Chail
Short Descr
Chail hill station of Himachal Pradesh acts as a honeymooners paradise. Chail lies at a height of 2,250 metres above the sea level.Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala, when was facing an exiled from Shimla, he decided to create his own summer capital, which was Chail. Nature is at her exuberant best and words like pollution and deforestation is no where in mind of the citizens of Chail.The unmatched natural greenary with soundless calm beauty adds to the immortal memories of the tourists.
Long Descr
This small town, the summer residence of the Patiala state rulers has a story to tell. In 1891, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala incurred the wrath of Lord Kitchener, the then Commander-in-Chief. As a result, he was banned entry into the summer capital of the Raj, Shimla. This enraged the Maharaja and he vowed to build a new and better summer capital for himself. He looked around and after quite some time realized it had all the while been in his possession. Chail, a little village close to Shimla, was a 'slice of heaven' surrounded by lush forests with a commanding view of the snow-capped Himalayas. He rebuilt the city according to his requirements and built himself a wonderful palace.
In 1972, it was taken over by the Himachal Pradesh Development Corporation and has since been a luxury resort combining nostalgia with modern-day conveniences. It is an experience well worth it, particularly on one's honeymoon.
A steep road up from the bazaar leads one to the small gurudwara and to the military school, surrounded by Himalayan oaks.The old Palace, now a hotel, and the rich deodar forests are added attractions.
The Chail Wild life Sanctuary is another showpiece in the itinerary of wares which Chail, a royal Hill Station in India has to offer to its connoisseurs. The animal Life is thick with Ghoral, Kakkar, Sambhar and Cheer Pheasants, to name a few animals.
History
Chail emanated out of a controversy. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, who is closer to our memories for the game, which we all hold dear to our Hearts, Cricket, built Chail, a smallish and sleepy village in Himachal Pradesh into a bustling Town. Now, Chail could measure up to a much larger Shimla, the Summer Capital of the British Empire, and another Hill Station in India.Tours to Chail
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh was deprived of the right of entry into the more royal and grandiose Shimla as he had a spat with Lord Kitchener .So, in order to give Shimla a run for its money he converted Chail into his own personalized capital, a place which provides the tourist with a birds eye view of Sutlej River, easing its way between Kasuali and Shimla, a more popular Hill Station in India.
Origin
According to the folk tales of the region, maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala incurred the wrath of Lord Kitchener, the Commander-in-Chief in the year 1891 resulting in the ban on the entry of the king to Shimla, the summer capital of the British. Angered by this, Maharaja planned to develop a new and much better summer retreat for himself. He found Chail, a small village near Shimla, the perfect place to develop as the summer capital. The village was developed according to the needs and requirements of the maharaja.
Adventure
Take a walk and you'll see what Chail is all about. There is everything that is dear to a sportsman's heart. If one is interested in angling, the Gaura River is rich with mahseer fish. If one is an ardent trekker, there are a number of high-attitude trekking routes that will put your adrenalin to test. These treks include the Kandaghat to Chail, Chail to Rajgarh and Chur Chandni, and the Chail to Shimla via Junga. And if nothing else, the long pine scented walk with the Utopic beauty of the place is there, something you always crave for in a city dwelling.
Indian Travel Destinations, out travel guide provides ample of opportunity to travel and explore this qualified it and one of the most picturesque and enthralling Hill Stations in India. The Palace in Chail which is one of the most ebullient of all Hill Stations in India, is a treat to visit .The Palace regales the historically inclined tourist to its royal rooms and suits, its log huts and Bamboo cottages. The tourist has a vast expanse of meadows and grassy knolls to look forward to in this enchanting Hill Station in India, Himachal Pradesh.
Elevation
Chail - 2,250 metres
Location Details
Chail is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is a small hamlet with natural setting free from fast life, pollution and concrete jungles. The clouds, the hills, and the sprawling greens-all these signify Chail, a honeymooners' paradise. It turns you poetic, transforms your honeymoon into dream and a piece of land on earth into paradise.
Located in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, the small hamlet called Chail is a place where time stands still. Nature is at her exuberant best and words like pollution and deforestation have never entered the dictionary of a person living in Chail.
How to Reach There and Distances
By Air
There is always the option of flying to Shimla. This flight operates only when the weather is favorable, but that will be like fast forwarding a wonderful beginning and landing yourself in the middle of a story.
By Rail
The ideal way of covering the Kalka-Shimla track is by the toy train. It takes five hours from Kalka to get to Kandaghat. The toy train with a maximum of half a dozen bogies chugs through the most thickly forested tracks, breathtaking bends, deep ravines and never-ending tunnels.
By Road
Chail is about 86-km from Kalka via Kandaghat. The approach of Chail is along the Kalka-Shimla route. One has to take a detour from Kandaghat. From Kandaghat, it is an hour and a half journey by road to Chail.
Accommodation And Food
Chail is a very small town on the hills with barely five to six hotels. Chail's Mall is worth walking down on. It has precisely twelve shops and half a dozen hotels on one single stretch and that is the end of it. Commercialization seems to be still knocking at Chail.
There are, however, various categories of accommodation to suit every kind of pocket ranging from Rs 600 to Rs 6,000 per day during the tourist season (which is primarily the summer months). Each type of accommodation has a specific name. There are Maharaja suites, Maharani suites, Rajgarh cottages, Woodrose cottages, Monal cottages, Himneel cottages and log huts.
The log huts can be a fascinating experience for those who love to live amidst nature. They are situated about a kilometer away from the main building and overlook a valley. From within these huts one can watch the clouds settle down on the valley, the lights shimmering at night and the cold seeping right into your bones. One can also experience total silence and quietude.
The Chail Palace Hotel is spread over 75 acres of land. It appears endless with vast stretches of land neatly manicured along cobbled pathways. The whole garden is yours and if you go when there are not too many tourists, it is more therapeutic than any medicine on earth.
The gourmet need not fear. Amidst nature, the hotel authorities offer a wide variety of food and a satisfied burp is not out of place. A curio shop panders to your other desires. For still other desires, Chail offers its best-from dewdrop at dawn break to thick lush deodar forests and many a dreams woven within.
Best Season to Visit/Weather
Chail and its surrounding areas is a delight for tourists in every season. It is charming in summer, fascinating in autumn when the fields and the forests are covered with a cloak of russet and gold and, of course, in winter it is nothing less than paradise. Everything about this place is as perfect as perfection can possibly be. The air here is crisp, invigorating and there is some kind of warmth in the snow.
To visit Nearby Places
Chail Maharaja Bhupinder Singh developed a cricket field in Chail. It the highest cricket ground in the world and is very well-maintained. The pitch provides a picturesque view of the neighboring areas. Chail itself provides a splendid view of the entire valley and the river Sutlej twisting and turning between the mountains. The hill station is a perfect place for nature lovers and those who want to escape for maddening of the city life. One can have the view of the snow, which remains there till the beginning of the spring. The forests of pines, deodars and rhododendrons are fun to explore as they emit sweet smell of their own.
While at Chail, one must see the Palace of the Maharaja built on three hills. The Palace is on the Rajgarh Hill. A British resident once habited the Residency Snow View. it is on the Pandean Hill from where you can have a spectacular view of the snow. Sabba Tibba is on the third hill. It is the township of Chail. The palace was the summer palce of the Maharaja and therefore equipped with all the luxuries required by the king while relaxing. There are hunting and fishing lodges, which are worth visiting.
The forest area near Chail was made into the Wildlife Sanctuary on 21st March 1976. It is near the town and is worth a visit. It covers an area of 10,854.36 hectares.
With the majestic snow-capped Shivalik peaks in the background and the beautiful orchards and sylvan pine valleys around reminding one of the many wonders of nature, Chail is sure to cast a spell.
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh developed the highest cricket field in the world in Chail. Well-kept and scrupulously maintained, more than the excitement of the game, the pitch offers a picturesque view of the surroundings, with tall forest trees all around it. Chail has everything that Shimla doesn't. The proud ruler made sure that Chail matched Shimla in every respect.
Located on a spur, on a clear day, Chail offers a magnificent and splendid view of the valley. It is an out-of-this-world experience to look down and see the River Sutlej winding its way between the mountains, overlooking at the same time both Kasauli and Shimla (45 km) further via Kufri. It is an even more splendid view in the night, with the distant lights of the surroundings creating its own magic pattern on the horizon.
One has to see to believe what poets and writers have been describing the Himalayas as since time immemorial. One is awestruck to see the massive Himalayan ranges, their snow-capped peaks spectacularly gleaming in the sun. It is definitely an out-of-this-world sight and one can spend hours and hours together, admiring the magic it creates in the mind. The snow remains there until the beginning of the spring when the flowers come out in full bloom. This is the time when the meadows are filled with hyacinth and celandine, while the carmine and rhododendron trees are surrounded by solemn forests of deodar and towering pine trees.
A must see in this place is the palace of the maharaja. Built on three hills, the palace is on Rajgarh Hill, while the Residency Snow View, which was occupied once upon a time by the British Resident, is on Pandhewa Hill. On the third hill, Sabba Tibba, is the township of Chail. The maharaja had planned this palace as a retreat, replete with all necessary things he'd need for relaxation, and therefore, he built hunting and fishing lodges, which are open to the public.