Introduction

The Chail wildlife sanctuary is approached from a turn-off at the bazaar. On a steady climb along a narrow unpaved road, a part of the distance is through woods of oak and cedar; the initial stretch is motorable. This was once the private hunting reserve of the Maharajas of Patiala and on 21 March 1976, was notified as a sanctuary. With altitudes ranging between 701meters ( 2300 feet) to 2,180 meters (7152 feet), the sanctuary has an area of approximately 11, 000 hectares (approximately a hundred square kilometres) and includes the town of Chail and several surrounding villages. It is connected to the Shimla Water Catchment area’s sanctuary by a forest corridor. The temperatures through the year, can drop to freezing point in winter and may briefly touch thirty degrees Celsius in summer. The annual precipitation (rain and snow) is around 1600 mm.

Sections of this sanctuary have been degraded but most of it is still heavily wooded. The trees of the area include the baan and moru oaks, the chir and kail pines, the flowering rhododendron arboreum and tall deodars (Himalayan cedars). The undergrowth has numerous grasses and ferns. The sanctuary has a variety of wildlife that include the rhesus macaque, leopards, the Himalayan black bear, the crested porcupine, the wild boar, the common langur, hares, 'ghoral', 'kakkar', 'sambhar', red jungle fowl, flying squirrels and the 'khalij' and 'cheer' pheasants. Decades back, a herd of European red deer was also introduced by the maharajas in the area. By the gate of the Sanctuary is a small breeding and rehabilitation center for pheasants, especially for the endangered ‘cheer’ pheasant (Wallich's Pheasant); this was established in 1988 to try and increase their population in the Sanctuary which in terms of altitude, is suited to them as unlike some other pheasant species that prefer low ground, these are found at higher altitudes.

‘Machan’-like sighting posts are near 'Blossom' - at Khariun, and on the bald-pate of the prosaically named 'Roda Tibba'.

Special Attributes

Wildlife sanctuary with excellent walk trails

Nuisance

Normal precautions while entering a wildlife sanctuary need to be observed

Dressing restrictions

Comfortable

Connectivity

Taxis and walking

Enjoyed by

Walkers, nature lovers and general interest

Exposure

The site is an outdoor one, there is high UV, and rain in the monsoons and rain or snow in winter

Avoidable Season

January, February, July, August

Facilities

Limited

Things Not Allowed

No weapons

Tip

Try and visit in the mornings and you can picnic near the entrance gate

Type of site

Wildlife sanctuary