Apart from the snow-capped mountains, lush green valleys, religious places, and a bunch of options for adventurous activities, the picturesque hill station of Himachal Pradesh is blessed with numerous imposing buildings and structures. These not only hold historical significance but also happen to be the major tourist attractions in Shimla preserving the art and heritage of the place.

When you walk down the popular Mall Road, you can spot a number of age-old bungalows and historical edifices dating back to the period of British Raj. These historical places evoke a district colonial charm and are one of the most important destinations of Shimla tour packages. Here are some of the historical places in Shimla—

Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex

Located in the middle of the bustling Mall Road, the famous Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex adds a colonial charm to the ‘Queen of Hills’. Designed by the renowned architect Henry Irwin, the 122 years old Cultural Complex is a Gothic Victorian style theatre that is also the oldest cultural complexes in Himachal Pradesh. Built in the year 1887, it has been a stage for many national and international artists over the years. Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex has various sections including Art Gallery, Amphitheatre, Multipurpose Theatre, City Museum, and Conference Hall.

Viceregal Lodge or Indian Institute of Advanced Study

Originally built as a home for Lord Dufferin, the former British Viceroy of India, Viceregal Lodge houses some of the most ancient photographs and articles dated back to the times of British rule in India. Built in the year 1888, Henry Irwin designed the overall structure. Built in the Jacobethan style, the place witnessed some major historic decisions including Shimla Conference. The building was renamed as Rashtrapati Nivas after the independence. It was then handed over to the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS).

Himachal State Museum Shimla

Located at a distance of about 1 km. west of Scandal Point, the museum lies in the spacious lawns at Chaura Maidan. Opened on 26 January, 1974, Shimla State Museum preserves the ancient artistic, archaeological, historical, and ethnological human works. Preserving the cultural heritage of the state, the museum exhibits different eras such as Pre-historic, Woodcarvings, Indian Archaeology, Gandhi Gallery, Arma gallery, and Himachal Archaeology.

It also houses separate galleries for Pahari Miniature Paintings, Philatelic, Rajasthan and Mughal Paintings, Bronze Artefacts, Numismatics, etc. The Gupta sculptures including the 8^th century stone images of Masrur and Bajaura are one of the major highlights of the museum.

If you are planning a trip to the former summer capital, then go through the Shimla tour packages and visit these historical places along with several churches and cathedrals.