SHIMLA, May 31: As the summer sun bathes the colonial facades of the Ridge in golden light, tourists stroll beneath towering deodars, and the hills echo with the festive spirit of the International Shimla Summer Festival, a unique artistic spectacle is about to unfold in the heart of the Queen of Hills.
Beginning tomorrow on June 1, renowned artists from across the country will turn Shimla into a giant open-air canvas under the special art festival "Canvas of The Hills."
Organized as part of the International Shimla Summer Festival-2026, the event will see painters and sketch artists capturing Shimla's breathtaking landscapes, heritage buildings, bustling streets and cultural charm through live painting sessions and sketches, allowing visitors to witness the creative process firsthand.
Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap said the initiative has been conceived to showcase Himachal Pradesh's rich natural and cultural heritage through art.
Artists will visit prominent landmarks, scenic viewpoints and heritage structures across Shimla, drawing inspiration from the town's timeless beauty and unique mountain character.
The artistic journey will extend beyond Shimla as participating artists travel to the rugged and awe-inspiring landscapes of the Spiti Valley, where they will document the grandeur of the trans-Himalayan region on canvas.
The artworks created during the festival are expected to serve as visual ambassadors of Himachal's diverse landscapes and cultural richness.
The festival aims to provide a common platform for artists from different parts of India, encourage cultural exchange and promote Shimla as a destination where nature, heritage and creativity converge.
For tourists and local residents alike, the event promises a rare opportunity to interact with artists and watch the hills come alive through colours, brushstrokes and imagination.
Artists from Pune, Jodhpur, Visakhapatnam, Assam and Himachal Pradesh are participating in the festival.
The distinguished lineup includes Shirish Deshpande, Manoj Soman, Sandeep Khedkar, Nitin Mahamuni, Mahendra Kondekar, Suhasini M. Kondekar, Radha Soman, Vinita Purohit Lohara, Gulzar Hussain, Sai Manikiran Veduruparthi, Vamsi Kiran Paila, Debapriya Bezbaruah, Nakshdeep Singh and Rajendra Mehta.
For visitors arriving in Shimla this summer, "Canvas of The Hills" will offer something beyond music, food and festivities—a chance to see the Himalayas interpreted through the eyes of artists, one brushstroke at a time.
