Chail, another Beautiful Place to Visit in Himachal Pradesh

Chail, which is located in Shimla district, is one of the most scenic hill stations of Himachal Pradesh.
Situated at a distance of about 45 km from the main town of Shimla, it is placed at a height of about 2,226 m above sea level.The place was founded by Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala, while he was in exile from Shimla. Abounded by dense woods of deodars, the place offers some panoramic views of the neighboring areas.

Attractions

Sai Baba Temple: The temple is one of the most revered sites in the whole region. The temple was structured by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, who had initially intended to construct a palace at this place. But it is believed that once the holy saint, ‘Sai Baba’ appeared in his dreams and declared it to be the place where he once meditated. Thus, the king shifted his venue of palace and structured a temple on the spot.

Cricket Ground: Chail is also includes the world’s highest cricket pitch and polo ground. The cricket pitch is placed at a height of about 2,444 m above sea level, which was established after leveling a hilltop. The hilltop at where the ground is placed offers breath-taking views of Satluj Valley, Shimla and Kasauli. The snow covered peaks of Himalayas can also be seen at the background of this ground.

Chail Wildlife Sanctuary: The sanctuary is one of the top tourist attractions in Himachal. The place is home to various endangered species of animals like sambar, red jungle fowl, ghoral, kakkar and khalij and cheer pheasants.

Gurudwara Sahib: The Gurudwara Sahib is another prime religious site in Chail. The gurudwara is visited by several tourists, who have come to tour Shimla and other nearby tourist places. It is placed on Pandhawa hillocks and was constructed in the year 1907. The place has a beautiful lawn and its construction resembles the churches in Goa. 

Adventure Activities: Apart from the tourist destination of the place, Chail is also known for various adventure activities like trekking, angling and horse riding. There are various trek routes from this place that will lead you to Shimla and the Choor peak. The place also supports skiing during the winter season.

Best Time to Visit

Though the place experiences a pleasant climate throughout the year, the best time to visit the place is from mid-May to mid-October.

Accommodation

There are plenty of accommodation facilities available in Chail. The region is dotted with numerous budget and mid budget hotels as well as resorts. The budget and mid budget range of accommodation found at this place are well equipped with almost all the modern day amenities. Heritage hotels like Palace Hotel and the royal palace of Maharaja of Patiala are excellent options for luxury accommodation at this place.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport to the place is Jubbarhati Airport in Shimla, located at a distance of about 45 km. Another major airport located close to the place is the Chandigarh airport, located at a distance of about 112 km. Both these airports are well connected with various major cities in India. Regular bus and taxi services are available from these airports to the place.

By Train: The nearest railway station to the place is Kalka Railway Station, located at a distance of about 81 km. The station conducts regular trains to various major parts in India. Tourists will get both public and private transportations from outside the station to get to the Chail.

By Road: Chail has a very good network of roads that connects the place with various major cities like Shimla (45 km), Delhi (385 km), Chandigarh (120 km) and Kalka (95 km). Regular public and private buses ply from these places to Chail.