Nizam's Museum

The Nizam's Museum occupies part of the Purani Haveli palace complex in the old city of Hyderabad, and displays the personal collection and gifts of the seventh and last ruling Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It offers an intimate look at the extraordinary wealth and taste of a dynasty once counted among the richest in the world.

The exhibits are lavish and eccentric. They include silver and gold artefacts, jewel-studded objects, ceremonial robes and models presented to the Nizam on his silver jubilee, along with vintage cars and household items. A celebrated highlight is a very long silver-mounted wardrobe served by a hand-operated wooden lift, said to be among the largest of its kind, reflecting the ruler's famously vast collection of clothes.

What makes it worthwhile is the window it gives onto princely Hyderabad. Rather than grand halls, the museum focuses on the private world of the Nizam, his gifts, his gadgets and the daily luxuries of the court, set within the historic Purani Haveli, itself a fine example of the city's palace architecture.

For visitors, the museum is in the congested but atmospheric old city, within reach of Charminar, Chowmahalla Palace and the Laad Bazaar, so it fits naturally into a heritage tour of that quarter. There is an entry fee, plus separate charges for photography, and the site is closed on Fridays. The galleries are compact, so an hour is usually enough. Guides on hand can add colour to the exhibits. For travellers curious about the opulence and idiosyncrasies of the last Nizam, whose fortune became the stuff of legend, this collection is a fascinating and less-crowded complement to the grander palaces nearby.