Himachal State Museums, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh India

 The Shimla State Museum houses a huge collection of magnificent paintings, sculptures, coins, handicrafts, photos, etc of not only the state of Himachal Pradesh but outside too. The state museum is a major attraction of the Mall area of Shimla built in the style of colonial edifice with sprawling lawns all around. This museum was inaugurated in 1974.

The museum is open from ten in the morning to five in the evening. It is open on all days except Monday and the national holidays. The state museum of Shimla also comprises a library that is loaded with historical books and manuscripts.

The Shimla State Museum was erected solely with the purpose of preserving the rich cultural heritage of the state and to spread the message of cultural legacy over generations.

The paintings depicts the life and culture of the hilly people. Besides there is a huge collection of Mughal and Rajasthani paintings. The museum holds the sculptural merit of the 8th century stone works of Masrur and Bajaura. Also a wide lay out of Himachali dolls are displayed here.  

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 visiting hours start from 10.OOa.m. and continue till 5.00p.m.

The State Museum Shimla is housed in an old Victorian mansion carefully altered to adapt it to the museum. Perched on a lonely hilltop known as ‘Inveram’ the serenity and the quietude of the distant mountains from here is striking. Previously, the building remained a private residence of Lord William Beresford, the Military Secretary to the Viceroy, Lord William Bentick. When he left India, the building was occupied by Sir Edwin Collan and thereafter by Sir Edward Law, the Finance member of the Council. Later, it continued to serve as residence of Indian government officials.

The State Museum Shimla was opened on January 26, 1974 to collect and preserve the ancient artistic, historical, archaeological and ethnological human works in order that the future generation may have access to the cultural treasure it has inherited from the past. Since then the institution has played a significant role in collecting and preserving the scattered cultural heritage which otherwise was endangered and becoming extinct.