History and Acquisitions of Salar Jung Museum Hyderabad-India

A museum was considered as a temple of the muses-mousein (Greek)1 up to 15th Century A. D. In Venice, for the first time museum was made available for visitors in 1523 A. D 2. In 1625 A. D, a collection of biological specimens and artifacts by John Tradescant and his son at Lamberth, London was made available for public. In India, the first museum was started at Kolkata. The first museum (Government Museum, Chennai) in Tamil Nadu was started in 1851. In India over 7503 museums are present, museums classified as multidisciplinary Museums, Archaeological Museums, Art Museum, Science Museums, Thematic Museums, Personalia Museums etc. , The famous Salar Jung Museum is the largest single-family collection in the world. About 20 percent of rare pieces of art was from the collection of his grandfather Sir Salar Jung-I. Salar Jung-III had agents abroad, who sent him catalogues and lists from well-known antique dealers. Besides, being a great collector of antiques, art objects and rare manuscripts, he patronized writers and artists6 and encouraged literary and cultural activities. More or less 40 years he devoted his life for enriching his treasures of art, literature and charity.