चैल
Himachal Pradesh · Solan District · 2,250m
दुनिया का सबसे ऊंचा क्रिकेट मैदान — शिमला की भीड़ से दूर शाही विरासत।
Why Special
चैल पैलेस (अब हेरिटेज होटल) पटियाला के महाराजा ने बनवाया था जब अंग्रेज़ों ने उन्हें शिमला से बैन कर दिया। यहाँ का क्रिकेट मैदान 2444 मीटर पर सच में दुनिया का सबसे ऊँचा है।
Festivals & Events
Chail Cricket Festival
MayMay (varies)
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.
The 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.
Infrastructure Reality
Network Coverage
Fair 4G in town. Drops in forest areas.
WiFi: Most hotels
Medical & Emergency
Hospital: Civil Hospital Solan 44km. Small dispensary in Chail. (28 km)
Ambulance: 108 (slow in hills)
Police: Chail police post
Getting There
Shimla→Chail: 45km 2hrs. Solan→Chail: 44km 1.5hrs.
Roads: Good but narrow mountain roads. Hairpin bends.
Public transport: Buses from Shimla and Solan. Nearest rail at Kalka.
Fuel & Stay
Fuel: Kufri road 15km
⚠ Carry extra fuel
Stay: ₹1000-8000/night
40+ options (hotel, resort, heritage hotel)
Emergency: Available except peak season.
Helpline: HP Tourism: 0177-2652561
The stay decisions worth flagging in Chail.
The ₹8,000–13,000/night gap between Hotel Highlands Park (₹5–8k) and Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Tavleen (₹15–28k) buys you a verified ITC-chain property with a glass observatory, woodland spa, and an 8.9/10 Momondo rating from 107 reviews—versus a pick we cannot confirm exists in Chail at all. If you're already at Chail Palace (₹12–20k), Welcomhotel Tavleen at the upper end of that same band adds trail access across 6.5 acres of managed woodland and Himachali cooking sessions; the palace cannot match either on current maintenance consistency. For the value slot, the ₹1,000–2,000/night premium between The Tranquil Nest Homestay (₹2–2.5k) and Sweet Breeze Homestay (₹2.9–4.3k) buys organic farm-to-table meals and a host family with a hospitality degree—skip the upgrade if you're primarily using the room as a base for day treks and want to keep spend below ₹3k.
Chail Palace
Built in 1891 as a maharaja's summer retreat, it's the only property in Chail with authentic palace architecture and period furnishings.
Deepak Homestay
Family-run guesthouse near the cricket ground with home-cooked meals and consistently strong reviews for cleanliness and host warmth at half the resort price.
Hotel Highlands Park
Directly overlooks the highest cricket ground in the world and is a 5-minute walk to Chail's main bazaar and viewpoint.
Kali Mata Temple Cottage Stay
Three heritage stone cottages perched on the temple grounds with unobstructed valley views and the rare experience of staying near an active sacred site.
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Neighborhood guide
Where to base yourself, by vibe.
Daily Budget Reality
Budget
₹1,200Mid-range
₹4,000Luxury
₹11,300💡 Former summer retreat of Patiala royals; Chail Palace Hotel is the main luxury stay; cricket ground famous
Crowd Intelligence
⚠ Avoid weekends — crowded with day-trippers
Best days: Mon-Thu
Popular Shimla overflow and weekend getaway from Chandigarh. Christmas-New Year week fully booked.
Food & Dining
Cuisine: Himachali, North Indian
Chail Palace restaurant is decent. Carry snacks for excursions.
कैसे पहुँचें
🌍 अंतर्राष्ट्रीय यात्रियों के लिए
सांस्कृतिक संदर्भ
Chail was built by the Maharaja of Patiala in the late 1800s as a summer retreat after the British banned him from Shimla following an alleged affair with the Viceroy's daughter. He built Chail Palace, the world's highest cricket ground (2,444m), and a wildlife sanctuary — all to rival Shimla. The palace is now a heritage hotel.
क्या पहनें
Casual clothing. Warm layers for evenings. Smart casual if dining at Chail Palace hotel. No specific cultural dress codes except at the Kali Ka Tibba temple — remove shoes.
खाद्य सुरक्षा
Good food at Chail Palace hotel restaurant and a few other hotels. Decent quality. Limited variety at smaller dhabas. Safe overall. Bottled water recommended.
सामान्य धोखाधड़ी से सावधान
- Taxi drivers from Shimla or Solan quoting heavily inflated rates — Chail is only 44 km from Shimla
- Chail Palace hotel charging separately for cricket ground and sanctuary visits that may be included in heritage walk
- Local guides at the wildlife sanctuary overcharging for basic nature walks
कार्ड और नकद
Chail Palace hotel and a couple of other hotels accept cards. Most shops are cash-only. One ATM in the main market, unreliable. Carry cash from Shimla.
अंग्रेज़ी बोली जाती है
moderate — hotel staff speak English. Chail Palace staff are fluent. Local market vendors speak Hindi.
फ़ोन और SIM
Jio and Airtel work in Chail town. Coverage is decent along the main road. Drops in forested areas.
निकटतम दूतावास
Delhi — approximately 340 km by road
Standard Indian e-Visa covers Chail. No special permits required.
Meet the Locals
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