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. A national women's field hockey championship was also organised there.

In 2006, the Army established a war museum on the periphery of the ground.[8]

Annadale Ground from uphill at Kaithu

In the period of 2005 to 2012, Himachal Pradesh Government led by BJP wanted to take over the control of the ground from Indian Army to make an International Cricket Stadium here, but the Army refused this by saying the ground is critical for operations of the Army along the Northern borders as also for conducting relief contingency operations during unforeseen disasters.[9] Finally, government had to accept the Army's concerns by cancelling the plan for stadium. The proposed cricket stadium plan was shifted to Dharamshala.[10][11]

The Annadale ground is the wide flat valley bottom which is situated in a valley bottom. It is a scenic ground which can be seen from many hilltop locations of the city.[13] This is one of the main historical and sport points of the city. The Annadale ground also has a golf course and a helipad.[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]

Army Heritage Museum in Annadale

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.[19]

Annadale Ground also serves as a helipad. Every VVIP or celebritiy land here when they come to Shimla, because Shimla Airport is 20 km away from the main city. The President of India usually lands at Kalyani helipad in Chharabra because of the President's Retreat Building located at Chharabra.[20][21]

Annadale is located at a distance of 2 km from the Shimla Railway Station.[12]