Annadale, Shimla

Annadale was first used by East India Company and then the British Raj, which is why natives originally called it "Company Ka Baag". It was a place of enjoyment and entertainment for the British, offering fancy dress shows, picnics, and birthday celebrations. Every year a National Championship of Polo was organised there.[6] Cultural and social festivals were organised there including Gymkhana, fete champetre and sports such as polo and cricket. Under the British Army, the grounds were also used for training and parades.[6] A funfair was organised in September 1833 to raise funds for setting up a school at Sabathu for native girls. In 1839, the first Fancy fair was organised there.

The Durand Football Tournament was started in 1888 in Annadale by Mortimer Durand. It was interrupted during World War 1 and World War 2. The venue was shifted to Delhi in 1940.

British officers appreciated the nature and scenic charm of the site and protected it from disturbance by grotesque structures. During the 1924 gymkhana, a shed was built without proper permission of the municipal committee, who later questioned it. The Annadale Gymkhana committee, in its explanation, replied,[7]

The genesis of this shed was the desire of one of the Indian members of the club (Maharaja of Bharatpur) for the purdah ladies who then can view the sports from the shed.

Gymkhana, polo, football, hockey, cricket matches, and other cultural and social festivals were organised in Annadale after independence. Dussehra was the main event organised, attracting people from the city, but in 1972 a clash between army and police created enmity between the military and civil administration. After this incidence, the event was shifted to Jakhu Temple. Another major event was the 1971 plenary session of the All India Congress Committee. In addition, a national women's field hockey championship was also organised there. A Yajna was organised by Gayatri Parivar in 1994.[8]

In 2006, the Army established a war museum on the periphery of the ground.[9]

Annadale ground Golf course

The Annadale ground also has a golf course, making it the only one in the city.[12][13]

Annadale Ground has a lot of importance in the city mainly due to its lead serving helipad. Every VIP or celebrity lands there whenever they come to Shimla, because Shimla Airport is 20 km away from the main city. Only The President of India usually lands at Kalyani helipad in Chharabra because of the President's retreat location being there.[14][15]

The Ground has been used by Indian Army for Disaster management purposes since the past. The ground has been used for conducting various disaster relief and management exercises mainly because Shimla and its adjoining areas are earthquake prone. Annadale Ground has the strategic significance for the Army from the national security perspective. The ground's significance for disaster management was witnessed in 2011 Sikkim earthquake.[16][17][18][19][20]

Army Heritage Museum in Annadale, Shimla

The Army Heritage Museum in Annadale was established in 2006. It contains historical weapons, arts and many war memory objects. It is located close to the Annadale ground near the forest area.[21]

Annadale has Shri Ram temple near Annadale Chowk.[22]

Gan Devta temple or Devra temple is the temple dedicated to the family deity of the locals and it is one of the oldest temples in Shimla, it is located near Army Heritage Museum.