Chail Sanctuary is the biggest wildlife attraction of Himachal Pradesh situated at Chail. The sanctuary was built in the year of 1976 and covers an area 110 sq.km. The destination is not only a wildlife attraction but also an ideal spot for honeymoon couples. The Sanctuary offers stunning scenic beauty with an exclusive collection of flora and fauna lined up with Oak and Pine trees along with the velvety grasslands.
The Sanctuary is a home to a number of wildlife species Spotted Deer, Flying Squirrel, Sambar, Goral, Wild Boar, Common Langur, Himalayan Black Bear, Indian Porcupine, and many more animal species. Once upon a time European deers ware also introduced in the park by the King of Patiala but unfortunately, there were not sighted. The Sanctuary is a home to millions of travelers across the world and also an amazing location to be enjoyed by the honeymoon couples admiring the picturesque scenic beauty and the thick green forests.
In recent times the cheer species have increased in number due to the breeding and the rehabilitation centers help in the breeding process. The park is also a home many rare species and includes the famous ones like the leopard, Goral, Indian muntjac, langur, rhesus macaque and many more.
Other than wildlife animals, it also consists of reptile species and bird species. The sanctuary is a hub of various adventure activities like trekking and hiking along the rocky mountain ranges which makes the visit to the sanctuary more interesting and happening.
The tourists here can enjoy the flavor of adventure in the breathtaking scenic beauty with varieties of wildlife species moving across the area. The location is nothing less than a paradise for the nature admirers and adventure enthusiasts. The sanctuary is connected to many major hill stations and lies at a distance of 40 km from Shimla, so it can be accessed easily by people from different parts of India.
Chail Wildlife Sanctuary Animals
Located in the picturesque location of Chail in the state of Himachal Pradesh, the Sanctuary is a sight to behold for every visitor with its panoramic scenic beauty filled with an air of wildness. The Sanctuary is a popular tourist attraction and ranks in the second position of the best destinations in Chail due to its rare and exotic collection of wildlife species. Covered in the dense green forests with snow-capped mountain ranges in the backdrop, the Sanctuary is a home to numerous wildlife species.
The wildlife of this sanctuary mostly comprises mammals. The most popular among them are- Common Langur, Leopard, Rhesus Macaque, Goral, Indian Muntjac, Wild Boar, European Red Deer, Flying Squirrel, Himalayan Black Bear, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Indian Porcupine, Black napped hare and many more. The sanctuary also houses various bird species like Cheer Pheasant, Yellow Throated Marten, Silver White Oak, White Oak, Kalij Pheasant and many more other varieties of pheasants.
The rehabilitation centers of Bossom and Jhajja along with the government authorities in the recent times have taken a major step in increasing the breeding of Chir Pheasants which have helped the pheasants to grow in number. The species of European Red Deer was also incorporated by the Patiala Maharaja in the earlier times but unfortunately, due to unknown reasons, no one was able to spot the Red Deers after that. The sanctuary also consists of rare reptile species. Those who are coming to visit the sanctuary should also visit the Chir pheasant breeding rehabilitation center located close to the sanctuary.
Chail Wildlife Sanctuary Safari
The most beautiful location of Chail Sanctuary in the states of Himachal Pradesh has a slightly different method of exploration compared to other wildlife sanctuaries. The area in the sanctuary is quite rough and hence it is not at all recommendable for forest Jeep Safari which normally visitors enjoy in other sanctuaries. Here the adventure lies in the Park Safari which means the visitors got to explore the national park on their own foot in the form of trekking.
The forest officials for the adventure of the visitors have given the permission of the park exploration through trekking and angling which not only thrills the tourists but also gives a better view of the wildlife species hiding at different points which a Jeep Safari might miss. The technique is also beneficial for the wild animals as many get frightened by the sound of vehicles and hide themselves feeling disturbed.
The famous trekking routes of Chail wildlife Sanctuary are from Chail to Gaura and Chail to Jhajja which is a favorite of every visitors. The park other than these two also consists of top elevated hilly areas at greater heights which is pure love for the adventure enthusiasts and trekking professionals.
The amazing rugged roads covered with dense forests of oak and pine in the snow-capped mountain ranges and the sight of various wildlife species moving here and there makes the trekking experience remarkable for the tourists. There are almost three to four high altitude trekking routes available for the visitors to select which makes the Park Safari highly adventurous and unique.
When to Visit Chail Wildlife Sanctuary
The Chail Wildlife Sanctuary is open throughout the year for the visitors from different parts of the world but the location is ideal to visit between April to June and from September to November. The Sanctuary visit is not convenient during the monsoon time due to rainfalls, and in the winter time when the temperature drops to almost -4 degrees being extremely chilled. The summer season is the best option having a moderate temperature of 28 degrees which is quite comfortable to explore the Park.
How to Reach Chail Wildlife Sanctuary
Chail Sanctuary has its connections to major hill stations of India can be reached comfortably from different parts of India.
By Air
The closest airport to Chail is the Jubbarhati Airport which is located at a distance of 45kms from Shimla.
By Rail
There no direct railway station to Chail, so you need to reach Shimla first through train which is easily available from all major cities of India and then you can take a toy train ride through the Kalka Shimla Route to reach Chail at a duration of 5 hours. The journey covers amazing locations on the way to cherish for.
By Road
The Kalka Shimla route can also be accessed by car to reach the Wildlife Sanctuary which is 40kms away from Shimla.
Chail Wildlife Sanctuary – Approximate visit duration
Chail Wildlife Sanctuary covering a total area of 110 sq.km is not that big but since it has to be explored by the available three to four trekking routes consumes quite a good amount of time from 2 to 3 hours approximately to explore the important routes in the park properly and view the wildlife species.
Chail Wildlife Sanctuary Timings
The Chail Wildlife Sanctuary itself is open every day from 10 A.M. to 10 P.M. but for the visitors it has time frame of 7 A.M. to 6 P.M. to explore the park and the wildlife.
Chail Wildlife Sanctuary Entry Fee
The Chail wildlife sanctuary believes in giving entertainment to all kinds of visitors from different parts of the country and hence does not charge any entry fee from the visitors. They are free to explore the park on their own and enjoy the wildlife species there with separate fees for cameras also.
Chail Wildlife Sanctuary Location
Chail Wildlife Sanctuary is located at the beautiful hill station of Chail in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The Sanctuary is situated from Shimla at a distance of 40kms and can be reached easily with the Kalka-Shimla Route. The exact location of the sanctuary in Chail is in the Sadhupul Village.
It has around 200 villages in its area and stands at a towering height of 1,000 to 2,180 meters above sea level. The location is slightly separated from the Himalayan region with an array of pine, cedar and oak trees forming the boundary. The more heights the Sanctuary covers the more it is covered with different varieties of flowering plants which are a sight to behold.