A dream of playing cricket takes on new meaning when played at an elevation of 2,444 meters above sea level. Yes, Chail Cricket Ground, the hill station of Himachal Pradesh, offers a splendid view of the valley, Kasauli, and Shimla.
The cricket ground, built in 1893, was first used as a polo ground. After entry was stopped in Shimla by Lord Kitchener in 1891, Bhupinder Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala and an avid cricket fan, decided to build a cricket ground near his summer palace. It was used to play matches between the Maharaja and his guests.
In 1927, the ground hosted a match between a local team and a team led by legendary cricketer CK Nayadu. In 1937, a national team led by the maharaja of Vizianagaram played a match against England. Situated on the top of hills is surrounded by huge deodar and pine trees that are now often used for school and club matches.
The ground is currently maintained by Chail Military School. Due to its popularity, Cricket Ground has become a tourist attraction, and the number of visitors peaks in the summer months.
Chail Wildlife Sanctuary in the Himalayan Ranges and Chail Palace are nearby places you can visit.
How to reach Chail Cricket Ground
By road: Chail is well connected to places Shimla, Delhi, and Chandigarh
By train: The nearest railway station is Kalka.
By air: The Jubbarhatti airport of Shimla is at a distance of 72 km from Chail.