PADMASHREE KALLURU SUBBA RAO DISTRICT ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM ANANTHAPURAM
Area wise the District Anantapur Stood has the largest district in Andhra Pradesh. The Anantapur name itself denotes an Antique and derived its name in- connection with a large irrigational tank constructed during the Vijayanagara period of 14th CAD. Archaeologically and historically the Anantapur Dist. is playing an important role with the existence of number of prehistoric sites like Vidapanakallu, Enugugavi, Gullapalyam etc., and megalithic sites extensively spread all over the district, early- historic sites like Sasanakota, Budidagaddapalli, Palavoy, Hulikal etc., number of Historical forts like Gooty, Penukonda, Rayadurg, Ratnagiri etc., and Architecturally grandeour temples like Lepakshi, Tadipatri, Hemavathi, Kadiri etc., focussing the Districts rich cultural, Heritage. The District is also famous for its Ancient folk formates like the leather puppets, Vuttlamanu, Ghane, Katamaraju Kathalu like indigenous Arts highlighting the District Cultural Heritage.
The District Archaeological Museum named after Sri Padamasri Kalluru Subba Rao is Centrally located in the heart of the city / District Headquarters amidst number of govt offices and Educational Institutions, opened on 28-10-1992 to create awareness about the local rich Historical, Architectural and cultural Heritage and as well as to educate the students in safeguarding our rich Ancient cultural wealth.
A big Museum Hall, corridor of Museums building and the open area with in the Compound wall are selected as dias to display the Antiquities. Glass Showcases in the Museum Hall of the main objects to display the Antiquities including pre-historic stone implements, pottery, Terracotta’s, Numismatics belonging to right from punch marked coins to British Indian coins, Palmleaves, copper plate bunches, Important Bronzes Collected from the District through Police cases, Metal ware artistic Antiques, Bidri Ware Enamel ware, wood carvings and a Special big glass show case is arranged for Arms and weapons of late Medieval period.
All the glass show Cases displayed in the Museum Hall required modern look and latest display techniques including sufficient lighting arrangements, Number of loose stone sculptures having rich and rare Iconographical importance, collected from nook and corner of the district have been displayed on the cement pedestals in systematic way with-in compound wall and yet many are to be displayed. Recently we have collected laminations of different types of folk formates. These folk formates need attractive display, requires a big wall showcase to display the collected folk formates. We have arranged 16th century Lepakshi temple water color paintings replica on the Museum wall in the Museum Hall.
Maximum propaganda by utilizing the media including local FM radio Station, newspapers, pamphlets is necessary. Separate Concentration on Educational institutions to attract the students and also create awareness among the students, now and then awareness camps, mobile exhibitions, workshops are to be conducted. More number of laminated Photographs of the important historical Monuments,Ancient forts, Architectural religions structures, including Hindu, Islamic and jains, are to be prepared and displayed in the Museum to highlight the Historic value of the District.
Computerized labelings for each Antiquities and brief notes of the each show-case is to be prepared for visitors. Now a days on modern look museums have become center for all sorts of educative, entertainment and inspirative bodies. Hence besides our Archaeological and Historical concepts Modern out look in creating creativity, awareness among the students as well as in all walks of people is necessary. A separate counter provided to sell the departmental publications. However local people requires much more information’s and shows interest regarding the historicity of local areas in the district.
A separate concentration is required in this regard to publish more number of books pertaining to local historical background. Museum brochures not yet prepared due to the lack of minimum technical staff. Since the inception of entry fee tickets (user charges) have introduced in the museums the strength of visitors has come down. To attract more number visitors in the district museums it is essential to display at least more number of laminated photographs of the important district historical and Archaeological monuments. A projector and CDs are to be available to video lies the important documentaries of Architectural and historical culture to display in a separate museum hall to the public to create awareness among them such equipment and extension of Building i.e. faceliftment of museum building with beautiful landscaping is necessary.
Visitor Facilities: Clean, cool drinking water and good toilets are available.
Timings: The Museum is open from 10.30 AM to 5.00 PM and closed on Fridays and Public Holidays.
Entry Fee: Rs.3/- for adults and Rs.1/- for children