A 20-minute walk west of Rashtrapati Niwas will take you to the Himachal State Museum (himachalstatemuseum.in; adult/child ₹150/₹30), which occupies an old Victorian mansion that was retrofitted to become a museum. This government-run museum, spread out over three floors, houses a massive collection of everything from old coins and stamps to religious sculptures and carvings. There's also a fine collection of miniature paintings, with sections dedicated not only to Himachal’s native Pahari art, but also to Sikh and Rajasthani styles. History fans should pay a visit to the museum's Freedom Movement Gallery, which features exhibits recounting the story of the Indian Independence movement with a particular emphasis on the area now known as Himachal Pradesh.
The state museum sits right at the base of the prominent TV Tower on a hilltop some 2.5km west of Scandal Point.