Annandale

Annandale, a historic playground, is a favourite spot for cricket and the princely game of polo. Located at a distance of 4 kilometres from the Ridge, the playground and race-course is positioned in a deep wide valley of the suburban village called Kaithu. This village lies in the west region of Shimla.

Standing at a height of 6,117 feet above sea level, the round playground on a small patch of table-land is spread over a circumference of three-quarters of a mile. Captain Charles Pratt Kennedy, one of the first incomers to the place, named it Annadale, which is nowadays misspelt as Annandale.

Since the 1830s, Annandale has been an important centre of Anglo-Indian playful activities, amusement and entertainment. Tourists visit the place for picnic parties, fêtes, birthday-balls, fancy-fairs flower, races and polo matches. The polo tournament at the playground was the annual feature, which was eventually shifted to Kolkata.

Moreover, Lord William Beresford, the Military Secretary to Lord Dufferin expanded the ground to feature a pavilion for cricketers and a polo field for polo players. At present, the playground hosts army exercise and parades, sports and Dussehra festival celebrations. Besides, the field is utilised as one of the heliports in the city.