Chail

Chail - Hill Station

Chail, a quiet hill station in the  lap of nature, is only two hours' drive from Shimla. This lovely town was a  former summer retreat for the Maharaja of Patiala and is a haven for those  looking to escape the mind-numbing restlessness of city life.

Dining at a lakeside restaurant,  walking on the highest cricket ground in the world, and listening to birds  chirp in the Chail Wildlife Sanctuary are just a few of the delightful  experiences available at the popular places to visit in Chail, Himachal Pradesh.

Here are the top tourist attractions in Chail that you should not miss if you  are planning a trip soon!

Activities in Chail

Shopping in Chail: Shopping in Chail is one of the best things to do in Chail. Markets in Chail is famous for picking up woolen garments and jams/jellies, prepared from hand-picked, farm fresh fruits. Chail is also famous for it’s pretty silver, stone-studded or metal jewelry.

Camping in Chail: Camping is one of the exotic experiences and sought after things to do in Chail. You can also try camping solo where you can cook your own meals and enjoy the beautiful view.

Horse Riding in Chail: Horse Riding is the best and most enjoyable activity to do in Chail. You can only reach the highlands is by horse-riding. This activity is fun and completely safe. En-route to the tourist park you can enjoy beautiful view of the mountains and apple orchards.

Zipline, Rappelling, and Valley crossing: Explore the beauty of Chail by descending slopy rocks, or by getting to one mountain from another using ropes, by rock climbing and whatnot. Rappelling, Valley crossing, Zipline are the most sought adventure activities in Chail.

Bird Watching: Chail is one of the best places in Himachal Pradesh for bird watching activity. You can spot many bird species at the Chail Sanctuary as well as during treks and nature walks.

Nature Walk in Chail: Chail is blessed with an abundance of nature, lush green outdoors, diverse and unique flora and fauna and most of all pleasant and romantic weather. Taking a short walk or hike in Chail is one of the best thing to do in Chail.


In Chail, there are several options  for lodging. Kandaghat has a number of hotels and resorts that offer low-cost lodging. Chail also has a few mid-range hotels and resorts that provide good  service.

Palace Hotel, a heritage hotel of the former royal palace of the  Maharaja of Patiala, is an excellent choice for a luxurious stay.

There aren't many eating options in  Chail, aside from a few local dhabas in Lower Market that serve basic Indian  fare. Almost all of Chail's hotels have in-house restaurants that serve Indian,  Chinese, and Continental cuisine.

In 1891, a disagreement between  Lord Kitchener, the then-Commander in Chief, and Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala resulted in the latter being barred from entering Shimla, the Raj's  summer capital. Enraged by this, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh decided to construct  a new summer capital that would rival Shimla.

On further investigation, he discovered that the small village of Chail, located just a few kilometers from  Shimla, was a veritable slice of heaven. The Maharaja chose this location as  his summer capital because of its lush verdant greenery, excellent climatic conditions, and spectacular views of the snow-capped Himalayas.

He built his palace here, and  because of its strategic location, Chail provided a vantage point from which  the Maharaj could literally look down on Shimla.