Himachal Pradesh State Museum

The Himachal Pradesh State Museum in the former home of Lord William Beresford (a summer residence from the British period) sits on Chaura Maidan, about 15 minutes' walk from the Ridge. The collection covers the archaeology, art, and material culture of Himachal Pradesh across several galleries — Pahari miniature paintings, Tibetan thangkas, bronze statues, terracotta figures, coins, and examples of the elaborate woodcarving that is the distinctive architectural art of the western Himalayan region.

The museum is not large — a two-hour visit covers it comfortably — but the quality of the Pahari painting collection justifies the detour for anyone interested in Indian art history. The building itself is a pleasant colonial-era mansion with views over the surrounding hills. Closed on Mondays and public holidays; admission is modest.

things to do museum sight
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The museum's collection of Pahari miniature paintings is one of the finest in India — Pahari (meaning "of the hills") painting developed in the princely courts of the western Himalayan foothills between the 17th and 19th centuries and produced some of the most lyrical works in the Indian miniature tradition. The Shimla museum holds examples from the major schools — Kangra, Guler, Basohli, Chamba — that are rarely seen outside national museums in Delhi.