Chail is one of few stunners that are not so well known yet. It was conceived when Maharaja Bhupinder Singh decided to build his own Summer Capital that excels Shimla, Summer Capital of British, in every aspect as vengeance for his insult. Maharaja was accused of flirting with daughter of one of the British high officials and was expelled from exclusive Shimla. Clearly visible from Shimla, Chail has it all - high peaks, salubrious climate, majestic summer palace of the Patiala royalty, grand temples and the world's highest cricket and polo ground. The spellbinding beauty of fresh snow in the winters makes it even more beautiful. The woods around Chail are lovely, dark and deep and have excellent trails and thriving wildlife to boast of. The small wildlife sanctuary here is worth visiting while you can also go for fishing to the River Gaura in Chail.
Places to See
Once the Summer Capital of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, Chail has some of the best tourist attractions in Uttaranchal, including:
- Chail Wildlife Sanctuary
- Sidh Baba ka Mandir
- Maharaja’s Palace
- Highest Cricket Ground
- Kandaghat
Shopping
With just a few scattered shops and no mall, Chail doesn’t have much to offer for die-hard shoppers but you can try enjoying leisurely walks that offer you glimpses of some of the most blessed artwork of Nature.
Where to Stay
Right from camping sites at most picturesque locations to budget hotels on the main road to luxury 5-star and heritage hotels, Chail offers a number of accommodation facilities. We recommend:
- Tarikas Jungle Retreat
- Rashi Resorts
- Hotel Monaal Chail
- Hotel Chail Inn
- Hotel Grand Sunset
- The Palace
- Ekant Resort
How to Reach Chail
Chail is directly connected to other cities by road only. It does not have an airport or a railway station of its own.
By Road: Regular bus services connect Chail to nearby cities. Deluxe buses are available on the most popular tourism route that connects Chail to Shimla, 45 km from the city.
By Rail: Nearest railway heads to Chail are at Kalka, 86 km from the city; and Chandigarh; 95 km from Chail. Several good trains are available to Chandigarh but for Kalka, we recommend Kalka Shatabdi.
By Air: The nearest airport to Chail is Jubbar Hati Airport, 63 km from the city. Shimla is also close from the airport and is just 45 km from it. Jubbar Airport has domestic flights connect it to Delhi and Chandigarh. The nearest international airport, however, is at Delhi, about 250 km away.
