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Dehradun to Chail Taxi Service
Quick answer: Chail is about 199 km from Dehradun and takes 6 to 7 hours: the Paonta and Nahan road to Solan, then 30 km up from Kandaghat through deodar forest. The Maharaja of Patiala built it in 1891 after Shimla threw him out, and it still feels like his: the palace on one ridge, the cricket ground — the highest in the world at 2,444 m — on another, and almost nothing else. The quiet alternative to Shimla, 44 km away. Fares depend on vehicle and whether you need a one-way drop or a round trip — the table below is live from our rate desk. Call 7830211223 to confirm.
The hill station a Maharaja built out of spite
Bhupinder Singh of Patiala was banned from Shimla by the British and built Chail on the next ridge so he could look down on it. The palace is now a hotel, the cricket ground is inside the military school, and the deodar forest between them is what people come for. There is a small bazaar, a sanctuary with the Kali Tibba temple above it, and no traffic to speak of.
The drive is the Solan road plus 30 km. From Kandaghat on the highway the road climbs through Sadhupul, where the Ashwini stream has a row of dhabas with tables in the water, and then through the forest to Chail. It is a slow, lovely last hour.
The road
- Paonta Sahib → Nahan — into Himachal
- Solan (218 km by the direct road; 170 here) — join the highway
- Kandaghat → Sadhupul → Chail — 30 km through the forest
- Lunch at Sadhupul, feet in the stream
In Chail
- Chail Palace — the 1891 summer palace, now a hotel
- The cricket ground — 2,444 m, inside the military school, ask at the gate
- Kali Tibba — the temple on the highest hill, 360-degree view
- Chail sanctuary — deodar and oak, sambar and barking deer
Nearby
- Shimla — 44 km via Kandaghat
- Kufri — 30 km by the forest road via Kufri
- Kasauli — 60 km via Sanawar
- Solan — 45 km
Booking shape
- Two nights, with Shimla or Kufri as a day trip
- Chail, Kufri, Shimla in a triangle with the same driver
- Sedan is fine outside winter; Innova for four or more
- One-way drop and a Chandigarh return works
Season
March to June and September to November are the settled months. December to February brings snow to the ridge and the Chail-Kufri forest road can close after a fall; chains are carried. Monsoon is wet and the forest is at its greenest; the Sadhupul stream runs high and the dhabas move their tables back.
A morning start from Dehradun reaches Chail by mid-afternoon. In winter we do the last 30 km in daylight.
How much does a Dehradun to Chail taxi cost?
Private cab fares for the Dehradun to Chail route. Every rate below is for the whole vehicle, not per seat.
Included: vehicle, fuel and driver allowance. Extra: tolls, state permits, parking, and on hill routes any night halt charge. Fares are confirmed on call before pickup — nothing is added afterwards.
Dehradun to Chail taxi — questions people ask
How far is Chail from Dehradun?
About 199 km and 6 to 7 hours via Paonta Sahib, Nahan and Solan, then 30 km up from Kandaghat.
Can we visit the cricket ground?
It is inside the Rashtriya Military School; entry is usually allowed on request at the gate outside school hours. The ground is at 2,444 m, the highest in the world.
Is Chail better than Shimla?
Different. Shimla is a city with a mall; Chail is a forest with a palace and a bazaar of twenty shops. People who want quiet choose Chail and do Shimla as a day trip, 44 km away.
Can we combine Chail with Kufri and Shimla?
Yes, in a triangle. Chail to Kufri is 30 km by the forest road, Kufri to Shimla 16 km, Shimla back to Kandaghat 30 km. The same driver does it in a day or spreads it over two.
Does the road close in winter?
The Kandaghat road stays open; the Chail-Kufri forest road can shut for a day after heavy snow. We carry chains from December and check the day before.
