Festival · HIMACHAL PRADESH
May (varies) · Chail
Cricket matches and cultural events at the Chail Cricket Ground — the world's highest cricket pitch at 2,444m, built in 1893 by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala.
Why it mattersThe world's highest cricket ground was built after the Maharaja of Patiala was banished from Shimla by Lord Kitchener; a defiant act of royal pride.
May brings Chail's peak tourism as plains dwellers flee 45°C heat for 18-28°C mountain air. The cricket ground becomes the town's social centre — locals and tourists playing casual matches at 2250m. Hotels book out on weekends. The Chail sanctuary offers shaded forest walks. This is the busiest Chail gets, which is still quieter than Shimla's worst Tuesday.
Live in Chail
Sleep in the Maharaja of Patiala's former summer palace. The building is heritage, the gardens are manicured, and the views of the Shimla hills are expansive. Rooms vary wildly — ask for a heritage wing room, not the new block. The cricket ground is a short walk.
Signatureanardana chicken with methi naan
₹100 entry fee to the palace grounds applies even for restaurant guests. Lunch starts 1pm, dinner 8pm — there's a service gap in between. Service is 'sarkari' pace, so don't book this if you have a taxi waiting.
Signatureà la carte multi-cuisine with valley-view seating
Non-residents are welcome but call ahead — the kitchen scales for in-house guests, and walk-in dinners can wait 30+ minutes. Best for the deck seating; ask for a valley-side table.
Signaturegobhi parantha with masala chai
Reviews are mixed — go for the paranthas and chai (consistent), skip the curries. Easy parking right outside on the main road, which Chail Palace doesn't offer.
Signatureunlimited himachali thali with gur ki roti
Closes early (4-5pm in winter); aim for a late-lunch 1-3pm window if you're driving back to Shimla via Kufri. Seating is ~20 covers — peak Saturday means a wait.
Former summer retreat of Maharaja of Patiala, now a heritage hotel surrounded by deodar forests.
Hilltop temple at the highest point in Chail with 360-degree views of Shimla and Kasauli.
World's highest cricket ground at 7,500 ft, built in 1893 by Maharaja of Patiala.
ALSO ON NAKSHIQ
Guides
Everything the guidebook won't tell you — written for India in 2026.
Blog
Long-form reads on regions, festivals, and the offbeat circuit.
Road trips
Driving itineraries with day-by-day stops, distance, and difficulty.
Collections
Wettest places. Sacred lakes. Solo-female-safe. Curated cuts.
NakshIQ 100
India's highest-scoring places, ranked across all 12 months.
The Window
One honest spread, every Sunday. The full back catalogue.
Skip list
Overhyped places with honest alternatives.
First trip
Safety, scams, what to wear, food survival, solo female travel.
