Kasauli and Chail in a long weekend — two quiet ridges near Chandigarh
A two-night weekend on the two quietest ridges near Chandigarh. Night one is in Kasauli, for Christ Church, Monkey Point and Sunset Point. Day two crosses the hills to Chail for the palace and Kali Tibba. Day three takes the cricket ground and Sadhupul on the way home. For more towns within a weekend, see Himachal weekend trips from Delhi and Chandigarh.
Photos: Shubhankar Sakalkale (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Harvinder Chandigarh (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Maskaravivek (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Harvinder Chandigarh (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
Couples and small families from Chandigarh or Delhi who want forest, walks and quiet rather than a busy hill station. Every walk is short.
Day by day
Day 1Kasauli — the church, Monkey Point and the sunset
3 stops · 9 min on the road
Kasauli — the church, Monkey Point and the sunset
Up from Chandigarh in the morning, about 58 km and 92 min, and a slow day on foot in the cantonment town. The walks between these stops are not measured on our map; go at your own pace.
- 11:00Christ church kasauliThe old church on the Mall, the centre of the town's walks.
- ↓ 6 min by road · 3 km14:00Monkey Point KasauliThe hilltop inside the Air Force station. Wikivoyage says visitors register at the gate, cameras and bags are not allowed, and entry closes at 5 pm.
- ↓ 3 min by road · 2 km17:00Sunset pointThe open edge at the end of the walk, for the evening over the plains.
Day 2Over to Chail — the palace and Kali Tibba
2 stops · 16 min on the road
Over to Chail — the palace and Kali Tibba
Kasauli to Chail is about 60 km and 127 min by the hill roads through Solan and Kandaghat. Leave after breakfast and spend the afternoon on Chail's hills. The palace grounds and the temple path are not measured on our map.
- 12:30Chail PalaceThe Patiala summer palace on Rajgarh hill, now a hotel. Ask at the gate about visiting the grounds if you are not staying there.
- ↓ 16 min by road · 8 km15:30Kali TibbaThe hilltop temple of Kali above Chail, with the long view over the hills.
Day 3The cricket ground, Sadhupul and home
2 stops · 44 min on the road
The cricket ground, Sadhupul and home
A short morning on the ridge, then down to the stream at Sadhupul on the road out.
- 09:30Chail Cricket GroundThe ground at 2,444 m, laid out in 1893 and often described as the highest cricket ground in the world; today it is the playing field of Chail Military School.
- ↓ 44 min by road · 19 km11:30SadhupulThe village where the road crosses the Ashwani Khad below Chail; a riverside stop before the drive down.
Getting there
Kasauli is about 58 km and 92 min from Chandigarh by road; see how to reach Kasauli. From Chail, the road down by Kandaghat and Solan joins the Chandigarh highway.
Where to stay
One night in Kasauli, one in Chail. The Chail Palace is itself a hotel.
Know before you go
- Monkey Point closes to visitors at 5 pm and allows no cameras or bags; go after lunch.
- The roads between Kasauli and Chail are narrow hill roads; drive them in daylight.
- From Delhi, add the drive up: Kasauli is about 303 km away.
Places on this route
Going together
No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.
Other ways to do it
All Kasauli itineraries →
More places nearby
All of Kasauli →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
Can you see Kasauli and Chail in one weekend?
Yes, with two nights. Spend the first day in Kasauli, drive over to Chail on the second, about 60 km and 127 min by the hill roads, and take the cricket ground and Sadhupul on the way home. One night in each is enough; the walks in both towns are short.
How far is Chail from Kasauli?
About 60 km by road, roughly 127 min on our measured routing, through Solan and Kandaghat on narrow hill roads. It is a morning's drive, so leave after breakfast and arrive for lunch, leaving the afternoon for the palace and the temple on Kali Tibba.
Is Kasauli or Chail better for a weekend?
Kasauli is closer to Chandigarh, about 58 km, and suits a single night with its church and walks. Chail is further and quieter, with the palace and forest. With two nights there is no need to choose; this plan gives one night to each.