Chail Travel Guide: 9 Amazing Places to Visit in Chail (2024)

Chail Travel Guide

Chail is a famous hill station in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. It is located around 44 kilometers from Shimla and 45 kilometers from Solan. It is known for its salubrious beauty and virgin forests. This hill station attracts thousands of national and international tourists throughout the year and has many spectacular places for the tourists to visit and enjoy their vacation at this beautiful hill station. There is everything that you want at a place when you go for a vacation starting from calm and serene lakes, palaces that are architectural marvels, ancient temples, awe-inspiring wildlife parks, and adventurous campsites. You will find places where you can enjoy the city rush of a hill town, serenity and, solitude at a quiet place. You will find many places where you can enjoy spirituality in the hills at the famous meditation centers in the town or the yoga centers. There are many hikes you can enjoy in and around the town of you an adventure seeker. This city would not disappoint any tourist no matter what your mind frame is while visiting the place and coming for vacation in Chail.

Chail is around 2 hours’ drive away from the Shimla and is a quiet hill-station and this town was a former summer retreat for the Maharaja of Patiala. Chail also has one of the highest cricket ground in the world where you can enjoy walking. The city also has a famous Lake restaurant where you can enjoy fine dining with a view of the hills around you.

In addition to the beauty of the place which makes Chail one of the most visited hill stations around the year, this place has religious and spiritual importance as there are many temples of religious importance to both locals and tourists. There are several monasteries, temples, lakes, stunning waterfalls, museums, forts and above all the mountains for a peaceful break from city life. The best time to travel to Chail is during the months of summer when the weather is pleasant although the place has a decent number of tourists round the year trying to escape the city life for as long as they can stay away from the busy lives. There are many beautiful places for sightseeing in Chail which also have historical importance.

9 Amazing Places to Visit in Chail

There are a lot of places to visit and experiences you can have at the popular places to visit in Chai. This is a list of some amazing places for you to choose from while planning your vacation to this beautiful town in Himachal Pradesh.

1. Chail Wildlife Sanctuary

Chal wildlife sanctuary is the most famous place to visit in the city. It attracts thousands of tourists round the year and is home to sambar, goral, and cheer pheasants at Blossom and Jhaja. Other animals like barking deer and Kalenjin are also seen in the wildlife sanctuary during dusk and dawn. The best time to visit is from March to October. It covers 110 km square. Chail Wildlife Sanctuary was identified as a protected area under government consideration early in 1976. The cheer pheasant breeding and rehabilitation program was also launched at the Chail wildlife sanctuary in 1988. The sanctuary has a dense cover of oak, pine, and beautiful grasslands

Chail wildlife sanctuary is the house to mammals mainly. Among large animals, you will see rhesus macaque, leopards, Indian muntjac and, crested porcupine. Some of the other species found in the area include Himalayan black bear, wild boar, and common langur. If you are lucky, you will also be able to spot sambar and black-nape hare. Maharaja of Patiala also introduces European red deer a century ago, but they are not seen anymore. According to a survey conducted the European red deer was last seen in 1988 in the sanctuary. You will find another myriad species of birds and animals at the sanctuary.

Address: Sadhupul, Himachal Pradesh

Timings: 7 AM to 6 PM

Entry Fees: INR 800/- Per Person

2. Palace Hotel

This heritage property was built and previously owned by Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala in 1891 which was later purchased by heritage hotels. The Heritage hotels named it, The Palace Hotel. This place in Chail claims to be one of the finest Heritage Hotels and is also known as Chail Palace. Many tourists come here throughout the year to look at this architectural beauty in the middle of the hills. The palace is situated in approximately 75 acres and has a truly royal feel with the spectacular views of the hills. The palace also has a wide variety of cottages, suites and rooms to choose from with different tariffs that can accommodate every visitor who wishes to live in a heritage place and enjoy this majestic hill station.

You can enjoy the elegance of the place and feel like a royal while staying here. YOU will have a chance to indulge in the heritage charm at this stunning palace set amidst abundant greenery and panoramic views of beautiful landscapes surrounding it along with a serene and soothing atmosphere. A stay at The Palace Hotel in Chail will take you back in time. Each guest room has antique furniture, period interior, wall-to-wall carpeting, and a charming fireplace to keep you warm. The places and rooms with fireplaces anyway give a royal and old-world charm to them. The palace has an amazing open-air café which is called Cafe Palace, Kings Dining multi-cuisine restaurant with ornate décor which is stunning, an all-purpose gift shop you can buy antiques and souvenirs from, a beautiful and well maintained sprawling lawn tennis court, a well-equipped billiards room, a badminton court, and a park for children to play. Rest assured this place is a dream come true to stay if you want to live in ancient luxury.

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Address: Chail Palace, Palace Rd, Chail, Himachal Pradesh 173217

Timings: 9 AM to 10 PM

Entry Fees: Approx. INR 100/- Per Person

3. Sadhupul Lake

If you are looking to spend your time in a quiet and quaint place, away from the crowd and hustle-bustle of the city, Sadhupul lake is your place to be. Sadhupul is a little village based around the hill river Ashwin, between Chail and Solan. It is located around 4 km from Chail. This beautiful lake is the perfect destination to spend your evening with your friends and family. A small bridge on top of the river is quite famous among tourists and locals both and is also a popular picnic spot. You will also find many couples roaming around the lake in the evening. It is a perfect romantic sport for people looking for the quiet. The cool breeze and sound of water in the lake makes the environment even more peaceful and serene. Sadhupul Lake is famous for the beautiful and unique restaurant built on the lake where wooden tables and chairs are spaced across the water.

You can sit amidst the water and put your legs in the water when the water level is low and enjoy a great meal. The chairs and tables are however pulled back when the flow of the river is high. The best time to visit Sadhupul Lake is in the monsoon seasons of July to August. If you do not mind eating street food, you can also enjoy eating local savories from the vendors around the lake. Rest assured the place would not disappoint you in any way. Make sure you visit Sadhupul lake during your next visit to Chail.

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Address: Aasan River, Near Kandaghat-Chail-Kufri Road, Sadhupul, Himachal Pradesh 173215, India

Timings: throughout the year

4. Kali Temple, Chail

This temple holds a special place in the heart of both locals and tourists. This temple is visited by many people throughout the year. It is located around 2 km from the main city and surrounded by hills and forests makes it even more appealing. This temple is situated on the hilltop and the view from here is awe-inspiring. People come and spend hours here just admiring the view from this place. Even if you are not very religious, you must visit this place to look at the beautiful hills and forests around and praise the marvel and grandiosity of nature. You can also enjoy activities like horse riding and angling here around the temple as many vendors are offering it in the nearby area. It is one of the most popular places to visit in Chail. Make sure you come here during your next visit to Chail.

Timings: 7 AM to 7 PM

5. Siddh Baba ka Mandir

Another place of religious importance in Chail is Siddh baba ka mandir. This is an ancient temple and is particularly famous among the locals in the area. The temple is dedicated to Saint Siddh Baba. This temple is located around 1 km from the main town. The legend says, Siddh Baba appeared in the dream of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala and told him that this spot is where he meditated. It is the dream that led the king to order the construction of the temple. However, this temple is famous among the locals too since then and many people come here to pray every day. The rules and regulations of the temple are written outside the temple and must be followed at any cost. Like the visitors are asked to remove their shoes before entering the place. The place is located in a quaint area and is very serene and peaceful. It is a good spot for you to visit even if you are not particularly religious. You can come here to enjoy the beauty of nature and stay in the lap of insure and praise the beauty of the place and find calm within.

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Address: Kandaghat-Chail-Kufri Rd, Chail, Himachal Pradesh 173217

Timings: 7 AM to 7 PM

6. Gurudwara Sahib

The third place of cultural importance in the town is the famous Gurudwara Sahib. It is equally visited by both locals and tourists coming from faraway lands. This too was constructed by the Maharaja of Patiala. The most interesting thing about the Gurudwara which makes it worth visiting is that the façade of the gurdwara looks like a church. It was built in 1907 and faced deterioration for unknown reasons. Then an NGO named Chail Heritage Foundation took the initiative to restore it. This place looks beautiful as ever now and is quite an attraction for the Sikh followers and tourists coming to Chail. Chail Gurudwara is quite an attraction at the time of Sikh festivals like Gurupurab and Baisakhi. The Gurudwara also offers free accommodation to visitors in its dormitory and guest rooms. Many backpackers and adventure seekers stay here for a night to take a break and enjoy the beauty of nature in Chail and go on towards their destinations.

Address: Kandaghat-Chail-Kufri Rd, Chail, Himachal Pradesh 173217

Timings: throughout the year

7. Himalayan Nature Park

Himalayan nature park though located in Kufri, is a tourist attraction for people who are visiting Chail. It is located around 15 km from the main town of Chail and is a very famous tourist attraction around Chail. You will find many people booking conveyance to go to see this park during the day and come back in the evening while enjoying a vacation at Chail. The Himalayan Nature Park is home to various endangered and rare species of both flora and fauna. Some of the species found here are snow leopards and musk deer. You can know more about this park in the article on Shimla and Kufri Travel guide. This is a very huge national park and has many hiking trails too which will be of interest to the adventure seekers. You must visit this park on your cist to Chail or Shima and Kufri.

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Address: Kandaghat-Chail-Kufri Road, Kufri, Himachal Pradesh 171012

Timings: 9 AM – 6:30 PM

8. Gaura and Jhajja

This place is a blessing for the adventure seekers in Chail. The rocky trails of Gaur and Jhajja are famous among the travelers and especially among the adventure seekers. You can walk under the shadows of tall pine trees while enjoying the cool and calm air of mountains. There are some great viewpoints where you can sit and enjoy the raw beauty of nature. You can start the hike from Chail and go all the way to Gaura and Jhajja. You do not need a professional guide or a group to go along with you on this hike. It is a nice hike of low difficulty you will enjoy if you like walking too.

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Address: Hiking trail around Chail

Timings: Throughout the year

9. School Playground

The name sounds less appealing when you read it. How can a school playground be a tourist spot one might ask? But once you go there and look at the beauty of this place. You will get the surprise of your life. The view of the hills, majestic snowcapped mountains is simply awe-inspiring. Maharaja of Patiala commissioned this cricket ground that is located at an altitude of 7500 ft and is the highest cricket ground in the world and that is something. This ground is now maintained by Army officials as it is a part of the cantonment area now. Tourists can enjoy a walk around and click pictures from outside, but they are not permitted to enter the ground. However, you can always enjoy the view and lush greenery from around the place.

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Address: Chail, Himachal Pradesh 173217

Timings: Can only see from outside, entry not allowed for tourists

How to Reach Chail?

There are many ways and modes of transport you can choose from to reach Chail. You can opt for the train, bus, or plane.

Train: the most scenic and best option to reach Chail is by Train. The nearest major railway station is Kalka which is located at a distance of 81 km. You can take a taxi or board a bus to travel from Kalka to Chail.

Road: Himachal Pradesh tourism buses work well here as the drivers are accustomed to driving on the hilly terrain. These buses are the fastest means to travel in the hill stations. However, both Government and privately-run buses frequently ply between Chail and other neighboring towns and cities. You will easily get busses from the nearest major cities such as – Delhi, Shimla, Chandigarh, Kalka, and Kandaghat.

Air: The closest airport from Chail is located in Chandigarh, which is 117 km away. You can opt to go on a bus or hire a taxi to reach Chail.