Renting out your home in Chail

Our advice for Chail

Chail sits on a forested ridge in Solan district at about 2,250 metres, roughly 44 km from Shimla and a similar distance from Solan. The Maharajas of Patiala made it their summer retreat at the end of the nineteenth century; their palace, rebuilt after independence, has been a state-run hotel since the 1970s. The cricket ground laid out in 1893, often described as the highest in the world, is now used by the Chail Military School.

A place people choose for what it lacks

There is no crowded mall and very little nightlife. Visitors from Chandigarh, Panchkula and Delhi come for deodar forest, birdsong, long walks and a slower weekend than Shimla offers. That makes Chail well suited to a small, well-kept cottage or a family house with a few rooms, rather than a large group villa.

Guest expectations

• A warm, quiet room and a real breakfast, since eating options in the village are limited.
• Clear directions: the approach roads via Kandaghat or Kufri are narrow and poorly lit at night.
• Walks in the Chail Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1976, ideally with someone who knows the trails.
• Parking close to the door.

Seasons and risks

Summer and long weekends carry most of the demand; winter brings occasional snow that closes the ridge road for short periods. In the monsoon, landslides on the approach roads are the main threat, and the forest setting brings persistent damp. Water often depends on local supply schemes and storage, so a tank sized for full occupancy and a backup pump are sensible.