10 Best Places to Visit in Chail

India has a lot of beautiful hill stations, but nothing beats a mesmerizing scenic place like Chail. Chail is near Shimla, roughly about 63 km away. It is known to be the summer capital of Patiala. The destination covers 72 acres of land overlooking the River Satluj. It is in the Himachal region the weather is pleasant, and chilly all through the year. The place has visitors thronging from all parts of India to the locals who take a time off their busy schedules. Chail has its charm, different from other hilly regions. It has elegant views from the countryside of both Shimla and Kasauli. The sightseeing consists of dense green pine and deodar trees providing a breath of fresh air and a sense of calmness.

Chail is also said to be a hiker’s paradise offering an unforgettable experience to the tourists. In the earlier days, the Maharaja of Patiala visits this place during his summer retreat. If you and your family need a peaceful place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city crowd, Chail is the best place you should be.

Here are the Top 10 Places to Visit when in Chail:

1. Himalayan Nature Park

If you are a nature lover, then this is a perfect place for you to visit here. This alluring place is more or less one hour’s drive away from Chail. People who have been here had rated this place to be a magnificent spot to identify many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.

The nature park itself is a vast area, and covering the whole place in one day is an impossible task. There is a 7-8 days trekking program arranged by the park suitable for people who love hiking. Musk deer and snow leopards are a delight to watch in the nature park.

• How to Reach Chail By Road: Take a taxi or bus from Shimla, which is about 63 km away.
• By Air: The nearest airport is in Shimla, about 63 km away.
• By Train: The nearest railway station is Kalka, about 86 km away.
• Chail Distance from Delhi: Approximately 335 km via NH 44.
• Chail Distance from Chandigarh: Approximately 112 km via NH5.
• Stay Duration: 1-2 days
• Things to Do in Chail: Enjoy nature walks, bird watching, and photography.
• Best Time to Visit Chail: March to June and September to November
• Nearby Attractions from Chail: Kufri, Shimla, Solan

2. Sadhupul Lake

If you are a newly married couple exploring the hill station and want a romantic place to have a nice meal with your partner, then Sadhupul Lake is the right place you must visit. The restaurant on the lake has tables and chairs made of wood. Visitors can have a meal sitting on the chairs and dangling their feet in the water. When the water flow in the river is high the tables and chairs are taken aback till becoming low tide.

The sound of water trickling down the lake and the cool breeze gives a peaceful vibe and refreshing ambiance. Evenings are a great time to spend here as a family.

• How to Reach Chail By Road: Take a taxi or bus from Chail, which is about 15 km away.
• By Air: The nearest airport is in Shimla, about 63 km away.
• By Train: The nearest railway station is Kandaghat, about 29 km away.
• Chail Distance from Delhi: Approximately 335 km via NH 44.
• Chail Distance from Chandigarh: Approximately 112 km via NH5.
• Stay Duration: 1 day
• Things to Do in Chail: Boating, picnicking, and enjoying local cuisine.
• Best Time to Visit Chail: March to June and September to November
• Nearby Attractions from Chail: Kufri, Shimla, Solan

3. Cricket Ground

As we all know, Chail is a summer retreat for the famous Bhupinder Singh Maharaja, he was an ardent cricket fan. This cricket ground is a historical place to visit because the Maharaja made sure he built a cricket ground on this serene hill station in the year 1893.

The ground is in the range of about 2,444 meters. Since the cricket ground comes under the cantonment area, the army uses it, and visitation is restricted. Tourists can walk around the area without stepping into the ground.

• How to Reach Chail By Road: Easily accessible by road from Chail town.
• By Air: The nearest airport is in Shimla, about 63 km away.
• By Train: The nearest railway station is Kandaghat, about 29 km away.
• Chail Distance from Delhi: Approximately 335 km via NH 44.
• Chail Distance from Chandigarh: Approximately 112 km via NH5.
• Stay Duration: 1-2 hours
• Things to Do in Chail: Watch cricket matches, enjoy the scenic views.
• Best Time to Visit Chail: March to June and September to November
• Nearby Attractions from Chail: Kufri, Shimla, Solan

4. Chail Wildlife Sanctuary

Chail Wildlife Sanctuary is also known to have been the hunting ground for the Maharaja and the royal people in Chail. In 1976, the government declared it a wildlife sanctuary, which is 63 km away from Shimla. This place is at a range of about 7152 feet. One can spot a wide variety of animals and birds.

The apt time to visit the Chail Wildlife Sanctuary is from March to October. During that time, you can find myriad species of animals such as Leopard, Sambhar, Kakkar, Red Jungle fowl, goral, European red deer, Himalayan black bear, Langur, flying squirrel, porcupine, Indian Muntjac, wild boar, and many more. The area is covered with lush green pine and deodar trees, offering a feast to the eyes.

• How to Reach Chail By Road: Take a taxi or bus from Chail town, which is about 10 km away.
• By Air: The nearest airport is in Shimla, about 63 km away.
• By Train: The nearest railway station is Kandaghat, about 29 km away.
• Chail Distance from Delhi: Approximately 335 km via NH 44.
• Chail Distance from Chandigarh: Approximately 112 km via NH5.
• Stay Duration: 1 day
• Things to Do in Chail: Wildlife spotting, nature walks.
• Best Time to Visit Chail: March to June and September to November
• Nearby Attractions from Chail: Kufri, Shimla, Solan

5. Palace Hotel

The Palace Hotel was also built and owned by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh in 1891. Now it is bought by the Heritage Hotels, and since then, it has risen to fame for its rich heritage, beauty, and elegance it holds. You will be overwhelmed by the greenery and natural beauty of this site. The beauty of the destination will transport you back to the olden but golden days.

You can take an evening stroll around the hotel to find eye-catching log huts and charming cottages amongst the thick forest. The restaurant cum bar serves both Indian and international cuisine. On the whole, the place is picturesque.

• How to Reach Chail By Road: Located in Chail town, easily accessible by road.
• By Air: The nearest airport is in Shimla, about 63 km away.
• By Train: The nearest railway station is Kandaghat, about 29 km away.
• Chail Distance from Delhi: Approximately 335 km via NH 44.
• Chail Distance from Chandigarh: Approximately 112 km via NH5.
• Stay Duration: 1-2 days
• Things to Do in Chail: Stay in a heritage hotel, explore the palace grounds.
• Best Time to Visit Chail: March to June and September to November
• Nearby Attractions from Chail: Kufri, Shimla, Solan

6. Junga

Junga is a beautiful place that is 18 kilometers away from Chail. It is a lovely place surrounded by green hills and snow-capped mountains. Moreover, it is the hometown of the erstwhile Junga Princely estate, an ancient palace built before 1800 AD. One can easily reach Junga via railways and bus traveling, as it is connected by roads and rail.

The climate is wonderful in summer with a moderate temperature during the year. The maximum temperature during summer is 25 degrees Celsius. Because of the Himalayan chilly winds that blow across the hills, winters are a bit cold and chilly.

• How to Reach Chail By Road: Take a taxi or bus from Chail, which is about 24 km away.
• By Air: The nearest airport is in Shimla, about 44 km away.
• By Train: The nearest railway station is Kandaghat, about 31 km away.
• Chail Distance from Delhi: Approximately 335 km via NH 44.
• Chail Distance from Chandigarh: Approximately 63 km via NH5.
• Stay Duration: 1 day
• Things to Do in Chail: Visit the local market, explore the town.
• Best Time to Visit Chail: March to June and September to November
• Nearby Attractions from Chail: Kufri, Shimla, Solan

7. Chail Military School

Chail Military School is one of the best places to visit because of its historical importance. It is one of the oldest military schools in India, established as a residential school after the First World War in 1922. King George the Fifth donated to this school at that time.

The school started to function at Jalandhar Cantonment in 1925. The school is in the best destination surrounded by pine and deodar trees. It is in the heart of the Chail Sanctuary, and the nearest cricket Ground is close by, and cadets use it for training.

• How to Reach Chail By Road: Located in Chail town, easily accessible by road.
• By Air: The nearest airport is in Shimla, about 63 km away.
• By Train: The nearest railway station is Kandaghat, about 29 km away.
• Chail Distance from Delhi: Approximately 335 km via NH 44.
• Chail Distance from Chandigarh: Approximately 112 km via NH5.
• Stay Duration: 1-2 hours
• Things to Do in Chail: Visit the school campus, learn about its history.
• Best Time to Visit Chail: March to June and September to November
• Nearby Attractions from Chail: Kufri, Shimla, Solan

8. Chail Gurudwara

Chail Gurudwara is one of the main attractions of Chail. It has ancient buildings. Gurudwara is the first building constructed by the Maharaja of Patiala after his palace was built. It is a Sikh temple, built in an Indo-western structure in 1902 with a high wooded roof reaching up to 22 feet as its highlighting feature.

One can easily reach Gurudwara via bus, the nearest bust stand is in Chail with a distance of approximately 200 meters. It is easily accessible from the Chail post office by a steep road with a gradient of 35 degrees.

• How to Reach Chail By Road: Located in Chail town, easily accessible by road.
• By Air: The nearest airport is in Shimla, about 63 km away.
• By Train: The nearest railway station is Kandaghat, about 29 km away.
• Chail Distance from Delhi: Approximately 335 km via NH 44.
• Chail Distance from Chandigarh: Approximately 112 km via NH5.
• Stay Duration: 1-2 hours
• Things to Do in Chail: Visit the Gurudwara, offer prayers.
• Best Time to Visit Chail: March to June and September to November
• Nearby Attractions from Chail: Kufri, Shimla, Solan

9. Himalayan Nature Park, Kufri

Himalayan Nature Park is one of the most visited and most popular parks for visitors in Chail. It is a favorite spot for animal lovers. This Nature Park is home to many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.

Some of the animals found in this park are musk deer and snow leopards. You can visit this site within an hour of driving from Chail. It is a big park covering a massive area with seven to eight hours of trekking from the Sai Rops tourist center.

• How to Reach Chail By Road: Chail is well-connected by road. One can reach Chail from Shimla (45 km), Kandaghat (29 km), and Chandigarh (106 km) via NH5.
• By Air: The nearest airport is Jubbarhatti Airport in Shimla, about 63 km away from Chail.
• By Train: The nearest railway station is Kalka Railway Station, about 86 km away from Chail.
• Chail Distance from Delhi: Approximately 331 km.
• Chail Distance from Chandigarh: Approximately 106 km.
• Stay Duration: 1-2 days.
• Things to Do in Chail: Explore the park, enjoy nature walks, and spot wildlife.
• Best Time to Visit Chail: Anytime during the year.
• Nearby Attractions from Chail: Shimla and Chail Wildlife Sanctuary.

10. Sidh Baba ka Mandir

Sidh Baba kaMandir is also built by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh. It is constructed following a dream he had. The saint in his dream conveyed to him that this place was a mandir of meditation. The locals in the area have a lot of religious beliefs in this place. Moreover, many tourists visit here to explore the uniqueness of this site.

• How to Reach Chail By Road: Chail is well-connected by road. One can reach Chail from Shimla (45 km), Kandaghat (29 km), and Chandigarh (106 km) via NH5.
• By Air: The nearest airport is Jubbarhatti Airport in Shimla, about 63 km away from Chail.
• By Train: The nearest railway station is Kalka Railway Station, about 86 km away from Chail.
• Chail Distance from Delhi: Approximately 331 km.
• Chail Distance from Chandigarh: Approximately 106 km.
• Stay Duration: 1-2 days.
• Things to Do in Chail: Visit the temple and enjoy the spiritual atmosphere.
• Best Time to Visit Chail: Anytime during the year.
• Nearby Attractions from Chail: Kufri and Shimla.

How to reach Chail?

Chail is well-linked by roads from Shimla, Delhi, and Chandigarh. To get to Chail, it is a 2-hour drive from Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. From Shimla, the distance is 45 kilometers. Regular buses go to and fro between Chail and major cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, and Shimla.

The nearest airport from Chail is Chandigarh, which is 120 kilometers away. 

The best way to reach Chail by railway is by Kalka-Shimla railways, the narrow gauge line which gives a beautiful view throughout the journey. There is also a toy train that runs on this World Heritage Site. Kandaghat is the nearest railway station to Chail.

Read Also: Best Trekking Spots in India

When is the best time to visit Chail? 

The best time to visit Chail is during summer that is from April to June. You can travel to Chail at any time of the year. Summers in Chail have pleasant weather. It is a great place for a getaway retreat from the busy city life and a wonderful place to beat the heat. If you are a person who enjoys the cold weather and snowfall you can drop by Chail during the winters of December to mid-March.

So what are you waiting for? Plan your next getaway to this amazing destination, Chail, and have the best time of your life with your loved ones.

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