Nizams Museum, Hyderabad Overview

In the heart of Hyderabad old city, Telangana, India, a fascinating collection of articles presented to the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, are put on public display in the Nizams Museum or also populary known as the Silver Jubliee Museum or the Purani Haveli Museum. This was as per the wish of the Last Nizam of Hyderabad State, which tells so much about the times and about the achievements of the people of the State of Hyderabad. It also tells us a lot about the man himself.

His Exalted Highness, The Nizam’s Museum, Hyderabad, is located in the stately Purani Haveli, in old city of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Though not as opulent as the Falaknuma Palace nor as sprawling as Chowmahalla Palace, Purani Haveli hold a special place for the AsafJahs, the dynasty of the Nizams of Hyderabad. Several Nizams were born and spent parts of their lives at Purani Haveli.

The origin of the Purani Haveli goes back to Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah, the founder of the city of Hyderabad. He belonged to the Qutub Shahi dynasty that ruled the Deccan before the Asaf Jahs. When planning the new city of Hyderabad, Mohammad Quli allotted the site where Purani Haveli now stands for the mansion of his Peshwa (Prime Minster), Mir Momin.

In 1777, Nawab Mir Nizam Ali Khan (1761-1803), the second Nizam, acquired the land from the descendant of Mir Momin to bulid a palace for his son, Nawab Sikander Jah. The palace came to be known as the heir apparent palace.

When Nawab Sikander Jah became the third Nizam in 1803, he moved out of Purani Haveli to Chowmahalla Palace located at Moti Gali near Charminar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

Purani Haveli remained unoccupied for some time, lost its position of pre-eminence and came to be known as the old palace or Haveli Khadeem. 

The palace regained importance during the time of Nawab Afzal-ud-Dowla, the fifth Nizam, who was born in the palace and resided there. But it was during the reign of Nawab Mir Mahoob Ali Khan, the sixth Nizam, who was born and lived there most of his life, that the Purani Haveli reverberated with activity and stories that have become legends.

There are at present more than ten buildings in the Purani Haveli. The main building which accommodated the Nizam’s  family is flanked by two long wings running parallel to each other. The wardrobe and the museum are located in one of these wings of the Purani Haveli Palace.

Objectives of  the H.E.H The NIzam's Jubilee Pavilion Trust

• To maintain the articles of H.E.H the Nizam’s Jublee Pavilion Trust at all times as a museum or the art gallery or place of exhibition for the viewing pleasure of the inhabitants of Hyderabad and of the visitors to Hyderabad.
  
  

• To protect, preserve, enlarge and improve the collection of the works of art, articles of decoration, pictures, portraits, articles and other collection relating to the museum.
  
  

• To help seekers of knowledge in the study of history and research in art including literary, scientific, historic and religious matters leading to the progress and development of knowledge in general.