7 Things to Do in Chail, the Hill Town a Maharaja Built to Outrank Shimla

Chail owes its existence to a falling-out. Local tradition holds that Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, barred from Shimla by the British after a dispute during the Raj, responded by building his own hill retreat on a neighbouring ridge in the early twentieth century, one deliberately positioned higher than the colonial capital he had been shut out of. Whatever the exact truth of that story, the town he left behind, roughly halfway between Shimla and Kufri in Himachal Pradesh, is now a quieter, less commercial alternative to both.

1. Chail Palace

The Maharaja's former summer residence, now run as a heritage hotel, still anchors the town, its deodar-shaded grounds and colonial-era architecture open to non-guests for a walk-through even if not staying the night.

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2. The world's highest cricket ground

The Chail Cricket Ground, built by the Maharaja at around 2,444 metres, is widely described locally as the highest in the world, sitting on a levelled plateau within the palace grounds and now used by a local school as its playing field.

3. Kali ka Tibba

A short, steep climb through pine forest leads to Kali ka Tibba, a small temple to the goddess Kali on Chail's highest point, with a viewing tower giving a wide sweep over the Sutlej valley and, on a clear day, distant snow peaks.

4. Chail Wildlife Sanctuary

Established around the old royal hunting grounds, the sanctuary is home to Himalayan goral, sambar and pheasant species including the state bird, the western tragopan, though sightings are far from guaranteed on a casual walk.

5. Sadhupul

A short drive downhill from the town, Sadhupul is a riverside picnic spot on the Ashwani Khad, a popular stop for a break and a simple meal on the road between Chail and Kandaghat.

6. The gurdwara and the old palace gate

A small gurdwara near the palace complex and the original stone gateway leading into the estate are worth the short detour for anyone interested in the layout of the Maharaja's original hill retreat.

7. A side trip to Kufri

Kufri, best known for its snow activities in winter and the Himalayan Nature Park in summer, sits close enough to Chail for an easy half-day add-on for travellers basing themselves in the quieter town instead of Shimla.

Traveller tips

• Shimla's airport and rail station are the nearest transport hubs, roughly an hour and a half by road from Chail.
• The cricket ground is only open to visitors when the school is not using it; check locally before planning around it.
• Winters bring occasional snow and closed mountain roads; carry warm layers if visiting between December and February.
• Chail makes a workable day trip from Shimla, but an overnight stay gives more time for the walks to Kali ka Tibba and the sanctuary.