Himachal State Museum in Shimla
· Summer: April-June (14°C - 28°C)
· Winter: December-February (-5°C - 10°C)
· Monsoon: July to mid-September
Best time to visit:
October-April
Opening Time: 10:00 a.m.
Closing Time: 05:00 p.m. (closed from 01:30 p.m. to 02:00 p.m.)
Weekly Holiday: Monday
Entry Fees for Indians
Adults: INR 10
Children:
N/A
Cameras: N/A
Video Camera: N/A
Entry Fees for Foreign Nationals
Adults:
INR 50
Children:
N/A
Cameras:
N/A
Video Camera:
N/A
A colonial building, called Inveram, which graciously stands as a part of Shimla’s rich heritage houses the Himachal State Museum, also known as Shimla State Museum. Established in 1974, the museum houses numerous galleries exhibiting the cultural, historical and archaeological worth of Himachal Pradesh. With more than 9,000 objects on display, it is indeed a must-visit attraction in Shimla.
Pre-historic Gallery with stone tools, fossils and fibreglass models of extinct animals and Wood-carving Gallery with inimitable wooden art are two popular attractions of the museum. But, these are not the only highlights as there are sections like Archaeology Gallery with pottery specimen, terracotta items and stone sculptures collected form different parts of the country; Miniature Painting Galleries displaying Pahari and Rajasthan art.
One can also explore great collections of coins at Numismatic Gallery and bronze work at Bronze Gallery. Cameras are allowed, but the use of flash is not. The museum can also be explored as a part of the heritage walk which covers other equally charming attractions like Scandal Point, Catholic Church, Kali Bari Temple and Town Hall among many others.
Connectivites
Road:
Located in Chaura Maidan on the Mall Road, the museum like most of the attractions in Shimla is accessible on foot. In fact, it is a great experience to walk the whole length of the Mall which boasts of rich colonial buildings and vantage points.
Railway:
Shimla has a railway station connected via a narrow gauge, about a km. from the museum and accessible on foot. The closest broad gauge railway station is about 96 km. away at Kalka from where you can take local buses or taxis to reach the museum.
Airway:
About 20 km. from the museum is Shimla’s own airport which is connected to many important destinations in India. From the airport, you can easily hire a taxi for the museum.