Tour to Chail Hill in Himachal Pradesh

Chail was once the summer playground of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. Chail lies spread over three hills Padhawa, Rajgarh and Sadh Tiba, just 43 km away from Shimla. The hill station of Chail was established as the Maharaja’s royal answer to the snub he received when he was banned from entering Shimla in 1891 after a falling out with the British authorities there. Never one to be outdone, the Maharaja ordered the building of the Chail Palace, a grand palace which today is a luxurious hotel maintained by Himachal Pradesh Tourism. Getting to the hill station of Chail is as pleasurable as the destination itself for the drive is very scenic. The road to Chail makes for excellent driving, winding around the gorgeous valleys of Kandaghat, past forests thick with foliage and fruit laden orchards. Along the entire journey, you are aware that Chail stands apart from other Himachal hill stations in its majesty and location. When you finally reach the hill station of Chail, you are rewarded with a spectacular view of the Himalayas. At night, the twinkling lights of Shimla and Kasauli are clearly visible, adding to the beauty and romance of Chail as a fairy-tale place.

Chail is beautiful in summer when the days are warm and the nights cool. The best time to come to Chail is from April to early July and again from September to November when the monsoons are done. The winters are cold and see snow. Carry light woollens and cotton outfits for summer and heavy woollens and snow protection for winter. A range of accommodation is available – the high-end Chail Palace Hotel (Tariffs range from Rs1500 for a regular double room to Rs 6000 for the Maharaja suite), Deluxe Swiss tents and camps as well as moderate and budget hotels, motels and tourist lodges.

As a hill station, Chail boasts of many unique features. Be sure to visit Chails best known attraction, the worlds highest cricket pitch and polo ground at 2444 m. Near the cricket grounds on Sadh Tiba is the Sidh-Baba-Ka-Mandir, honoring the ascetic who refused to move out despite the Kings wish to construct his palace there. In Chail, wander off into the woods for a peaceful walk or do a more strenuous hike up the hillside. Chail also has something to offer to the adventurous – try some angling in the river nearby or go horse riding on the narrow trail around the hill. Kids will enjoy the wildlife sanctuary, with ghoral, sambhar, cheer pheasants and red jungle fowl for company. You can also carry a picnic to Sadhupul village on the way to Kandagahat.

Chail has a natural air conditioned weather and the tourist find this place to be suitable to visit all throughout the year.Even during the summer the temperature doesn’t rise to much, the autumn in all its colours is really fasinating.During autumn the fields and the forests are covered with a cloak of russet and gold,in winter it is nothing less than a paradise. The weather conditions are so perfect that even in the winter when there is snow fall there is an unusual featured warmth present avoiding the inconvinience of the people.