| Chail | | | | including accommodation, meals, equipment and |
| The hilltop village of Chail, 65km south of Shimla, | | | | tuition, but not transport. |
| cross created by the maharaja of Patiala as his | | | | Hotel Mahamaya - On the busy main road in the |
| summer capital, after he was expelled from Shimla | | | | village centre, Hotel Mahamaya Palace has a suitably |
| for getting a little too friendly with the daughter of | | | | alpine mood, an inviting, dark-wood restaurant and |
| the British military commander. If you fancy a few | | | | large, worn rooms, some with mountain views. |
| overs, Chail lays claim to the ‘world's highest | | | | HPTDC Hotel Hatu – Off the main road just east |
| cricket ground', a 3km walk from the village. As well | | | | of the centre, is a government run place with |
| as forest strolls, there's a Wildlife Park with deer and | | | | pleasant gardens, snug rooms and a restaurant and |
| birds. | | | | bar. |
| Hotel Pine View – Hotel Pine View is the only | | | | Pabbar Valley |
| reasonable budget accommodation in town. Shared | | | | Running northeast to Kinnaur, the calm Pabbar Valley |
| rooms have bucket hot water. | | | | is easily accessible from Shimla by public bus. Set in |
| Palace Hotel – Palace Hotel is a former maharaja's | | | | rolling fields at the mouth of the valley, the Durga |
| palace that's now run by the HPTDC. The grand | | | | temple at Hatkoti Navratra was founded in the 8th |
| grey-stone mansion, set in 28 hectares of immaculate | | | | century AD. Built in classic Kinnauri style, the |
| lawns, is a luxurious in a Raj-era way, and | | | | slate-roofed temples attract large numbers of |
| accommodation ranges from log huts to sumptuous | | | | Shaivite pilgrims during the Chaitra Navratra and Asvin |
| suites. | | | | Navratra festivals in April and October, Pilgrims' |
| Narkanda | | | | quarters are available at the temple or you can stay |
| About 65km northeast of Shimla, Narkanda is a | | | | at the HPTDC Hotel Chanshal, 10km north of Hatkoti |
| nondescript truck-stop town for most of the year, | | | | towards Rohru. |
| but from January to March it transforms into a | | | | Local buses connect Hatkoti to Jubbal, 29km west, |
| modest ski resort. The HPTDC offers three-/five- | | | | which has a fanciful slate-roofed palace built by the |
| seven-day skiing packages from Rs2739/4565/6391, | | | | former Rana of Jubbal. |