‘The City Beautiful’ as it is lovingly called; Chandigarh is the first ever planned city of post-Independence India. Apart from serving as the Capital city of Punjab and Haryana, the bustling city of Chandigarh is also a Union Territory. With its magnificent buildings that show off some brilliant architecture and flourishing flora and fauna that are evident from its numerous gardens, Chandigarh is the true face of modernization. Adding to its uniqueness, Chandigarh also takes a lead on being named as India’s cleanest and first smoke-free city, despite being one of the most populated cities of India.
Must Visit Places in Chandigarh
1. Sukhna Lake
Photo by Rishabh Mathur, CC BY-SA 2.0
Like the city itself, the Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh is also a well-planned artificially formed lake that acts as the city’s focal point. Located at the base of the magnificent Shivalik Range, the lake is a favorite hangout for tourists and locals alike. At day-break, joggers throng the lake-side and some sit on the concrete embankment deep in meditation. The lake-side also serves as a picnic spot and there is also a little children’s park. Beautiful paddle boats and shikaras dot the lake and rides are available for a reasonable price.
The winter months provide a special treat as various migratory birds arrive at the lake. Among the most exotic are the Siberian ducks, storks and cranes The birds, coupled with the beautiful backdrop of the Shivalik Range, the haze of the far off horizon and the clear blue skies above, provides opportunity for some spectacular photography.
Boating Timings – 9:30am to 6pm IST everyday
2. Rock Garden of Chandigarh
True to its reputation of being the cleanest city in India, Chandigarh has a unique way of treating its waste and discarded materials in the form of a Rock Garden. The garden was the brain-child of Nek Chand, who first started forming the garden as a hobby. Undoubtedly one of the most intriguing tourist attractions, the garden is situated just near the Sukhna Lake. The sprawling 20 acres garden is a beautified landscape displaying rows of statues and small arrangements made from broken glass, bangles and chinaware, discarded fluorescent tubes and other waste materials along with rocks and boulders. The arrangements range from figures of dancers, soldiers, monkeys, famous monuments, temples and even an area depicting a tiny village. The narrow paved path weaving through the garden and the spectacular waterfall add further beauty to the glamour of this garden.
- Opening Timings – 9:00am to 7:30pm IST in Summer (1st April to 30th September)
9:00am to 6:00pm IST in Winter (1st October to 31st March) - Entry Fees – INR 20 for adults
INR 10 for children - Photography – Both still and video cameras allowed
3. Chandigarh Rose Garden
Photo by Aleksandr Zykov, CC BY-SA 2.0
Chandigarh has the highest vegetation cover in India and to showcase its colorful flora, numerous gardens adorn the city. One of the most popular is the Zakir Hussain Rose garden, which is known to have the biggest collection of rose bushes in Asia. The sprawling 30 acres of garden holds more than 1600 species of roses spanning a kaleidoscope of colors. The Rose Garden is the venue of Chandigarh’s famous Rose Festival held during February or March. Horticulture enthusiasts are invited from across India to put forward their best potted flowering plant for a competition. The festival also includes competitions on gardening, photography and bonsai. The carnival-like fest also features joyrides and food stalls offering mouth-watering dishes. Various workshops are conducted on the raising and upkeep of different plants.
Apart from the vast display of rose bushes, the beautifully manicured garden also holds several medicinal plants like yellow gulmohur, harar and camphor.
- Opening Timings – 6:00am to 8:00pm everyday
- Entry Fees – INR 50 per person for all ages
Should Visit Places in Chandigarh
4. Chandigarh Museum and Art Gallery
Photo by Sanyam Bahga, CC BY-SA 3.0
Situated near the Chandigarh Rose Garden, The Chandigarh Museum and Art Gallery is a walk-through of the unique and colorful culture of India portrayed in its beautiful artwork and photographs. India’s talent pool for handicrafts and art is evident in every piece of the approximately 10,000 exhibits carefully preserved in the museum. The museum is divided into three main sections:
- The National History Museum – This part of the museum has separate sections with exhibits that go back to pre-historic times depicting a selection of dinosaurs that once inhabited the subcontinent. Fossils, skeletons and a large array of dinosaur eggs are displayed along with descriptive captions that throw a lot of light on the extinct species. Apart from all about dinosaurs, some exotic primitive plants from that era, rocks, minerals and crystals are also on display.
- National Gallery of Portraits – This section is a walk-through of the string of famous people who played pivotal roles in India’s fight for independence. The walls are adorned with lively canvas paintings of about forty great men and women like Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh. Details of their life history and contribution as freedom fighters are narrated in plaques below the pictures.
- The Architecture Museum – This portion of the museum is dedicated to the uniquely interesting and brilliant architecture that Chandigarh is famous for. A walk through this section unravels the story of how the city of Chandigarh was designed and built.
Apart from the above, the museum also has a book section holding a collection of rare manuscripts, miniature paintings and various sculptures.
- Opening timings – 10:00am to 4:30pm (except Monday and holidays)
- Entry Fees – INR 10 for all (free for children below 12yrs & senior citizens)
- Camera Fees – INR 5
5. ISKCON Temple
If you are looking for some spiritual peace and serenity, the ISCKON Temple in Chandigarh is a devotional retreat for you. The temple is located in Dakshin Marg and attracts a large number of pilgrims throughout the year. There are several prayers held at intervals during the day. A walk around the beautifully decorated and maintained campus brings a feeling of devotional peace with the serene ambience frequently broken by the soft sound of chants and bells coming from the temples. The beautiful idols of Radha and Lord Krishna adorned in their intricately designed dresses and accentuated with strings of flowers are enchanting to look at. The temple is open for all throughout the day and the prayer timings can be obtained from their helpdesk.
Can Visit Places in Chandigarh
6. Tower of Shadows
Chandigarh is famous in the world for its brilliant architecture. Through its various monuments, the city holds testimony of the architectural skill and efficiency of its French designer and creator Le Corbusier. One of the most fascinating monuments designed and constructed by him is the Tower of Shadows located in Sector 1 between the Chandigarh High Court and the Parliament buildings. The slanting concrete slabs placed strategically in different angles catch the sun’s rays in such a way that various shapes and forms of shadow fall both inside and outside the building. It is indeed an intriguing thing to watch how the shadows change as the day progresses.
7. Nepli Reserve Forest
At the foots of the Shivalik Range and around the Sukhna Lake lies the Nepli Reserve Forest that strives to preserve Chandigarh’s vast vegetation cover. Trekking is one of the predominant activities in this forest that has small trails weaving through it. This forest is abundant with wildlife that roams free in their natural habitat. Among the animals that can be spotted are nilgais, jackals, hyenas, hares and antelopes. There is also a quaint little forest rest house surrounded by emerald lawns and thick vegetation. Trekking maps, guides and equipments can be obtained from hotels, travel agents and also with the forest authorities.
With the privilege of being well-planned and designed, the city of Chandigarh has much to offer that makes for a most memorable and enjoyable visit!