Chail, Himachal Pradesh: Places to Visit, Distance, Snow and Best Time

Short answer: Chail is a quiet hill station in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, at about 2,250 m, roughly 45 km from Shimla (1.5–2 hours) and 120 km from Chandigarh airport. Go for the old Patiala summer palace, the cricket ground at about 2,444 m, Kali ka Tibba temple and the Chail Wildlife Sanctuary. Visit March–June or September–November; January brings the best chance of snow.

What is Chail known for?

Chail was the summer capital of the princely state of Patiala. The story the state tourism corporation tells is that the Maharaja was banished from Shimla, then the British summer capital, after a scandal, and answered by building his own retreat on the next ridge. Whatever the truth of the legend, the palace is real: HPTDC dates it to 1891, Wikipedia to 1891–92 under Maharaja Rajinder Singh, and it stands in about 75 acres of deodar and pine on Rajgarh hill.

The Himachal Pradesh government took over the palace in 1972 and made it a hotel, which it still is. Around it are the things Chail is famous for: a cricket and polo ground carved out of a hilltop, one of India’s oldest military schools (the Chail Military School, founded in 1925 in Jalandhar and moved here in 1960), and a 1976 wildlife sanctuary. There is no Mall Road and very little traffic, which is why people who already know Shimla come here.

Where is Chail and how far is it from Shimla, Chandigarh and Delhi?

Chail sits between two roads to Shimla, and which one you take matters, especially in winter.

Shimla’s Jubbarhatti airport is closer but has very few flights, so most travellers fly into Chandigarh. Regular buses run between Chail and Shimla, Chandigarh and Delhi, but a car is far easier because the sights are spread along ridge roads. Our Chandigarh to Shimla taxi can add Chail on the way, and the Shimla taxi service covers Chail as a day trip.

What are the best places to visit in Chail?

Chail Palace

The red-roofed palace on Rajgarh hill is the reason most people come. You can stay, eat at the restaurant or simply walk the lawns and the forest paths around it. It is a working hotel, so treat it as one: book if you want a room, and be considerate of guests.

Chail Cricket Ground

Built by the Patiala maharajas in the 1890s and usually described as the world’s highest cricket ground at about 2,444 m, it is also used as a polo ground. It belongs to the Chail Military School, so access depends on the school; often you can only see it from the edge. Note the altitude figures differ between sources (HPTDC gives 2,250 m, the general height of Chail).

Kali ka Tibba

A Kali temple on a hilltop about 6 km from the bazaar, with the widest views in Chail: on clear winter days the Shivalik ridges roll out below and snow peaks show to the north. Go early morning or for sunset.

Sidh Baba ka Mandir and the gurudwara

The Sidh Baba temple near the bazaar was built by the Patiala maharaja, and the gurudwara in Chail dates from 1907. Both are short walks and make a calm evening stop.

Chail Wildlife Sanctuary

Notified on 21 March 1976 and covering roughly 108 sq km (10,854 ha in the state notification; Wikipedia’s infobox gives a different figure), the sanctuary holds goral, sambar, barking deer, leopard and Himalayan black bear. It is best known for the cheer pheasant, a threatened bird bred in captivity at the Forest Department centre here since 1988: by early 2020 the centre had bred more than 70 birds and released some into the wild near Shimla (IUCN, 2 February 2020). Cheer pheasants are most often seen around Blossom and Jhaja, at dawn or dusk.

Sadhupul

About 12 km down towards Kandaghat, a stream crossing with riverside cafes and shallow water to sit in. The old bridge collapsed in 2014 and a new one opened in January 2018. It is a summer stop; in winter it is mostly quiet.

Junga

The old seat of the Keonthal rulers, on the Chail–Shimla ridge, now better known for tandem flights; see paragliding in Shimla (Junga) for season and timing.

Does it snow in Chail, and when?

Yes. Chail is a few hundred metres higher than Kasauli (about 1,800 m), so it often gets snow when the lower Solan towns do not. On 3 February 2022 about 4.5 inches of snow fell in Chail and the surrounding area, and it was the only town in Solan district to get snow that day; Barog, Solan, Dagshai and Kasauli stayed dry (The Tribune, 4 February 2022). A month earlier, on 9 January 2022, snow overnight cut power but the PWD kept the roads open (The Tribune, 10 January 2022).

Snow usually comes with a western disturbance between the last week of December and February, and January is the most likely month. After heavy snow the Kufri–Chail road is often shut first; the Kandaghat side is lower and reopens sooner. If snow is the goal, keep dates flexible by a day or two, and see our Kasauli snowfall guide and Shimla in January for the nearby options.

What is the weather in Chail month by month?

Chail is at Shimla’s height, so expect Shimla-like weather. The figures below are approximate day and night temperatures from a long-running Himachal travel log (Vargis Khan) and rounded; use them to pack, not as a forecast.

How many days do you need, and what is a good plan?

One night is enough for the palace, the cricket ground and Kali ka Tibba. Two nights let you slow down: the sanctuary in the morning, Sadhupul or Junga in the afternoon. A simple shape that works from Chandigarh:

• Day 1: Chandigarh → Kandaghat → Chail (3–3.5 h). Palace lawns, bazaar, Sidh Baba temple.
• Day 2: Sunrise at Kali ka Tibba, cricket ground, sanctuary walk; Sadhupul in the afternoon.
• Day 3: Chail → Kufri → Shimla (1.5–2 h, daytime only), or continue to Narkanda.

Most of our guests fit Chail into a wider trip. The Chandigarh Shimla 3N/4D tour can swap a Shimla night for Chail, and the Shimla Manali tour from Delhi (5N/6D, from ₹14,999 per person as listed on 4 November 2026) or the Shimla Manali tour from Chandigarh can take a Chail detour on the way up. Our things to do in Shimla guide covers the rest of the region.

Where should you stay in Chail?

Choices are fewer than in Shimla, which keeps Chail quiet. The main options are the HPTDC Chail Palace (heritage rooms and cottages), a handful of resorts and forest lodges on the Kufri and Kandaghat roads, and simple guesthouses near the bazaar. December–January and May–June weekends fill early. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a stay that matches it rather than quote a rate that changes weekly.

What this means for your trip

• Pick Chail for calm, forest and heritage, not for shopping or nightlife.
• Use the Kandaghat road in winter and after dark; use the Kufri road for daytime views.
• For snow, aim for January with flexible dates; expect a chance, not a certainty.
• Pair it with Shimla, Kufri, Kasauli or Narkanda for a 4–6 day trip.

Frequently asked questions about Chail

Where is Chail in Himachal Pradesh?

Chail is a small hill station in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, at about 2,250 m. It sits on a forested ridge roughly 44–49 km from Shimla (via Kufri or via Kandaghat), 86 km from Kalka and about 120 km from Chandigarh airport. It was the summer capital of the princely state of Patiala.

Is Chail worth visiting?

Yes, if you want Shimla’s pine-and-deodar hills without Shimla’s crowds. Chail has the old Patiala palace (now a state-run heritage hotel), a cricket ground often called the world’s highest, a wildlife sanctuary and quiet forest walks. It suits a 1–2 night stay; it has little nightlife or shopping, which is the point.

Does it snow in Chail?

Yes, in most winters, usually between late December and February. Chail is higher than Kasauli and Solan, so it often gets snow when they do not: on 3 February 2022 it was the only Solan district town with snow, about 4.5 inches (The Tribune). Snow is never guaranteed on a fixed date; watch the IMD forecast.

What is the best time to visit Chail?

March to June for clear, pleasant days (about 13–26°C) and September–November for crisp skies after the monsoon. Choose January for a chance of snow, accepting cold nights near freezing and occasional road closures. July–August brings heavy rain and landslide risk on hill roads.

How far is Chail from Shimla and how long does it take?

About 44–49 km. The Kufri road is the shorter, scenic route (about 1.5–2 hours) but is narrow and single-lane in places and best avoided after dark or after snow. The Kandaghat route via NH-5 is slightly longer but easier and usually the one that stays open in winter.

How many days are enough for Chail?

One night lets you see the palace, cricket ground and Kali ka Tibba at an easy pace. Two nights add the sanctuary, Sadhupul and Junga. Most travellers combine 1–2 nights in Chail with Shimla, Kufri, Narkanda or Kasauli on a 4–6 day Himachal trip.

Can I stay at Chail Palace?

Yes. The palace on Rajgarh hill was acquired by the Himachal Pradesh government in 1972 and is run as a heritage hotel by HPTDC, on grounds of about 75 acres. Book well ahead for December–January and May–June weekends. We can add it, or another Chail stay, to a package.