Bapu Museum
| Place | Vijayawada |
|---|---|
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| Virtual Museum | No |
| Year of Establishment | 1887 |
| Museum Type | Archaeological & Heritage |
| National Importance Museum | Yes |
| Address | Bapu Museum, MG Rd, Buckinghampeta, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh 520002 |
| Visiting Time | 10:30 AM to 05:00 PM (Closed on Fridays and Public Holidays) |
| Entry Fee | Adults: ₹50 Children: ₹30 Photography (Camera): ₹200 |
Museum Introduction
Established in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, this museum is housed in a grand Indo-European style heritage building. It gained historical immortality in 1921 when Pingali Venkayya presented the design of the Indian Tri-colour flag to Mahatma Gandhi on its premises. Renovated and modernized in 2020, it now integrates high-end technology with ancient history.
General Collections
The museum spans two buildings, housing over 1,500 artifacts including prehistoric stone tools, Neolithic implements, and medieval sculptures. The collection includes Hindu and Buddhist relics, ancient coins (gold, silver, and lead), inscriptions, textiles, and a significant armory section.
Unique Historical Collections
Buddhist Masterpieces & Flag Heritage: The museum is home to the famous Standing Buddha in white limestone from Alluru (3rd–4th century) and the Alluru Inscribed Pillar. It also uniquely features a dedicated gallery documenting the 1921 meeting where the evolution of the Indian National Flag was finalized.
Additional Information
| Archaeological Survey of India | No |
|---|---|
| Notes | The museum is the first archaeological museum in India to fully implement Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Projection Mapping to narrate history. It was renamed in 2015 to honor the legendary Telugu artist, filmmaker, and cartoonist, Sattiraju Laxminarayana (Bapu). |
| Artifacts | Standing Buddha (Alluru); Mahishasura Mardini (2nd century); 18th-century Iron Cannons (used by Tipu Sultan); Bidriware Hookahs; Kalamkari table cloths; 1921 All India Congress Committee commemorative murals; Prehistoric celts and pottery; Bronze idols of Jain Tirthankaras. |
| Highly Descriptive | Yes |
| Contact Details |
+91 866-2574455 +91 866-2439249 |
| Email ID | bapu-museum@ap.gov.in |