Welcome to Chail !!

Chail is a place in Himachal Pradesh, India. It is was once the summer capital of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. In 1891, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala incurred the rage of Lord Kitchener. It led to the restriction of his entry into the summer capital, Shimla. This incensed the Maharaja and he vowed to build a new summer capital for himself. So he rebuilt the place (Chail) as per his requirements.

Chail is 43 km from Shimla. The place is well known for the cricket ground and a polo ground which is there at an altitude of 2,444 m. The ground has the world's highest cricket pitch. Chail is also considered as the hiker's paradise. The area is away from the bustling life of the state capital Shimla.

Chail is a wonderful place, the beauty of which captivates all. It will leave you spellbound. Tourism in Chail is on its boom. Located amidst the clouds and the sprawling greens, Chail hill station is just the apt place for honeymooners. Its charm will turn you into a poet. Pollution and deforestation are terms that can never be found in the dictionary of Chail. The weather is amazing throughout the year. Summers are charming with warm days and cool nights. In wintertime, this place is nothing less than a paradise, when the snow covers it. The major attractions of Chail include the beautiful orchards and snow-capped Shivalik peaks.

Chail Hotel Packages :

Attractions - In & Around Chail :

Chail Sanctuary (3 km) :
Situated in the vicinity of the town is Chail Sanctuary, which is home to lush Deodar and Oak forests. The sanctuary was established in 1976 and houses animals like Sambar, Goral, Himalayan Black Bear, Red Deer, Barking Deer, Indian Hare, Common Langur and Leopard. One can also witness exquisite species such as Rhesus Macaque, Himalayan Yellow Throated Marten, Indian Porcupine, Common Giant and Kashmiri Flying Squirrel. You can trek from Chail to either Gaura or Jhajja to get a glimpse of a number of animals.

Chail Palace :
The Maharaja's Palace is situated on the Rajgarh Hill. As the name suggests, it was the palace of the maharaja, which was built by him as his summer retreat. Extending over an astounding area, the palace offers breathtaking views of the sprawling surroundings. The palace was taken over by the Himachal Tourism in the year 1972 and transformed into a heritage hotel. Tourists are since then allowed to stay in the cottages or huts of the palace.

Sidh Baba ka Mandir (1.5 km) :
Sidh Baba ka Mandir is a popular tourist spot in Chail. It said that the place, where the mandir stands was originally chosen by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh to construct his palace. However, the maharaja had a vision or dream in which a saint appeared and told him that the place was meant for his meditation. After the vision, the king shifted his palace venue and constructed a temple here.

Cricket Ground (3 km) :
The Cricket Ground is another renowned tourist attraction in Chail as it is acclaimed to be the highest in the world. Built in the year 1893, it is located at an altitude of 2,144 m. The ground is surrounded by beautiful and soaring deodar trees. Apart from cricket, the ground is also used for playing polo.

Wildlife Sanctuary (3 km) :
The Chail sanctuary has `ghoral', `kakkar', `sambhar',' red jungle fowl ' and 'khalij' and `cheer' pheasants. Machan-like sighting posts have been built near Blossom and at Khariun.

Chail Military School :
It has beautiful buildings and mostly resides on the ancient buildings made by Maharaja of patiala.

Adventure and fishing :
A dozen or so trek routes lead out of Chail. Trails lead up to the Choor Peak and to Shimla. There is fishing on Giri river at Gaura, 29 km away.

Kufri :
An enjoyable drive through forests and small villages leads to this small but popular station. The Nature Park here is a great attraction. A short trek leads upto the Mahasu peak-with breathtaking view.

Sadhupul :
Halfway between Kandaghat and Chail is this village and bridge astride the Ashwani stream. A good picnic spot.

Travel Information :

Best Time to Visit :

May-July and September-November

How to reach Dharamsala :

By Air: The closest airports are at Chandigarh ( 120 km) and Shimla(63 km).

By Rail: The nearest railway station from Chail is at Kalka. Located at a distance of 86 km, this railway station connects the town with various other Indian cities. From Kalka, a toy train also plies up to Shimla, which is one of the major attractions for all the visitors coming to the state. After reaching Shimla, you can easily reach Chail by road.

By Road: Chail is connected by road. From Shimla via Kufri the distance is 45 km and via Kandaghat this is 61 km. Kalka is 86 km away. Regular buses for Chail leave from Shimla, Chandigarh and Delhi.