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 1500 m 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.
