Chail sits at 2,250 metres in the Shivalik hills of Himachal Pradesh, just 45 kilometres from Shimla, and it has a quiet distinction that its more famous neighbour has long since surrendered. Built as a summer retreat by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala after he was famously banned from Shimla by the British Viceroy, Chail retains a sense of royal seclusion that feels entirely deliberate. Dense forests of pine and rhododendron, the world's highest cricket ground, and a sense of unhurried mountain calm are what most travellers come here for, and what they find. Chail tour packages from Aasaan Holidays are suited to those who want Himachal's hills without Shimla's crowds.
The Chail Palace, now a heritage hotel, is the centrepiece of the town. The Chail Wildlife Sanctuary surrounding it is home to barking deer, leopard, and rich birdlife that rewards early morning walks. The cricket ground, the Chail Military School grounds, and the Kali Temple on a nearby hilltop are all within easy reach. Chail works very well as a quiet 2 to 3-night escape from Delhi or Chandigarh, and as a less-visited alternative on a Shimla-Kufri-Chail circuit.









