The Shimla state museum sits on an old Victorian mansion called ‘Inverarm’, which was delicately altered to the museum. The Inverarm was a small mud roofed house in the 1860s that belonged to General Innes, which was later owned by the ruler of Sirmour and later on taken over by the imperial government.

The Shimla State Museum was established in 1974 to preserve the state’s rich cultural and archaeological artifacts. Surrounding the museum are sprawling lawns that significantly enhance its beauty. Most of Shimla’s structures served as the summer capital of the British Empire. The museum has a vast collection of ancient historical paintings, sculptures, handicrafts, coins, photos, and other items from all over the state as well as from other states.

The museum is located around 2 km west of the scandal point and is open from Tuesday to Sunday and is closed on Mondays and public holidays. The state museum is built in a colonial style with huge gardens around the site and is one of the best places to visit in Shimla. It was opened in 1974 with only four galleries, and later more ones are included in the museum.

Currently, there are more than 10,000 objects in the collection. Some of the famous galleries present at the museum are Indian archeology, prehistoric objects, wood carvings, photographs, monuments, arms gallery, bronzes, Gandhi gallery, Pahari miniature paintings, contemporary art, etc.

Setting up this museum’s main intention was to conserve Shimla’s history, tradition, and vivid culture. Several artifacts are preserved and displayed, such as coins, antique books, paintings, jewelry, and delicate handicraft items. There is a separate section in the museum where beautiful Himachali dolls and toys are exhibited. Do check out the unique collection of pretty Himachali dolls in the museum.

The most conspicuous of all the items are the stone works of Bajaura and Masrur, belonging to the 8th century. Amongst the main features of the museum are the 6th to 11th century Gupta sculptures. The Pahari miniatures, Mughal and Rajasthani paintings are among the museum’s superior possessions.

Additionally, there is also a library at the museum that stocks several manuscripts and historical books. The museum is the perfect place for art lovers and people who want to learn about Shimla’s history and culture. The museum is around 6 mins away from Royale Retreat, which will further make your stay memorable.