Annandale

Located at a distance of 5 km away from Ridge, Annandale in Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) is a beautiful attraction for holidaying and rejuvenating. It is a scenic spot in Shimla replete with a sporty golf club, mesmerizing vistas, an Indian Army museum, a Cactus museum and a tranquil ambiance to spellbind you with. This place has been a playground for the British in the Pre-independence period. Now it is used to organize parades, army activities, sports like cricket, Golf, Polo, etc., picnics, festivals like Dussehra. It has been a popular attraction for polo and cricket lovers. This spot gives a picturesque view of Shimla city and has been attracting tourists from all over the world to explore it and the surroundings as well.

Things To Do Here:

• The Annandale Golf Course is a paradise for Golf lovers. The opulent and expansive course amidst the gorgeous natural landscape is sure to be a. unforgettable experience.

• The Annandale playground is a preferred place for the Indian Army to organize their parades and social events.

• While here, one should not miss exploring the fascinating natural landscape of Annandale. The route to Annandale passes through a dense forest and makes exploring this area on the foothills of the Himalayas a peaceful and rejuvenating experience for all visitors.

• The Indian Army Museum of Annandale is a place where one will come across many artifacts and stories of victory and sacrifice of our brave army. The museum contains a collection of uniforms, flags, ammunition, weapons, and information about all the regiments of the Indian army.

• A Cactus Museum is erected near the Indian Army Museum at Annandale. It houses a variety of cactus brought from significant cactus growing regions in the world. This museum is never being missed while exploring Annandale.

• There is a cafe that serves a variety of local snacks that visitors will love to have after exploring Annandale. Picnickers often stop here for a while to have a bite and then proceed with their plan for the day.

Interesting Facts And Trivia About:

• Nestled at an altitude of 622 ft. above the sea level, Annandale is one of those attractions in Shimla where you can look down at the Shimla city from Annandale’s highest peak which is filled with snow-clad mountains and awe-inspiring vistas.

• With the trail of trees amidst Annandale including deodar trees, oak trees, etc., one will find the luxuriant greenery here. This place is rich in flora and fauna which is taken care of by the Indian Army carefully.

• It is situated in the suburban hamlet of Kaithu. West Shimla. It was named by Captain Charles Pret Kennedy, one of the initial visitors of this place.

• It has been an important hotspot for Anglo-Indian sports games and the region is also utilized as heliport of Shimla.

Traveler Tips:

• The Indian Army maintains the attraction over here. Hence, one will observe them extremely disciplined.

• One should not enter the restricted areas.

• A café is made within Annandale. So, one does not have to worry about food during a visit to this place. Picnickers can carry their picnic baskets along with them, but they need to maintain cleanliness and hygiene.

• Visitors should wear sports shoes while visiting the playground.

Best Time To Visit:

Shimla has pleasant weather in any month but visitors should avoid visiting Annandale during monsoons as they will not able to soak themselves in the lovely ambiance of the place. The place is best explored between the months of October and February as the weather stays cool throughout the day and the region also experiences snowfall making it an unforgettable vacation. This place also often frequented by visitors during the summer season as the climate remains pleasant allowing them exploring the place at leisure and playing sports.

How To Reach Here:

Annandale is located just at a distance of about 5 Km away from the Ridge and 2 Km away from the Shimla Railway Station. Hence one can either walk or hire an auto-rickshaw or cab to reach the place.

Nearby Attractions:

While visiting Annandale, visitors can also explore some other places of interest around the place such as Ram Temple, Mark church, Kali Bari Temple, Kalka Shimla Toy Train, Mall Road, Tattapani, Chail, The Ridge, Kufri, Shimla Christ Church, Jakhu Temple, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Himachal State Museum, Himalayan Bird Park, Shimla Reserved Forest, etc.

Additional Information For Visitors:

There is no entry fee for Annandale. Tourists can visit the Army Museum between 10 am to 2 pm and 3 pm to 5 pm. The museum is closed on Monday. The playground and the golf course can be visited between 10 am to 5 pm.