Delhi readers, take note!
If you haven’t already seen this astounding exhibition at the National Museum, you only have until May 5th to do so.
Trust me, it is so fabulous that you will not regret it.
I had seen the jewels when they were last exhibited at the Museum in 2007, but the pieces on display are so gorgeous and so breathtaking that it was a joy to see them again.
There are more emeralds than you can imagine, more diamonds, more pearls, more necklaces, more turban ornaments, each one more fantastic than the next. Precious stones so big and so luscious that they look like enormous, brightly coloured boiled sweets – if that makes sense.
The star of the show is the Jacob Diamond, with all its attached dramatic back story, including being used as a paper-weight by the Nizam.
You have to buy a separate ticket for this exhibition, but at Rs 50 it’s a steal.
The atmosphere in the vault where the jewels are displayed is remarkably relaxed, with everyone ooh-ing and aah-ing, and taking photos with their mobiles. Once or twice a guard will politely ask people not to lean too much on the display cases, but overall, it was a super relaxed visit.
Well worth it.
The information inside the exhibition itself is pretty scant, so be sure to read the good information panels outside, before you go into the vault.
And don’t miss the lovely sepia photos of the court of Hyderabad wearing the very pieces you are drooling over.
This is a dazzling (literally) part of India’s history, and deserves to be seen and enjoyed.
Here’s a link to the Museum’s website for you, with timings and prices.
And here are a few more photos to whet your appetite :
