Tuesday, 20th December 2005 (4269 views)

A practically priceless collection of gold and diamond artefacts, one of India's great national treasures, is returning to its Indian origin for a special museum exhibition.

The 173-piece collection, the jewels of the Nizams, is estimated to be worth in the region of $4.4 billion, and they will be available for the public to wonder at displayed in the Salar Jung museum in Hyderabad from January 4th until the beginning of March.

It is the second time the public has been invited to view the jewels after the government took them in 1995 - and kept them in a high security bank vault in Mumbai. The museum is also being secured with a two-tier security system during the collection's stay.

They were last showcased in the Indian capital Delhi's national museum.

The Nizams ruled in the state of Hyderabad, where the treasure belonged until it was taken from the palace in 1948 at the seventh and last Nizam's request.

However, the treasure's return to Hyderabad has also reignited a debate over whether they should be displayed in the state permanently.

Newkerala.com argues that the collection of gold is integral to the state's heritage and culture.

 

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