Perhaps the tenth time we were planning to go to Shimla during our summer vacations.Somebody suggested a change in destination.Lets go to Chail for a change.We do not have a guest house in Chail and hunting for the right kind of accommodation is not that easy.The himachal tourism office told me they have a ’palacehotel’ in Chail which has rooms from economy to royal ranges.So this time our journey by the toytrain from Kalka was cut short at Kandaghat.From Kandaghat we hired a taxi to reach Chail, which is a two hour drive, including the time taken to fix a punctured tyre.
Chail is the ideal hillstation for anybody who wants to have a very peaceful holiday far from the’madding crowd’.And never even think of staying anywhere other than the palace(unless you are a maharaja who is tired of staying in a palace allhis life).The palace has a history, (like all other palces.)The maharaja of Patiala was declared ’persona non grata ’ in shimla by Lord Kichner the then C-in-C for some reason. I think his admiration for Kitchners beautiful daughter was the reason.
Like a true Maharaja Bhupi vowed to build another shimla all for himself.Thus the Chail palace was built at a most appropriate site surrounded by deodars and pines.The palace is an exqusite example of Indian and British architecture.One can spend an entire afternoon in the lawns just watching this marvel. HPTDC is now maintaining the palace as a heritage hotel.WE found the restaurant in the hotel reasonably priced , serving good indian cuisine.
Behind the main palace you have two or three independent cottages, suitable for larger groups or families.There are a number of economy rooms in the ’annexe’.I think these were the rooms were the 300 hundred plus concubines of the maharaja were put up.I found it as an extra ordinary experience to spend a night here feeling part of history.
Another attraction in the palace complex is the loghuts located a little away from the main palace. These are surrounded by jungle and it gives you the feeling of a jungle lodge.This may be for the more adventerous traveller who may not be shocked by the midnight knock knock of a friendly jungle bear at the not so strong wooden door of your hut.There is some provision for light cooking here.Obviously there is no roomservice.
Chail boasts of the highest cricketground in the world.I would suggest you to take this refreshing walk from the palace to the cricketground whch is nearly 3km away.Walking amidst the tall pines and breathing the pinescented fresh air is the most ideal thing to do here.
There was an artists camp in progress while we were there. There cannot be a better place for an artist or a poet to draw inpiration from.
And if anybody get ’bored ’of natural beauty, and badly wants to get back to the crowds and pollution , Shimla is a short drive of around 40kms only!
I plan to go back to Chail again to have the loghut experience.