With the zeal of a jilted lover seeking recognition, the erstwhile Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh set out to develop Chail in Himachal Pradesh into to hill station that would rival if not outdo Shimla, the summer capital during colonial India. Built in the late 19th century, Chail became the summer capital of the princely state of Patiala and is perhaps the only hill station to have been built by a princely State.
There may have been a streak of patriotism in the venture, but for the Maharaja it was more a way of getting even with the colonial rulers for having expelled him from Shimla on the charge of flirting with the commander-in-chief's daughter. Not being able to accept the insult of having been expelled from Imperial Shimla, the flamboyant Maharaja began scouting neighboring hills for setting up a township of his own. Such was the backdrop of Chail from which a tiny village set amidst majestic Himalayan deodars rose to become a hill station and the summer resort for the royal house of Patiala.
Legend has it that after selecting the site, work on the summer palace began and it soon ran into trouble. Snakes would emerge out of nowhere and torment the workers. Bhupinder Singh shifted the location after he was asked in a dream to select another site, as the original site was a place where a sage had been laid to rest. The Maharaja had a shrine 'Sidh Baba Ka Mandir' built at the original site, which is revered by many who claim that the sage has powers to grant boons.
The splendid mansion built by the Maharaja became the summer palace of the Patiala royalty. In the midst of Himalayan woods, this property passed into the possession of Himachal Tourism department in 1972 and it continues to retain the grandeur of its princely past. Enclosed by a large elegant lawn with pavilions and fountains, the property has been converted into a Palace Hotel and has become a full-fledged tourist destination.
Being an avid cricketer, the Maharaja had a hilltop flattened to convert it into a cricket field, which was completed by 1893. The ground was also used to play polo, which was a favorite among the royalty during those days.
The woods around are ever-inviting and one can go for light treks along the several trails around Chail. There are several trek routes that lead out of the resort, including the one to Choor Chandni, the highest mountain in the Shivalik range. A small wildlife sanctuary has a variety of wildlife that includes ghoral, kakkar, sambhar, red jungle fowl, and the khalij and cheer pheasants. Fishing is possible on the Gaura river.
Chail can only be reached by road and is 45 km from Shimla via Kufri. One can also go via Kandaghat on the Shimla-Kalka highway. The nearest railhead is at Shimla and the airport at Jubbar Hatti near Shimla. The luxurious Palace Hotel run by Himachal Tourism provides accommodation. Beautifully set in sprawling 75 acres amid thick woods, this regal building built in 1891 offers spectacular views of he Churdhar ranges and the distant plains.
Some other hotels in Chail are: Maple Resort Chail, Chail Inn, Hotel Grand Sunset, Hotel Ekant, Hotel Chail Residency, United 21 Resort Chail, Kailash Hotel, Tarika's Jungle Retreat, Hotel Monaal, Village Live In Resort, Himneel Hotel.
The splendid mansion built by the Maharaja became the summer palace of the Patiala royalty. In the midst of Himalayan woods, this property passed into the possession of Himachal Tourism department in 1972 and it continues to retain the grandeur of its princely past. Enclosed by a large elegant lawn with pavilions and fountains, the property has been converted into a Palace Hotel and has become a full-fledged tourist destination.
Being an avid cricketer, the Maharaja had a hilltop flattened to convert it into a cricket field, which was completed by 1893. The ground was also used to play polo, which was a favorite among the royalty during those days.
The woods around are ever-inviting and one can go for light treks along the several trails around Chail. There are several trek routes that lead out of the resort, including the one to Choor Chandni, the highest mountain in the Shivalik range. A small wildlife sanctuary has a variety of wildlife that includes ghoral, kakkar, sambhar, red jungle fowl, and the khalij and cheer pheasants. Fishing is possible on the Gaura river.
Chail can only be reached by road and is 45 km from Shimla via Kufri. One can also go via Kandaghat on the Shimla-Kalka highway. The nearest railhead is at Shimla and the airport at Jubbar Hatti near Shimla. The luxurious Palace Hotel run by Himachal Tourism provides accommodation. Beautifully set in sprawling 75 acres amid thick woods, this regal building built in 1891 offers spectacular views of he Churdhar ranges and the distant plains.
Some other hotels in Chail are: Maple Resort Chail, Chail Inn, Hotel Grand Sunset, Hotel Ekant, Hotel Chail Residency, United 21 Resort Chail, Kailash Hotel, Tarika's Jungle Retreat, Hotel Monaal, Village Live In Resort, Himneel Hotel.
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