I wanted to go to place which is quiet and unexplored. So I started searching for places on internet nearby Chandigarh. And I found this beautiful hill station - Chail. I have been to Shimla many times, however never got a chance to visit this place. Hence I decided to go there.
About Chail:-
Chail is a beautiful hill station in Himachal Pradesh which is surrounded by the appealing Pine and Deodar forests.
It is known for its splendid beauty and for its picture square landscapes. It was discovered by the banished Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh in 1893.
How to get there:-
It is 107 Km from Chandigarh and is a 2-3 hours journey. You can travel by own Car, hire a taxi or take a bus as per your convenience. I would recommend going by your own vehicle/private taxi as it would be more comfortable (also in case you have motion sickness while travelling in public transportation in hills) and you can make stopovers to enjoy the breath-taking views. Major part of the travel is through the 4 lane Chandigarh Shimla highway. However, last 30 kms is single lane road which is secluded and has a dense forest. So I would advise reaching Chail within day light.
Where to stay:-
There are various resorts and hotels are available in Chail. You can book your hotels through booking.com or directly on the hotel websites in advance. If you are lucky, the local hotels offer great deals. It is better to include your meals in hotel booking as there are not many places to eat outside. I was not aware about this thing, so I paid extra for my meals. I reserved a room with mountain view that was quite a mesmerizing experience and food was also scrumptious.In addition to that,I witnessed the amazing sunset from my room. You can get a double occupancy room in a good hotel for a price range of Rs.3500-5000 per day. However sometimes you can get good discounts during off-season.
What to see in Chail:-
There are not many landmarks to visit as it is a small hill station. The main ones are
• Chail Palace- It is well known for its architecture. It is also famous for Bollywood movie 3 idiots which was filmed here. Previously, it was owned by royal family. Now it is managed by Himachal Tourism and you can book your stay with them. If you are not staying, then also you can visit this palace with an entry ticket of Rs.100 per person for explore the royal palace and gardens. There is also cafe in garden where you can relish snacks while enjoying the sights.
• Cricket Ground- It is the world‘s highest cricket ground with an altitude of 2,444 m. I was not able to visit the ground as it was closed during my trip.
• Kali ka Tibba- There is a Kali temple on hill-top from where you can enjoy 360 degree view of the area and you can also witness best sunset.
It is a perfect place for weekend getaway if you want to go far from your city life. It is most peaceful place which I have witnessed so far.
Happy travelling!
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