The Ridge & Mall
Hill station · Solan, H.P.
Chail tour from Kangra by car
Chail is about 260 km from Kangra, around seven and a half hours, and is the quiet alternative to Shimla — an hour further on and far less crowded. Two days covers Kali Ka Tibba, Sadhupul and the cricket ground, the highest in the world, which sits inside the military area and keeps visiting hours. Ask Kapil on +91 98053 05643 or Sahil on +91 78075 42573.
2 daysBest season · All yearPrivate car & driver
2
Days, round trip
All year
Best season to go
2–7
Seats · one private car
24×7
Reach us any hour
About the trip
The maharaja's forest hideaway.
Chail was built by the Maharaja of Patiala as his own hill retreat, and it stays wonderfully uncrowded — dense deodar, a grand palace now run as a hotel, and views back across to Shimla and Kufri through the trees.
Its famous cricket and polo ground, laid out at over 2,400 m, is the highest in the world. Add the Kali Ka Tibba temple on its ridge, the wildlife sanctuary and the little Sadhupul stream, and it makes a restful two days.
How it runs from here: we usually route Chail through Shimla, which means you can see both on one trip — the Mall and Kufri from a base that is quieter and easier to park in. The road up from Kandaghat is narrow and wooded, pretty rather than difficult. Kali Ka Tibba is worth timing for sunrise or sunset, so we plan around the light rather than around lunch, and Sadhupul makes the easy stop on the way back down.
What you’ll see
- Chail Palace & grounds
- World's highest cricket ground
- Kali Ka Tibba temple & views
- Chail wildlife sanctuary
- Sadhupul streamside café
- Gurudwara Sahib, Chail
The plan we run
Day by day.
Day 1 — Day 2
Chail is the quiet alternative to Shimla, an hour further on and far less crowded. The cricket ground is the highest in the world and sits inside the military area, so it keeps visiting hours.
- 1
Day 1
Kangra to Chail
The drive via Shimla; the palace grounds and cricket ground in the evening light.
~260 km · ~7.5 hrsNight: Chail
- 2
Day 2
Kali Ka Tibba & Sadhupul
The ridge temple, the sanctuary and Sadhupul before the return drive.
~260 km · ~7.5 hrs
Want it shifted — a different start, an extra night, a stop added or dropped? Say so on WhatsApp and we’ll send the reworked plan and one all-in fare.
WhatsApp Kapil WhatsApp SahilA glimpse of the route
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Plain dealing
What’s in the fare.
One quoted price
Car, driver, fuel, tolls, parking and state-border permits — agreed before you travel.
Your choice, separate
Hotels, meals and entry tickets stay your call, so you pick what fits your budget.
No advance
The fare is locked on WhatsApp first. You only confirm once the plan suits you.
Getting there
The drive up from Kangra.
The same car and driver stay with you for the whole tour — this is the run that starts it, with the distance, the drive time and what the road is like.
Kangra to Shimla taxiRead first
Before you fix the dates.
Good to know
Chail — questions travellers ask
Why did the Maharaja of Patiala build Chail?
The story told locally is that he was barred from Shimla after a run-in with the Viceroy, and built his own summer capital in the deodar across the valley instead — palace, cricket ground and all. Whether or not every detail is true, the palace and the setting are real enough and Chail has stayed the quieter of the two ever since.
Can we see the world's highest cricket ground?
Yes. It sits at about 2,440 m, cut flat out of a hilltop, and is used by the military school there. You can walk up and see it; whether you can go onto the pitch depends on what is happening that day. It is a short climb above the palace.
How far is Chail from Shimla, and can we combine them?
About 45 km and an hour and a half by road, though they face each other across the valley. Combining them works well — Shimla for the Mall and Kufri, Chail for the quiet. Many people stay in Chail and day-trip into Shimla to avoid the town crowds and parking.
What is Kali Ka Tibba?
A temple on the highest ridge above Chail, reached by a road through the deodar with a short walk at the end. The panorama takes in Shimla, Kufri and, on a clear day, the greater Himalaya. Sunrise and sunset are the times to be there.
Is Chail good for families?
Very. The distances are short, the roads are easy, there is a wildlife sanctuary with an easy walking loop, and Sadhupul has a streamside café where children can paddle. It is a two-day trip that does not demand anything of anyone.
Is Chail better than Shimla?
Quieter, certainly. Chail is about an hour past Shimla, far less crowded, and has Kali Ka Tibba, Sadhupul and the world’s highest cricket ground. Shimla has the Mall, the Ridge and more to do in bad weather. Most people who have done Shimla once choose Chail the second time.
Our price promise
The lowest rate you’ll find for this trip — or we beat it.
We don’t publish a rate card, because an honest fare depends on your dates, your group and the road. What we do promise: ask us before you book anywhere, and if you’re already holding a written quote for the same car, the same route and the same all-in inclusions, send us the screenshot. We’ll beat it — and on the rare trip where we honestly can’t, we’ll tell you straight instead of wasting your day.
- 01
Tell us the plan
WhatsApp your dates, your group and where you want to go. You get one all-in fare — car, driver, fuel, tolls, parking and permits — usually within the hour.
- 02
Compare it openly
Check it against any operator or app you like. Compare like for like: the same car, the same days, everything included — not a headline figure with extras added on later.
- 03
We beat it
Send us the lower written quote and we’ll beat it. You book the owner-drivers direct, so there is no agent commission sitting inside our number to begin with.
Send us your quote or your dates —
Ready when you are
Book the Chail trip with us.
Send your dates and group — we'll reply with the route, the right car and one all-in fare, usually within the hour.
Now booking August — just the two of us driving. Tell us your dates.
Lowest rate you’ll find for the same trip — or we beat it. Send us any written quote.
