How to reach Chail — distances and drive times
How these numbers were made
Road distances and drive times are our own routing on OpenStreetMap, measured for a car. Buses are slower and mountain roads add time in bad weather, so treat them as the least you should plan for.
From where you are
- Solan: 35 km, about 81 minutes.
- Shimla: 40 km, about 89 minutes.
- Kasauli: 60 km, about 126 minutes.
- Narkanda: 72 km, about 144 minutes.
- Chandigarh: 101 km, about 180 minutes.
- Mandi: 166 km, about 307 minutes.
Airport
The nearest airport is Chandigarh, about 101 km and 180 minutes away by road.
Once you are in Chail
The Chail Palace is 2 km and 4 minutes from the centre, and Sadhupul is 16 km and 37 minutes. See things to do in Chail, the one-day plan and when to visit Chail.
Questions people ask
How far is Chail from Shimla?
About 40 km by road, roughly 89 minutes by car or bus on our routing. It is a hill road through cedar forest, so allow more in the monsoon or after snow. Many visitors treat Chail as a night away from Shimla, and the drive is the whole of the journey.
What is the nearest airport to Chail?
Chandigarh Airport, about 101 km away and roughly 180 minutes by road. Shimla's own airstrip is small, so most visitors arrive by road from Chandigarh or Shimla. From Kasauli it is about 60 km and 126 minutes, so the two can be combined on one trip.
How do you get to Chail by bus?
Buses run from Shimla and Solan to Chail, though we have no verified timetables to quote. For the palace, the cricket ground and Sadhupul a taxi is easier, since the stops are on side roads, so agree a price and a waiting time before you set out.