RovitaS [By Nivedita]

Feb 14, 20206 min read

Chail - The one with bikes into the woods

Riding your bike, layering yourself up with countless clothes and end up going from chilling plains to sunny mountains..!!

Trip Duration: 2 Nights and 3 Days (27/12/2019 to 29/12/2019)

Route: Gurgaon-Chandigarh-Kalka-Barog-Solan-Kandaghat-Sadhupul-Chail

Gears before planning : Thermals set, warm socks, neck warmer, bandana, shock-proof helmet, snow gloves (to restrict chilling breeze freezing your hand), wind-cheater for top layering or water & wind-proof jacket (we bought them from Decathlon), high-ankle boots or snow boots(also from Decathlon)

Expense Details:

Hotel Booking: Chail palace (2 Nights 3 Days) for 6 people (3 cottages with double occupancy) in Himneel Block – INR 22430 (with breakfast buffet)

Bike rent (from Chandigarh to Chail) – INR 1000 per day (Rented from Northern Riders, sector 38C)

Bike rent (from Ghaziabad to Chail) – INR 1700 per day (plus taxes), rented from Stoneheadbikes

Food expenses (meals at hotel ) - INR 7000

Bonfire at Chail Palace - INR 2000 (plus taxes)

Other food expenses (while travelling) - INR 4249

Day 1:

We started our journey at 3:00 AM on 27th December from Gurgaon and took our usual breaks at this route (First stop at Amrik Sukhdev, Murthal and second at Nik Bakers and Chaayos, before Zirakpur).

One of our friends rented his bike (Enfield Himalayan) from Ghaziabad and another one joined him from Murthal. We had a friend at PGI, Chandigarh and borrowed his bike (Royal Enfield) and we rented one bike (Bajaj Avenger) from “Northern Riders- sector 38C”, Chandigarh.

We started riding from Chandigarh at around 12:30 PM and as we all know that every trip teaches you something, one of our bikes (Himalayan) got its break-disc damaged due to tangling of a cloth, as soon as we reached the outskirts of Chandigarh. First, we tried to detangle it and a few other tricks, but didn’t work. Then we called Enfield’s on-road service and they sent a tow-van. It took around 2 and ½ hours in all the process. Two of our friends who were riding on Himalayan stayed back and four of us had to proceed forward (as we booked our stay at Chail from that very day.

Our stay was booked at Chail Palace, which was apparently 102 Km from PGI Chandigarh, so we calculated to reach in almost 3-4 hours. But that was a myth, babies. We started again at 3:00 PM from the point where the bike broke and then the journey began..!!

We were two couples on two bikes with both girls carrying 45 Lt rucksack on our backs. Wind was getting chillier with every passing milestone. Though we were layered from head-to-toe but we could move very slowly due to various reasons.

People riding bikes to hilly areas, do remember to pack yourself very minutely, how so ever is the temperature in winters. We had two gloves on (one normal and one wind-proof), two layers on legs (leg warmer and wind & water proof on top, bought from decathlon), three layers on upper body (warmer, sweater and wind & water proof jacket for -10⁰ bought from decathlon), neck warmer, bandana, socks and high-ankle boots to cover your lower tightly (so that no air can pass into it).

With the help of maps and local people, we followed the route. There was too much traffic due to weekend and construction on the highway, which minimized after the diversion from Kandaghat. After Sadhupul, the road was quite narrow and not in very good condition with forest on all the sides. We crossed Sadhupul way after sunset and it became difficult to ride only in bike head-lights, so we rode both of our bikes closely, so that each one can provide some extra light for the other and also to stay safe on that route. When we reached the market area of Chail (still 1 Km ahead our stay) at 8:30 PM, we were too exhausted to move forward. So, we took a break and had a cup of tea. We reached Chail palace at around 9:00 PM.

Chail Palace is a heritage hotel under Hptdc. It has different types of cottages as stay options. There are Maharaja Suites in the main palace block, Himneel Cottages (with a big central garden type area to sit out), Log-huts (secluded with a good view but not ample sun light) and a few more cottage options (different tariff for every stay). Reception and restaurant (King’s dining) are also in the main block, so wherever you stay, you have to go to the main block at least for checking-in and out.

Our stay was booked at Himneel Block (with breakfast buffet) which was 500 mt from reception (main block). The care-taker of Himneel block opened our rooms, switched on the heaters and geysers and provided warm water in thermo flasks, till the guys went to check-in. We booked three cottages in that block (all with double occupancy) for two nights for INR

Meanwhile, two of our friends who started again after getting their bike fixed, reached to us at around 10:00 PM. We had rum and played black-jack when all of us got together again…YAY..!! Although the restaurant was quite far but the care-taker served us food into our cottage (we were too tired to go there and eat).

Day 2:

After a good-night sleep we woke up to a very beautiful and peaceful morning. It was calm and mesmerizing as I opened my cottage door, with sun rays and fresh air touching my face. We decided to have a walk through the palace to reach up to the main block for our breakfast buffet- like a walk into the woods. It was cold, quiet and green all around with lovely views. Whole Chail Palace is like a nature walk and there are many off-route tracks (short-cut to different cottages).

We entered the main palace block as if we set our foot into luxury itself, with full carpeted floor, huge paintings, mirrors and royal wooden furniture. The restaurant is named as King’s Dining. Chail Palace and the restaurant are open to all for eating and roaming around (with an entry fee of INR 100 if you are not residing there).

After filling our bellies with scrumptious breakfast, we headed out to the garden in front of the main block to have some Vitamin D, which was a boon these winters. This garden has a cafe and outdoor seating arrangement and a few swings. Roaming around in the garden, we found an inclined track leading to our cottages (short cut) and walked back on to it.

Our gang as usual, can never say NO to one more round of TEA, we sat in our lock garden and had Wagh Bakri’s Instant Tea Premix (Not promoting but a must try). Some discussed about football while I had my cup while enjoying the view.

After more than enough gossiping and relaxing, we went to kali-Ka-Tibba (temple), which was around 4 Kms from our stay. Second half of it was a very bumpy ride (some road among the potholes) but last 500 Mt before temple was smooth again. The temple was very clean (I always feel happy to walk barefoot without worrying about my feet getting yukky) and it gave a panoramic view of the mountains around (which was an amazing view). You can also enjoy sunrise or sunset from this temple. The temple floor was chilling my toe to head but only eyes were getting the warmth from that view with countless shades (a place to sit back and relax).

We headed back after an hour or so and went to King’s Dining for lunch. After that everybody had their me-time, some slept, some made their fifa dream time and a few like me wandered here and there. Later all of us went for another off-route exploration in the palace, played some Black jack and a lot of Never-Have-I-Ever with drinks around the bonfire (we asked the staff to set up for extra charges of INR 2000).

Day 3:

Next morning after breakfast, two of our explorers found snow in small valley behind Log-Huts Cottage in the palace itself and rest of us ran towards it as soon as they video called us to show it. We did a little ride to reach there and now was the time to make use of the snow boots.

Initially we covered a small snow patch but then there was no stopping. We went down the valley (must have been a river path which froze during this time of the year) into more and more snow, crossing the bushes and wood logs. After an hour or more of our fun snow trek we climbed up through an inclined path covered with snow and landed behind the log huts. It was so much fun and there remained no-regrets of not able to find snow (which we were very sure about while planning the trip)

As, all of what we ate was forgotten by our bellies, we headed back to our cottage garden and had some tea before riding back. We departed at around 11:30 AM from the palace and with a number of luggage adjustment and chai breaks, reached Chandigarh at 5:00 PM, returned back the bikes to their designated owners and start driving back to Gurgaon at 6:00 PM.

With a chai-break and a dinner break (at Murthal) and a lot of traffic and fog, we reached back to our nest at around 11:30 PM.