Why Chail – India's Best-Kept Trail Running Secret
Tucked between Shimla and Kasauli at 2,250 m, Chail is famous for hosting the world's highest cricket ground, the Maharaja's Chail Palace, and dense forests of deodar and chir pine. For runners, it offers something rare in India — long stretches of well-graded colonial bridle paths cutting through old-growth forest, with very little vehicular traffic.
After the success of the Rishikesh edition in February and Nainital in May 2019, Rungreen wanted to bring the Ultrawarrior format to Himachal. Chail offered the perfect combination of altitude, forest density, and infrastructure with minimal tourist crowding.
The Course – Bridle Paths, Sanctuary Edges, Cricket Ground Finish
- Start at the Chail Palace lawns at first light
- Climb through deodar forest along old colonial bridle paths
- Loop the periphery of Chail Wildlife Sanctuary
- Ridge running with views of the Sutlej valley
- Final ascent to the iconic high-altitude cricket ground for the finish
August in Chail meant lush, post-rain forests and cool 14-19°C temperatures — but also the ever-present risk of leeches, sudden showers, and slippery moss-covered stones. The course was designed to embrace these conditions rather than work around them.
Running an Indian Monsoon Trail Race – What We Learned
Chail was the first Ultrawarrior held during monsoon. Three operational lessons from this edition shaped every subsequent rainy-season race Rungreen has organised:
- Footwear briefing: Mandatory pre-race session on grip, drainage, and dry-bag use
- Tarp-covered aid stations: Quick-deployable rain canopies at every aid point
- Course re-marking strategy: Ribbons replaced spray paint after the first night's rain washed markers away
110 Warriors – The Profile of a Chail Finisher
Most participants were repeat Ultrawarriors from the Rishikesh and Nainital editions earlier in the year, joined by a strong contingent from Chandigarh, Shimla, and Delhi-NCR running clubs. A small number were Himachal locals racing their first organised trail event. The shared post-race meal at the Chail Palace lawns — siddu, rajma chawal, and madra — became a memory many warriors still talk about.
What Chail Added to the Ultrawarrior DNA
Chail proved that the Ultrawarrior format could travel beyond Uttarakhand. It set the template for monsoon-window trail running in India and added the Himachali dimension to the series' growing geographic footprint. The lessons from this edition directly influenced the next race — Ultrawarrior Lansdowne in September 2019.
The Next Mountain Chapter
Continuing the legacy of Rungreen's Himalayan trail races, the upcoming Mukteshwar Ultra 2026 brings ultra-distance racing to the Kumaon hills. Reserve your slot today.
Plan a Mountain Trail Race with Rungreen
Need help organising a trail run in the Indian hills? Our marathon and trail event management team manages route design, forest permissions, hill-medical, timing, and finish-line production. Get a proposal.
