Entry Fee: INR 350 per adult, INR 300 per child
How To Reach: Fastest way is to reach via car/cab
Rail Museum
If you've got a Sheldon Cooper in your gang who is obsessed with trains, a visit to the Rail Museum, one of the best museum in Hyderabad, should be on your bucket list. The museum houses various aspects and interesting facts about the history of railways in India, how the coaches and bogies evolved over the years, and various tools used in the railways. The museum is fun to visit even with kids, to educate them on one of the most reliable and affordable forms of transport in India.
Google rating: 4.1 stars
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM
Entry Fee: INR 100 per adult
How To Reach: Get down at the Kachiguda metro station
Health Museum
This one's not for the faint of hearted, but if you're an anatomy enthusiast then head to the Health Museum in Lakdikapul. Aside from the various facts on health and how to maintain your body, the museum also has various organs like the brain, a human foetus, and others on display. The place was inaugurated in 1948. And even though the museum is not well maintained, go here if you'd like to take a look at all the human organs and even a skeleton on display.
LBB's Tip: Read more about it here.
Google rating: 4.3 stars
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM, Friday closed
Entry Fee: Free
How To Reach: Get down at the Lakdi Ka Pul metro station
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BM Birla Science Center
A museum that doubles as a planetarium and a dinosaurium, BM Birla Science Museum is an interesting place for adults as well as children. Located on a hilltop in the center of the city, there’s lots to explore here, including the amazing view of the city. The entire museum is divided into an interactive science section where you can put all the theories and laws of physics to test, archaeology section, dolls exhibit, Dwaraka Diorama, Nobel Gallery, Antarctica Diorama where you can see the geographical landscape of the pole, and yes, the dino section which gets the most attention. From fossils and its history, dinosaur eggs, marine shells to a 160-million year old skeletal dinosaur standing tall, the BM Birla Science Museum is a fascinating place. While you are there, don’t forget to check out the art gallery in the same premises. It houses some of the most applauded contemporary, abstract and Indian paintings dating back many centuries.
Google rating: 4.4 stars
Timings: 10:30 AM to 8 PM
Entry Fee: INR 150 for the science museum, INR 250 for combo [planetarium and science museum]
How To Reach: Get down at the Assembly metro station
Village Museum Shilparamam
Not just shopping and cultural shows, Shilparamam also houses a village museum that gives us city-goers a sneak peek into how the village life was back in the day. From goshalas to kaccha houses with traditional art on the walls, this place makes for a gorgeous photo backdrop. When we last visited this museum in Hyderabad, it felt like we were walking on an actual village street where villagers were doing their own thing. Sounds interesting, right?
Google rating: 4.5 stars
Timings: 10:30 AM to 8 PM
Entry Fee: INR 60 per adult, INR 20 per child
How To Reach: Get down at the Hi-tech City metro station
Centenary Heritage Museum
History buffs, Centenary Heritage Museum is one of the lesser known museums in Hyderabad. Smaller than most of the other names mentioned here, this is a simple museum displaying archeological relics, stone statues, carvings and other prehistoric art. From religious sculptures to cave paintings, pottery and arches, every piece displayed here is either restored by experts or maintained the same way since the day they were excavated.
Google rating: 4.2 stars
Timings: 10:30 AM to 5 PM
Entry Fee: free
How To Reach: Get down at the Khairtabad metro station
Mint Museum
Tucked away in the back lanes of lower tank bund, the Mint Museum is one of the best museums in Hyderabad. It’s a fascinating place that’s all about something we love and need - money! Yes, you can see how the technology of making coins and currency evolved and learn more about the concept behind every note and coin, old or new. Have you ever seen a one rupee note? You can see that, 50 paise coins, 20 anna coin, Mughal era coins, Nizam era currency and more here. It’s quite interactive as well and with your friends or family, you can easily spend 3-4 hours here.
Google rating: 4.4 stars
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM
Entry Fee: free
How To Reach: Get down at the Khairtabad metro station
