Chandigarh

Chandigarh is the joint capital city of the states of Punjab and Haryana and is the first planned city of India. It is an exemplary instance of the 20th century architecture and entire city was the result of the projects by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Matthew Nowicki, and Albert Mayer. The city has the highest per capita income and also features the impressive backdrop of the Shivalik hills that makes for enchanting locale. Before you embark on a tour to this city, just enrich your knowledge through the tourist information on Chandigarh.

History

There was a pressing need for a new capital of Punjab after the division of India in 1947 since the then capital city of Punjab, Lahore, became a part of Pakistan and the east Punjab of India had no capital of its own. Hence, Chandigarh was given the status of the capital of Indian Punjab.

The City

The city of Chandigarh has derived its name from Chandi which means “The Goddess of Power” and it is a Union Territory ruled by the government at the Center. Chandigarh is a must visit destination if you are on your tour to North India and the most well-known tourist attractions in the city are the Rock Gardens, which is a marvelous instance of how a wonder can be created out of a completely non-existing scenario. Sukhna Lake is another delight for the tourists and is an artificial reservoir; it is host to various migratory birds such as storks and cranes. You must visit Rose Gardens which is another lure for the lovers of natural beauty. Every year Rose Festival is held and it is the largest rose garden in Asia featuring more than 50000 rose trees and above1600 species of the flower.

Tourist Attractions in Chandigarh

Chandigarh is one of the most beautiful and well planned cities in India. The city is the capital of both Punjab and Haryana and is also a Union Territory. The city was designed by the famous French architect and planner Le Corbusier Over the years Chandigarh has earned the impressive title of ‘City beautiful’ due to its lovely gardens, planned roads and amazing architectural creations. There are many tourist attractions in Chandigarh which are important for tourism in Punjab.

The Capitol Complex: The capitol complex is the location of the major administrative buildings of the states of Punjab and Haryana. The main buildings located in this complex include the Legislative assembly, the high court, and the secretariat. The complex is a brilliant example of contemporary architecture. The open hand monument is a beautiful work of art adorning this complex.

Chandi Mandir: Chandigarh chandi mandir is a very famous temple located at a distance of about 15 kms from the city of gardens. It is situated about 10 kms away from the Mansa Devi Shrine. Chandi Mandir is dedicated to Chandi, the goddess of power. Chandi Devi temple near Chandigarh, India is basically a Siddh Peeth, a place where wishes are believed to come true. The city of Chandigarh was named after this temple. During the festivity of Navratras, thousands of people visit this temple. When it comes to Chandigarh excursions, visiting the Chandi Devi mandir is like a must.

Gardens and Parks:

Rock Garden: This garden is an amazing example of the fusion of innovation and artistry. Urban and industrial waste has been utilized to make beautiful sculptures and statues depicting a fantasy world in this garden. Tourists marvel at the palaces, temples, and statues of people and animals made out of broken china, glassware, building materials and boulders. It is the most popular among the places to visit in Chandigarh, and attracts many tourists every year. The park is adorned by waterfalls, pools and trees. An open air theater within the garden is used for many cultural activities.

Rose Garden: The rose garden is also known as Zakir Hussain rose garden. It is the largest rose garden in Asia and displays an amazing range of over 1600 rose species. The garden is beautifully designed with lush green lawns and adorned with colorful fountains. An annual rose festival is one of the major tourist attractions in Chandigarh.

Other Gardens: There are many gardens and parks in this green city. These include, the Leisure valley, Rajendra park, Bouganvillea garden, Hibiscus garden and Shanti kunj.

Sukhna Lake: This man made reservoir offers a wonderful opportunity to soak in the fine ambience of the city. Tourists can enjoy the scenic view of the distant mountains while boating in the traditional boats designed like the shikaras of Kashmir. The lake is also full of swans and other birds. Sunset as seen from the lake is a splendid sight.

Museums: 

The Government museum and art gallery - this museum offers a fine collection of sculptures from the Gandhara School belonging to the Buddhist period. There are also fine miniature paintings and prehistoric fossil remains on display.

Museum of Evolution of Life – it exhibits the transition from the prehistoric era through the Indus valley civilization to the modern era.

International Dolls museum – this place offers an impressive collection of dolls and puppets from all over the world.

The forests near Sukhna Lake are also among the tourist attractions in Chandigarh. The city is also the gateway to Shimla, a famous hill station in Himachal Pradesh. Kalka is a tourist spot near Chandigarh from where the famous Kalka-Shimla narrow gauge train starts its journey.

Places around Chandigarh

A visit to Chandigarh is not complete without a visit to the temple of Goddess Chandi, which is located in Panchkula, 10 km away from Chandigarh. In fact, the name Chandigarh is derived from this temple. Nearby is the temple of Mansa Devi. Both the temples are built in the North Indian style of architecture. Moreover, there is the Panchkula Cactus and Succulent Botanical Garden, which houses over 2,500 varieties of cacti and other succulent plants from all parts of the world. This is the first and the only botanical garden where a systematic and comprehensive collection of Indian species of cacti is being.

Located on the banks of River Ghaggar, 15 km from the city, the Chattbir Zoo is an ideal getaway from Chandigarh. The zoo lies on the Chandigarh-Patiala Road. Besides these, Pinjore (now Yadavindra Gardens; 20 km), Morni Hills (45 km), Kasauli (77 km), Chail (107 km), and Shimla (110 km) are some of the interesting places to visit around Chandigarh.


Fairs and Festivals

However, it is not bricks, stones and trees alone that infuse breath into the city's soul. It is essentially the people and their ethos that etches the image of a city. Although, the planning of Chandigarh was not intended to be a social revolution, it has nevertheless shaped the psyche of its people-who are more secular, integrated and modern in their outlook. They are also fiercely proud and possessive of their city.

Lacking in age-old cultural traditions of a typical town, Chandigarh has acquired new ones to its calendar of activities. People celebrate spring festivals, tree plantation festivals, rose and chrysanthemum shows, dog shows and kite-flying festivals with as much gaiety and zest as they celebrate Diwali, Holi or any other religious function. Chandigarh citizens are also a very culturally conscious. For a small city of its size, there are more than five major auditoriums and a same number of art galleries. Even more and bigger cultural centers are being planned to be built to cater to the growing demands of art and theater lovers. In autumn and winter when the sun is mellow, on a single day there can be a good number of art exhibitions and concrete openings in the city. It is usual for the 'city elite' to be seen and to see such occasions as an important status symbol.

In the final analysis, what makes Chandigarh extraordinary is the fact that merely within four decades a barren landscape has been transformed into a modern and model human habitation. The making of a new city is "like inventing a new tomorrow." And Chandigarh succeeds in ushering in a new dawn.

Chandigarh Shopping Guide

In this article, we will provide you with Chandigarh shopping guide that will give you information on Chandigarh shopping destinations. Shopping in Chandigarh, India is a real fun experience, as there are a plenty of happening places to shop at. There is a plethora of shopping malls, where you can find the posh crowd shopping and enjoying themselves.

The most popular shopping arcade is in Sector 17, which is also known as City Centre. Here, you can find virtually anything and everything on this earth. There are plenty of handicraft emporiums, but there is no traditional item that is specific to Chandigarh. Infact, they contain an assortment of handicrafts and handloom products gathered from neighboring states. While shopping in this city, you can check out the traditional tip-turned-up jutis, colorful Punjabi dupattas and yummy jams and juices.

Here is provided information on where to shop in Chandigarh, if you are shopping for specific items:

• Auto Centers: Sectors 28, 21

• Book Shops: Sector 14, 17, 19, 22

• Electronic Goods: Sector 17, 22

• Fruits, Vegetables and Grains: Sector 26

• Furniture: Sector 34, 7 (Madhya Marg)

• Garment, Shoes: Sector 17, 22, and 9

• Hardware: Sector 7, 18, 22

• Medical Stores: Sector 11, 16, 22

• Meat and Fish: Sector 21

• Vegetable and Fruit Stalls: Sector 19, 20 and 22

Best Time To Visit Chandigarh

The best time to visit Chandigarh is the period between mid August and November, when the weather is neither too hot nor too cold. Since Chandigarh is located in the plains; it enjoys a moderate weather like other North Indian cities experience. Summers are sometimes very hot and then the arrival of monsoon comes like a pleasant surprise. Read on to know more about the Chandigarh peak time…

The ideal time to visit Chandigarh starts by the mid of August. By that time, the monsoons are almost over and the temperature keeps dropping, giving a warm welcome to the winter season. Tourism is on its boom during this season. Tourists come from different parts of the country to visit this beautiful city of gardens.

Reaching Chandigarh:

The tourist information on Chandigarh is surely going to be of great help for you during your vacations as you can now know the access to Chandigarh.

By Air: You can reach Chandigarh by the carriers, Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and the Deccan Airways that connect Delhi everyday from Chandigarh.

By Rail: Chandigarh can also be accessed by rail network and the Shatabadi Express to Delhi passes through twice daily.

By Road: The facility of bus stand is in sector 17 that links Chandigarh to Delhi, Shimla, Manali, Haridwar.