Explore Vizag’s museums on this International Museum Day

Museums are always fascinating, because they hide not one but many stories within their walls. Today, being the International Museum Day, Yo Vizag is here to take you through the corridors of the most famous museums in the city.

City Museum

‘Real museums are places where time is transformed into space’ OrhanPamuk seemed to have wrapped the essence of the Visakha Museum in those ten words. With relics ranging from the Paleolithic era to World War II, this is where time stops, rewinds and tells you stories that are scary, strange and true. Visakha museum houses the Indian Maritime museum and also two blocks of the archaeology museum. The ancient Dutch building showcases various souvenirs from the 1971 war, including the bomb that was dropped in Vizag. Models of warships, submarines and planes can be seen too. A relatively new building from 2004 holds varied archaeological artifacts including ancient armory, coins, paintings and stuffed animals. The archaeological wing, which was revamped in February 2016, has a vivid collection of artifacts from the Kalinga Andhra region, that includes historical treasures of old crockery, silk costumes, jewellery, manuscripts, maps and tools.Thanks to its strategic location, the museum is well-visited by tourists and residents alike.

Submarine Museum

Whether you’re a tourist or a local from the city, you just can’t miss the submarine museum. Located along the scenic RK Beach, this unique museum is the only one of its kind in Asia. The INS Kursura began its journey in 1969 as India’s fourth submarine built in Russia. It traversed 73,500 nautical miles during its tenure, which translates to approximately thrice the circumference of the earth! During this time it visited the countries of Russia, Spain, Mauritius and Pakistan. Equipped with torpedoes, mines, snoop trays and other arsenal, it also participated in the 1971 war of India with Pakistan. It logged 3000 dived hours as well. Today the INS Kursura submarine museum is the only one of its kind in the country, and happens to be the fourth such museum in the world. A trip through this is a must do, because only then will you get an inkling of what it’s like to be a submariner.

Language Museum

Every language has its own history, but very few have had a cultural heritage as rich as the Telugu dialect. Highlighting the wondrous aspects of this language and its unique place in world literature, the Telugu Museum is the latest addition to the distinctiveness of Vizag. The museum also displays close to 200 ‘Fibre Reinforce Plastic’ (FRP) sculptures associated with the language. Telugu Thalli, the famed Thousand pillar temple, the Satavahana kings, Sri Krishnadevaraya in his court, the poetess Molla, the Lepakshi Nandi, Annamayya, Penukonda Fort, slabs with various laws etched on them, Rani Rudramadevi and history of the Kakatiyas, the history of Bhadrachalam, Amravathi; anything and everything associated with Telugu history, culture, literature and heritage has been symbolised in this museum. The entrance room itself consists of the portraits of 70 prominent persons from Andhra Pradesh including Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, DadasahebPhalke awardees, Jnanpith awardees, litterateurs and freedom fighters.With the sheen of the language reducing due to many an overdependence on the ease of English, this museum showcases the beauty and versatility behind the vernacular. More importantly it shines a light on the rich past associated with Telugu and the stories that were born with it. Definitely a must-visit, the Telugu museum is a door into the cultural richness of our country, and we must experience it.

Cinema Museum

A valuable phase in cinema history is now being captured at the ‘Museum of Cinema’ of Ramanaidu Studios. Inaugurated last month, this one’s a visual treat for movie lovers.Walking into Rama Naidustudios is akin to walking through multiple film sets at the same time. You see the hospital at one end, a bungalow at the other and a police station by the corner of the road. However, the greatest attraction in this place right now is their newly added ‘Museum of cinema’.  It showcases the equipment and technologies once prevalent in cinema making. From halogen lights, to the silent camera and advanced versions, video analysers, ultrasonic cleaners, and winders, one is taken on a trip through the uphill task that once cinema making was. As you walk out from the museum into the lush green environs of Rama Naidu, you’re humbled to understand how detailed the process of film making can be. And how judgmental we become while passing our reviews of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ within three hours of watching a film. It makes you want to dig out some old cinema and watch it again, and this time when you do, you’ll feel a sense of familiarity knowing that you stood under the cameras that shot this film.

Coffee Museum

Indulge in the steaming world of coffee and the coffee plantations in this exceptional café-cum-museum in the Araku Valley. Detailing the history of the aromatic beverage, the Coffee Museum remarkably stands out in the tribal settings of Araku Valley. It is an intrinsic part of an upmarket coffee house that serves coffee, chocolates, sandwiches, brownies and more. Celebrating all things coffee-ish, the ‘Araku Valley Coffee House’ serves all types of coffees, both drinkable and edible! This includes various kinds of coffee based chocolates, brownies, mousses and tarts, as well as coffee mugs and other paraphernalia like posters. But what sets it apart from any other coffee cafés is the coffee-museum. the Sampoorna Coffee Gallery which showcases via dioramas, the origins of coffee in Ethiopia and its journey all the way to the Araku Valley. Marketing an impressive 60 varieties of coffee, including select coffees like Luwak coffee, bird parchment and monkey parchment, the café also sells 600 varieties of coffee-chocolates.

So, this is what city holds on this day. Why not go around and explore it yourself?

Hold you’r breath as the Aircraft Museum opens this Independence Day in the City of Destiny.