Chail
It was Coleridge who presented Kubla Khan with his Xanadu in his famous poem written as a dream allegory. In real life, it was the Commander-in-Chief of Shimla, Lord Kitchener who paved the way to the formation of a beautiful hill station just 43 kilometers away from Shimla. Known as Chail, this hill station is Maharaja Bhupinder Singh’s dreamland. The Royal Highness of Patiala after being banned to enter Shimla as a result of a tiff with the Commander-in-Chief gifted himself Chail in 1891. What followed was history. The Maharaja conjured up his magnificent palace, the Chail Palace which till date is the envy of all the luxury hotels in Chail and those in the surrounding regions. Chail was named the new summer capital of the royalty and was built on three hills. The Palace stands on the Rajgarh Hill followed by the British Residency on the Pandhewa Hill and Sadh Tiba on the third and the last hill. Sidh Tiba was the original construction site of the palace but the Maharaja laid the construction of Sidh Baba Ka Mandir on that spot after he got a dream.Best to visit in the months of May, July and September to November, Chail is nothing less than paradise. Great for trekking expeditions or a weekend holiday, Chail is just perfect for a refreshing break. This hill station in Himachal Pradesh also has the reputation of having the highest Cricket Pitch in the world and Polo grounds at an altitude of 2,444m. Overlooking the serene Satluj Valley, you will find Shimla and Kasauli very close to you.
The journey to Chail amidst the flower laden valleys of Kandaghat, forests and orchards ends wonderfully with the breathtaking view of the Himalayas. So what are you waiting for? Go and get yourself a slice of heaven!