Himachal State Museum, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh India

Himachal State Museum & Library, also known as the Shimla State Museum located around 3 km away from the Scandal Point. This museum was founded in the year 1974, and it has beautiful exhibits of Pahari miniature, Mughal, Rajasthani and contemporary paintings. Various bronze artefacts, photographs, philatelic, and anthropological items are also conserved in the museum. Tourists can also see the Gupta sculptures, the stone images of Masrur and the masks of Kullu here. The library hosts collection various historical books and manuscripts for the visitors. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday and remains closed on Mondays and gazetted holidays.

The heritage of Himachal Pradesh is stored in a beautiful building called 'Inverarm' built in hill architectural style on top of the hillock next to one which has the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies. Originals of paharl miniature paintings, the style that developed in the 17th century in these hills, are on display here. the stone and metal sculptures of the State, Chamba rumal with an embroidery work, know as painting with needle, exquisite wood work and masks, the doll corner, jewellery, weapons and contemporary art are other attractions of the Museum.

Also called Shimla State Museum, is set on top of a hill, above the Chaura Maidan at Shimla. It is housed in a colonial building, known as Inverarm. One has to hike about 1500m to reach the colonial mansion housing the museum, but the rich collection exhibited here definitely makes it worth the effort. Simla State Museum has a rich collection of anthropological items, early 19th century Pahari miniature paintings and numismatic finds on display. All of these serve as evidences of the glorious cultural heritage and historical past of Himachal Pradesh.

The artworks from ancient and modern times and splendid Pahari miniature paintings displayed here present the great art form of Northern India in its pristine form, free from any Western influences that crept in later. Exquisitely carved antique stone sculpture and bronze idols, weapons and armors of the time of yore and dolls can also be seen at the State Museum of Shimla. The section on paintings also has a number of Moghul and Rajasthani miniatures and a beautiful pair of watercolors from the 'Company'. A collection of bronze idols from the temples scattered all around Himalayas never cease to amaze the viewers. Not to be forgotten are the contemporary oil paintings, which capture some of the most picturesque scenes from the Himalayas, and a small collection of the deity masks, found in the valleys of Kullu and Sarahan, which date back to 19th and 20th century. There is also a separate room dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of India, displaying his photos when he visited Shimla and his political cartoons that comment on his relations with the British.