kandaghat

Location: Himachal Pradesh
Altitude: 1,425m
Places of Interest: Karol Ranges, Chail View Palace, and Shiva Temples
Best Time To Visit: April to June & October to November

Situated at an altitude of 1,425 meters on Kalka- Shimla highway, Kandaghat suddenly shot into prominence when late Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, the ruler of Patiala State was expelled from Shimla. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh built his first palace at Kandaghat known as "Chail View Palace", which is presently housing the Government Polytechnic College for Women. At that time businessmen, Laureates, Physicians and other people from almost an ll. Spheres of life were pulled out from Patiala with attractive incentives and were given all possible facilities to settle down at Kandaghat, Chail and around it.
Later in the pre-independence days Kandaghat was called "Kohistan District," it was the seat of the Deputy Commissioner and was also the "Summer Capital" of the Princely State of Patiala. After independence it was called "Pepsu". According to the "Reader's Digest World Atlas" the name of Kandaghat "A Micro Dot in History" is imprinted in bold letters.

PRIME ATTRACTION

Chail View Palace: Though, now a college for women, the personal chambers of the Maharaja are still maintained in the pristine glory and magnificence and can be viewed by any visitor.

Shiva Temples: One with a religious and archeological bent of mind can visit the temple of Lord Shiva. Folklore dates this temple to about 350-400 years ago. Though in between it was repaired and restructured by his highness Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala.    

Karol Ranges: The highest in the region, these ranges house a historical Krishna temple at the inception of a cave, which was supposedly dug by the legendary Pandavs. How deep the cave runs is just a guess. Folklore says that this cave ultimately emerges at Pinjore near the historical Mughal Gardens.

Baba Thada Mulla: About half a kilometer trek downhill takes you to a local deity "The Baba Thada Mulla" where women are not permitted to worship. One can also witness a magnificent waterfall approximately 250-feet high. It is said, that wishes are fulfilled in exactly seven days and of course a sacrifice of a black goat is essential as thanksgiving. Residential hotels and eating-places are innumerable at this place. 

HOW TO GET THERE

Air: Jubbar Hatti is the nearest airport is about 80-km from Chail

Rail: Nearest railhead is Kandaghat 29-km from Chail on narrow gauge line.

Road: Chail is 29-km from Kandaghat, 61-km from Shimla via Kandaghat and 43-km via Kufri.

NEARBY CITIES

Chail: 29-km
Kufri:  43-km
Jubbar Hatti:80-km