Chail is another picturesque hill station of India, located in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The hill station is widely renowned for being home to the highest cricket ground and also a polo ground. The hill station is a natural paradise adorned with the mighty Himalayan peaks, lush greenery, dense vegetation, verdant forests, quaint and charming villages and the old world charm still reflected among the surroundings of the region.
Chail is one of the upcoming tourist destinations of the state and hosts large number of tourists, seeking a quiet and tranquil place to relax and rejuvenate. Chail has an interesting historical background to it. The region was founded by Maharaja Adhiraj Bhupinder Singh of Patiala as his own summer capital, when he was barred from entering Shimla by Lord Kitchener. Furious by this insult, the Maharaja vowed to build himself his own summer capital as per his preferences and thus, Chail was born.
Sitting at a staggering height of 2,250m above sea level, Chail offers spectacular views of the nearby surrounding areas, which can be enjoyed from the various vantage points located in the region. In addition to the vantage points, there are several other attractions that are interesting and worth a visit.
Some of the popular attractions of Chail include the Sidh Baba Ka Mandir, the Cricket Ground, Wildlife Sanctuary, Kufri, Sadhu Pool and the Chail Palace (now a hotel) among others. There are plenty of hotels in Chail offering comfortable and warm lodging facilities to the travelers. The hotels in Chail are present across various budget categories ranging from the luxury hotels and resorts to the budget and economy hotels catering to the varying tastes and preferences of the myriad of travelers visiting the region.
The best time to visit Chail is from the months of March to October, when the weather is pleasant and cool, allowing tourists to enjoy various sorts of adventure sports activities. Getting to Chail is relatively easy, as the region offers decent connectivity to various regions in the state and also rest of the country. The nearest airport from the hill station is in Shimla, located at a distance of approx. 19 km, while the nearest railhead is Kalka, located at a distance of 86 km. There are also numerous buses available from various regions of the state and neighboring areas for Chail. A typical deluxe bus ride from Shimla costs Rs 200.
