Salar Jung Museum to Anchor Hyderabad Heritage Circuit, Says Telangana Dy CM Bhatti
HYDERABAD, June 14 (TNT): Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Sunday said the state government was preparing plans to integrate the Salar Jung Museum into a comprehensive heritage tourism circuit connecting some of Hyderabad’s most iconic landmarks.
Speaking at the celebrations marking the museum’s 75th anniversary and the 137th birth anniversary of Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Bhatti said the proposed heritage circuit would link the museum with the Charminar, Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Chowmahalla Palace and Falaknuma Palace.
The initiative, he said, would include improved transport connectivity, night tourism facilities, guided heritage walks and multilingual visitor services to enhance the experience of domestic and international tourists.
Emphasising the economic significance of heritage conservation, the Deputy Chief Minister said heritage tourism could create employment opportunities for local guides, artists, transport operators and businesses in the hospitality sector.
Bhatti also stressed the need to make museums more engaging and accessible to younger generations. He said partnerships would be developed with institutions including the University of Hyderabad, Indian Institutes of Technology, International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad and Indian School of Business to promote research, innovation and educational engagement.
Describing Hyderabad as a city that successfully balances heritage and innovation, Bhatti said it had evolved into a global hub for information technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and emerging technologies while preserving its rich historical legacy.
He urged international investors visiting Hyderabad to explore the city’s cultural landmarks alongside its business destinations, saying its heritage, cuisine and traditions formed an integral part of Telangana’s cultural economy.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the Salar Jung Museum would become the cultural centerpiece of the proposed Musi River rejuvenation project, under which the state government plans to develop an international-standard riverfront.
He described the museum as a reflection of Hyderabad’s spirit and praised Salar Jung III for preserving more than 43,000 artefacts from across the world.
“While we often forget small things in our daily lives, Salar Jung III preserved entire civilizations,” Bhatti said, describing the collection as an enduring contribution to global cultural heritage.
He noted that Salar Jung III spent his personal wealth to acquire rare treasures and transform them into a public asset for future generations.
Highlighting the museum’s diverse collection, Bhatti said it houses Hindu bronze idols, copies of the Quran, Christian sculptures and Buddhist artefacts, symbolising Hyderabad’s composite culture and the Deccan’s Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb.
Linking heritage preservation with urban development, he said the government was committed to rejuvenating the Musi River and creating a world-class riverfront comparable to the River Thames in London and the Seine in Paris.
“The Salar Jung Museum will not remain an isolated monument. It will become the cultural crown of a revitalised Musi Riverfront,” he said.
Bhatti concluded by paying tribute to the museum’s curators, conservators, security personnel and staff for preserving the institution over the past 75 years and called for continued efforts to modernise and protect its invaluable collections for future generations.
TNT TS
