The State Museum Shimla
State Museum is located 2.5 km west of the Scandal Point on the Inverarm Hill. The history of the building dates back to the colonial times when it was the private residence of Lord William Beresford. He was the Military Secretary to the then Viceroy of India, Lord William Bentinck. When he left India, the mansion was inhabited by Sir Edwin Collan and thereafter by Sir Edward Law. After independence, it served as the residence of Indian Government officials. It was transformed into a museum on January 26, 1974 with the sole aim of collecting and preserving the historical, artistic and archaeological items of the Himachal Pradesh State.
The museum boasts of having a grand collection of ancient historical sculptures, coins, paintings and photographs collected from all over the state and the country. It also houses a library which has around 10,000 books, journals and magazines. Sculpture gallery has metal, wooden and stone sculptures. In the painting section, Pahari and Rajasthani Miniature Painting, religious paintings, contemporary paintings and Mughal paintings have been put on display. Other than these rare artifacts, the museum also has a unique collection of Himachali dolls. Art and history lovers must visit the museum while touring Shimla.
History of Himachal State Museum, Shimla
Dating its history back to the colonial times, the Himachal State Museum was once the residence of Lord William Beresford, who was the Military Secretary of Lord William Bentick. When he left the country, the complex was occupied by Sir Edwin Colon and then it was inherited by the finance member of the council, Sir Edward Law. Later, after many years of independence, the mansion became the house of several Indian government officials.
On January 26th, 1974, the house was finally converted into a museum with the sole aim of preserving the historical and archaeological artifacts. Since then, the museum collects a wide variety of heritage paintings, coins, photographs and sculptures which otherwise would have been extinct.
Shimla Monuments
Shimla Monuments, the beautiful capital of Himachal Pradesh is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the country. Especially during the summer months, this marvellous location stays jam-packed with visitors. There are a number of tourist places in Shimla that can be visited on a vacation. It is quite a popular destination for its Victorian architecture, which can be witnessed in a certain section of the Ridge and the Mall. Shimla is also known as one of the ideal places of interest for the honeymooners. The cool and pleasant climate of Shimla makes it a renowned summer retreat. It is nestled at an elevation of around twenty-two hundred meters above sea level. The region of Shimla is a beautiful hilly terrain covered with lush greenery all around. Although this place is mostly visited during the summers there are also a number of vacationers who prefer visiting Shimla in the autumn months owing to the less amount of crowd and the mesmerizing views.
