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Housed in a charming colonial
building, Inverarm, the State museum is located atop a
hill that rises above the Chaura Maidan. A selection of
Himachal's rich heritage is displayed over here.
It is a stiff 1500m hike to the museum, but well worth the
effort; its diverse collection includes contemporary and
antique works of art, well displayed in an colonial
mansion.
The gallery houses the magnificent Pahari miniature
paintings, which are the examples of the last great Hindi
art form to flourish in northern India before the
deadening impact of the Western culture in the early 19th
century. Stone sculpture of considerable antiquity and
artistic merit assorted bronzes, arms and armour, dolls,
anthropological items and numismatic finds are also on
display.
Among the museums paintings are dozens of Mughal and
Rajasthani miniatures and a couple of fine 'Company' water
colours. Also worth checking out are the striking
contemporary oils of the Himalayas, a small collection of
the 19th and 20th century deity masks from Kullu and
Saharan and a remarkable collection of temple bronzes.
One room is devoted to Mahatma Gandhi, packed with
fascinating photos of his time in Shimla, and amusing
cartoons of his political relationship with the British.
TIMING :
The museum is open from 10 A.M.- 1.30 P.M. & 2-5 P.M. from
Tuesday to Sunday except on Monday and second Saturday of
every month. |