Kondapur Museum

Kondapur (Andhra Pradesh)

The site Museum at Kondapur (Late.17.33' N 78.1'E) is located on a small hillock about one km south of the village of Kondapur in Medak District, Andhra Pradesh. The exhibits from this museums are basically retrieved from an ancient mound locally known as Kotagadda (Fort Mound) located at a distance of one km east of the museum.

The site was first explored by the famous Archaeologist Mr. Henry Cousens in the early years of the 19th Century. Subsequently the Department of Archaeology of the erstwhile Hyderabad State under H.E.H. the Nizam of Hyderabad excavated this mound for a couple of seasons from 1940. A small museum was established with the excavated material over the ancient site itself which was later shifted to the present building. The museum came under the administrative control of Archaeological Survey of India in 1952.

The Archaeological Museum, Kondapur houses a rich collection of minor antiquities unearthed from the digs of 1940-1942. The museum has a Central hall and two more galleries in enclosed corridors.

In the main hall a good number of antiquities are displayed in wall showcases representing different facets of material culture of the early historic period such as pottery, terracotta figurines, bone and shell objects, metal objects, talismans, pendants, beads, inscribed pottery and coins etc. brick tiles, sharpening stones, moulded bricks and designed panels.

In the other galleries, prehistoric tools and fossils are exhibited. Apart from these objects, a couple of sculptures, a Buddhapada, a standing image of four handed Vishnu carved on a door jamb and two inscribed storage jars are other attractive pieces in this gallery.

Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum in the Kondapur town of Medak District is a popular attraction. This museum exhibits artefacts that were found during excavations conducted at this site. A wide collection of antiquities excavated between 1940 and 1942 has been displayed at the museum.

The excavated material and artefacts displayed at the museum include items belonging to the Satavahana dynasty and few Buddhist structures. Henry Cousens, the famous archaeologist, was the first person to explore the site in the early 19th century.

The site was later excavated by the Indian Government in 1940. The huge collection of discovered artefacts and antiques was kept in the museum established by the state government. The museum came under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 1952.

The museum is segregated into a central hall and two galleries. The main hall of the museum has antiquities, such as terracotta figurines, pottery and objects made from bones and shells. Metal objects, pendants, talismans, beads, inscribed pottery and coins are other artefacts displayed in the museum.

A wide collection of construction material, such as brick tiles, designed panels, sharpening stones and moulded bricks, found during excavations has also been exhibited here.The gold coin of the Roman Emperor Augustus, belonging to the period between 37 BC and 14 AD, was unearthed from the region.

About a dozen silver coins, some beads, 50 lead coins, broken pieces of bangles of terracotta and glass imprinted with designs are showcased at the museum. Couple of sculptures, a standing idol of Lord Vishnu, a Buddhapada and two inscribed storage jars are some of the other attractions displayed in the museum.