Saturday, April 18, 2009

Chail - World's Highest Cricket Ground

Chail (former summer capital of Patiala) is 43 km from Shimla. Three km from the village is the world’s highest cricket ground (2,444 metres) built in 1893. (The Maharaja of Patiala had a penchant for cricket and had a vast stretch of land flattened in the Himalayan terrain for cricket.) The ground has the world's highest cricket pitch. Chail Cricket ground has brought fame to India by becoming the highest cricket ground in the whole world.

This cricket ground of Chail has been existing since the times of Maharaja Bhupendra Singh who had established it. It has always been known by the name of a cricket ground because the Maharaja used to play friendly matches with the Britishers.

This ground is also used as polo ground. There is a well maintained Basket Ball court and the same cricket ground is used for playing football as the ground also has goal posts. In one corner of the ground there is a historic tree on which the local students have constructed a beautiful tree house.

It is established in the cantonment area of army and hence it is as such is out of bounds to common tourists and locals. The place is very cool and picturesque.

For many years, the cricket ground merited a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records. Though the record has not been broken, Guinness Book has decided to delete the documentation because no competitive cricket is being conducted there. Today, the local lads use the venue for inter-school matches or the nearby contingent of the Indian military holds its sports meet and march-pasts. The sprawling grounds are well-kept with manicured lawns. Huge trees of deodar and pine surround the playground in a mute standing ovation.

More to read : World's Highest Battle field

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...