Shimla State Museum
The Shimla State Museum was opened in 1974 and is built on a beautiful ground. It has a growing collection 2000 object daret. It contains a rich collection of paintings. It has a good collection of coins, photographs, local handicrafts and other items. The doll gallery consists of a collection of Himachali bride and tribal dolls while the collection of Pahari miniature painting is also worth a look.
Numerous damaged sculptures from all over the state have been preserved here, like the 8th century stone images from Masrur and Bajaura. There are also some 11th century miniature bronzes like the beautiful standing Vishnu (second of the Hindu Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer) figure.
Don't miss the ground-floor gallery of Pahari miniatures, a style developed under the patronage of the Kangra rulers. The library has some historical books and manuscripts.
