Chail: A small and beautiful hamlet

Submitted by aurora on

Chail is a pristine hill station situated within the lofty Himalayas. It used to be the capital of the erstwhile state of Patiala. Located in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, the small hamlet 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. The picture perfect hill resort is situated at an altitude of 2,250 m above sea level and is hardly 43 km from Shimla. The lush greenery surrounding Chail makes it seem like a paradise, just waiting to be explored. Not only is the beauty of the place unsurpassed, it also boasts of being home to the highest cricket pitch in the whole world.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.

Originally, it was a part of Keonthal State. Then it came under the sway of the Gorkha warrior Amar Singh. Finally it became a royal resort and summer seat of Maharaja of Patiala.Chail was essentially a sleepy little mountain village set in a beautiful locale till the 19th century. Its transformation began in 1893, when the Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala decided to create a new summer capital which would be 'better' than Shimla. He rebuilt the city according to his requirements and built for himself a wonderful palace. Today this palace is run as a hotel. 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. The present Chail is spread over an area of 72 acres on three adjacent hills-the Rajgarh Hill where the Palace is built, the Pandava Hill where the old Residency 'Snow View' is located and where the British Resident lived, and finally the Siddh Tibba, where the temple of Baba Sidhnath is located at a height of 2226 ft

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. Declared as wildlife sanctuary in the year 1976, Chail Wildlife Sanctuary is an idyllic retreat for the nature lover and wildlife buff. The sanctuary is located in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. Sprawling in sub-Himalayan range of mountains, the sanctuary is full of Deodar and Oak trees. Spread over an area of approximately 11,000 acres, the sanctuary also supports a wide variety of wildlife.

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. Located on a spur, on a clear day, Chail offers a magnificent and splendid view of the valley. It is a lovely experience to look down and see the River Sutlej winding its way between the mountains, overlooking at the same time both Kasauli and Shimla 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.The small fasinating huts of the local inhabitants adds to the propelling scenic beauty of this place.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.

Chail has a natural air conditioned weather and the tourist find this place to be suitable to visit all throughout the year.Even during the summer the temperature doesn't rise to much, the autumn in all its colours is really fasinating.During autumn the fields and the forests are covered with a cloak of russet and gold,in winter it is nothing less than a paradise. The weather conditions are so perfect that even in the winter when there is snow fall there is an unusual featured warmth present avoiding the inconvinience of the people.