Museums of Himachal Pradesh :

The museums of Himachal Pradesh have also added value to the tourism of this state. These museums familiarize its visitors with the past and cultural heritage of the state. These museums serve as ideal places for historical buffs. 

Shimla, which is the capital and largest city of Himachal Pradesh, has several museums like the Himachal State Museum, Shimla State Museum, Johnnie's Wax Museum and Baba Bhalku Railway Museum. The Tibet Museum, Losel Doll Museum and Kangra Art Museum are located in Dharamsala, which is a city in the district of Kangra. A museum called Bhuri Singh Museum adds to the beauty of a place called Chamba, which is an ancient town in the Chamba district. Kyelang Museum is housed in Keylong, which is the administrative centre of the Lahaul and Spiti district. Uruswati Himalayan Folk Art Museum is located in Naggar, which is a settlement in the Kullu district.

Himachal State Museum, Shimla :

Himachal State Museum, Shimla serves as a home to a collection of Himachali, Rajasthani and Punjabi miniatures, colourful traditional costumes and jewellery, delicate stone and wood carvings and interesting photos of Himachal Temples. Shimla State Museum holds a collection of magnificent paintings, sculptures, coins, handicrafts, photos etc.

The museum is housed within an old Victorian mansion, which is perched on a quiet hill top. It was once the residence of Lord William Beresford, and later for Indian government officials. In 1974, the museum was set up and has ever since played a significant role in preserving cultural heritage.

Tibbet Museum, Dharamshala :

In a small building in the complex of Dalai Lama’s temple,will find the Tibet Museum. The pristine white interiors are sparingly filled with photographs and Tibetan artefacts. More than a museum, the Tibet Museum is a library of facts, documents, videos, installations and objects related with the Chinese occupation of Tibet.

Losel Doll Museum, Dharamshala :

The Norbulingka Institute included the Losel Doll Museum. The Losel Doll Museum has diorama displays of traditional Tibetan scenes, using miniature Tibetan dolls in traditional costumes. The Losel Doll Museum houses a unique collection of 150 costumed dolls depicting the regional, official and monastic costumes of Tibet handcrafted by a group of artistic monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery that has been re-established in South India.

Kangra Art Museum :

 The Kangra Art Museum is a fascinating museum displaying artifacts from Tibetan and Buddhist cultures. Inaugurated in 1990, the museum has preserved a treasure trove from Kangra valley’s cultural past, crafts, arts and other ancient artifacts including miniature paintings, temple carvings, fabrics and embroidery, weapons, and palanquins belonging to local royalty. 

It has a collection of rare pottery, coin memorabilia, sculptures and anthropological materials. It showcases jewelry of various tribes, embroidered costumes and wooden carvings. Some of the items displayed in the museum go back to 5th century. A section in the museum is also dedicated to contemporary artists and photographers. 

Kyelang Museum, Lahaul Spiti :

A museum of  Tribal Art along with an auditorium is being established at  Keylong. The museum apart from archaeological finds displays Thanka  Paintings, objects  of everyday use as they existed before the  achievement  of modern mechanised equipments in the District. The museum  is also having  manuscripts in Bhoti  Scripts and Tankri   documents. The musuem is also having a good auditorium for  hosting cultural events. The museum is under the control of  Department of Language Art & Culture.
At Kyuling (Spiti) the  sect of  the  nono of  Spiti ( the ruling Wazir of Spiti area under the nominal  British control before Independence)have  also established a small museum of artefacts. Kyelang Museum provides a kaleidoscopic view of the nature, life, history and culture of the entire Himalayan region via different objects.

Uruswati Himalayan Folk Art Museum, Naggar Kullu :

Uruswati Himalayan Folk Art Museum is just 100 m uphill from the Nicholas K. Roerich Art Gallery.It  is a storehouse of Russian folk art and holds several objects like musical instruments and stone carvings made by a Russian Professor named Nicolas Roerich. 

Originally established as a research institute in 1928 by the Russian Professor Nicolas Roerich with the aim of creating an intellectual environment where research on Tibetan and Indian medicine could be carried out. Uruswati Himalayan Folk Art Museum is just 100 m uphill from the Nicholas K. Roerich Art Gallery.

The name "Urusvati" was kept in the year 1993 and it means the light of the morning star. This museum is themed on Russian Folk Art and houses various musical instruments, stone carvings etc. made by Roerich himself.

Bhuri Singh Museum, Chamba :

Founded in the year 1908 to honour Raja Bhuri Singh, Bhuri Singh Museum is located in close proximity to Chaugan town of Chamba. Initially this museum was started with the paintings added by Raja Bhuri Singh but now it includes rich collections of items like carved doors from the old palaces, copper plate grants, frescoes, miniature paintings, and many other items of the historical period. The Prasastis of Sarahan, Mul Kihar and Devi-ri-kothi are in Sarda script, recollecting the major facets of the medieval history of Chamba.

Baba Bhalku Railway Museum,Shimla :

It is Opened in July 2011, the Bhalku Rail Museum gives an interesting insight into the history of the Kalka-Shimla Railway Line through its collection of rare artefacts. The Photo Galleria has images of the steam-loco-hauled train as well as a train making its way through snow covered tracks.. The furniture and crockery gallery displays fine glassware, wine glasses and vases used in those days. Also on display areteak wood easy chairs that were used in the station rest rooms besides large wooden wall clocks made in England. Steam locomotive headlights, ticket punching machines, brass lamps, lanterns and a rail liner used on the track in 1899 (the oldest item on display) There is also a miniature model of the tunnel and its repair system. A life-sized train stands complete with its old carriages.

Johnnie's Wax Museum, Shimla :

A Gurgaon-based company ‘BM Brothers’ has brought new charm to the Queen of Hills as it opened Himachal’s first Wax Museum at the historic Willow Banks estate in capital city Shimla. Johnnie’s Wax Museum opened for public the then Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh inaugurated it on May 11,2016.

The museum feature life-size wax statues of popular personalities from various fields, such as Hollywood, Bollywood, Politicians, Sports etc, like Madame Tussauds, London – the most famous wax museum in the world. Presently, Johnnie’s Wax Museum features 16 statues, which are handmade in London.