Chail is the calmer alternative to Kufri, set in thick deodar forest at around 2,250 m. It was developed as a summer retreat by the Maharaja of Patiala and is best known for its palace and its unusually high cricket ground.
Getting around
Chail is roughly 45 km from Shimla by road, typically an hour and a half, and can be combined with Kufri as a single day trip. Roads are narrow and winding in stretches.
Good to know
Chail has far less commercial infrastructure than Shimla or Kufri. It suits an unhurried half day rather than a packed itinerary.