Chandigarh

If someone says, one man can build almost an entire city, you would laugh. But visit Chandigarh and you would realize that it is actually not impossible. The face of modern India, Chandigarh, is the manifestation of a dream that Nehru envisaged and Le Corbusier executed. India's first ?planned city, is in sharp contrast to its other Indian counterparts, a rich, prosperous, spic and span, green city. If you are under the impression that a visit to India is all about being pick-pocketed and pestered by mosquitoes and beggars, Chandigarh will definitely belie such expectations. With the Shivalik hill range giving the city a picturesque backdrop, Chandigarh is typically beautiful too.

This is a city that doesn't contradict itself, with rich skyscrapers surrounded by poor slums. This is a city, which rather flaunts its well-being. Join in and celebrate.

At a Glance

When to Visit:

Chandigarh has an extreme climate, with summer highs touching 46C and winters chilling down to even 1C. The rainy months extend from July to September. So the ideal time to visit Chandigarh would be February-March and October-December.

Dial in code(s): City code: 0172

Distance(s):

• 77 km from Kasauli
• 80 km from Anandpur Sahib
• 90 km from Kurukshetra
• 40 km from Sanghol
• 70 km from Patiala
• 40 km from Fatehgarh Sahib
• 40 km from Sirhind
• 116 km from Bhakra-Nangal

How to Reach

Road:

The Sector 17 bus station has numerous privately operated buses reaching to the nearby cities/towns. Chandigarh has frequent bus connections to Patiala (70 km), Kalka (25 km), Anandpur Sahib (90 km), Amritsar (217 km), Delhi (238 km), Shimla (110 km), Manali (323 km.), Dharmasala (357 km) and Haridwar (245 km). A few good travel agencies are: Raja Travels, No 8, Sector 22, Ph.2700119. Travel India, SCO-20-21, Sector 8 C, and Ph.5003769/3042421. Avtar Travels, No -5 Hotel Mount view, Sec.10 A, Ph. 2746641/2744614.

Rail:

Chandigarh Railway Station is about 8 km from the city centre and is well connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Kalka, and Shimla.

Air:

Chandigarh's airport is 12 km from the city centre and has daily flights to Delhi and Amritsar. There are less frequent flights to Leh too.

To See & Do

Activities

Capitol Complex Also referred to as the Temples of Democracy, the High Court, Secretariat and the Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) are all in Sector 1 and designed by Corbusier making Chandigarh proud. The High Court and can be visited any time as there are no security restrictions. It's architectural highlights are the overhanging roof and buttresses. Corbusier has painstakingly designed an intricate tapestry for every room. For visiting the Secretariat and the Vidhan Sabha, arm yourself with a permission letter from the Chandigarh Tourist Centre (1st floor, Sector 17; Tel: 2703839).  


Rock Garden What began as a crazy pastime of a nondescript traffic inspector is today Chandigarh's most famous landmark. Inspector Nek Chand has used junk of every kind- bottles, tiles, tins, pots, stones- to build a garden with cobbled pathways, gazebos, pavilions and even tiny streams and waterfalls. There are models of dogs, birds, elephants, mythological creatures, again fashioned from recycled junk. The park is close to the Capitol Complex.  

Sukhna Lake Le Corbusier's brainchild is this artificial lake, created by damming the Sukhna Choe, a stream flowing down from the Shivaliks. The lake has boating facilities. Fringing the lake are gardens, a playground and a restaurant-cum-bar. Jogging or strolling by the lake is a popular activity. Storks and cranes make migratory visits to Sukhna. 


City Museum The museum tells you all about the planning and progress of the city. Photos, letters, models, newspapers, reports and architectural drawings related to the city's construction are on display. The museum is open all days except Mondays and national holidays.  


Government Museum and Art Gallery Set up by M.S. Randhawa, the first Chief Commissioner of Chandigarh, the museum today has some priceless stone sculptures and miniature paintings, especially of the Pahari and Kangra schools. The objects d'art in terracotta, ivory, lacquer, ceramic, and enamel, and phulkari and rumal embroidery make interesting viewing. The museum is open from 10 am-4.30 pm; Mondays are holidays.  


National Gallery of Portraits A visual narration of the Indian independence movement through photographs and paintings is what this gallery is all about. It is in Sector 17 and admits visitors between 10 am-5.30 pm.

Parks and Gardens

Though Bangalore is the official Garden City, Corbusier has laid out enough gardens in and around Chandigarh to warrant a similar epithet to the city. The Rose Garden in Sector 16 with its musical fountain, and the multihued Bougainvillea Garden in Sector 3 are among the best.  


Pinjore (Yadavindra) Gardens Soft carpet of undulating grass dotted with fountains and pavilions, this demands a visit. It was originally built in the 17th century by Aurangazeb's brother Fidai Khan. Legend has it that the mythological Pandavas stopped here during their exile. Pinjore is 20 km from the city centre, on the Pinjore-Kalka Road.

Religious Places

Mansa Devi and Chandi Mandir Some 10 km from Chandigarh, these temples dedicated to the Mother Goddess predate the city. The garden attached to the Mansa Devi temple is believed to contain sacred plants.

Festivals

Baisakhi (April) Baisakhi marks the Hindu New Year. For the Sikhs, it is also the day when Guru Gobind Singh initiated the Khalsa. Guru Nanak Jayanti (October/November) The birth anniversaries of the ten Sikh gurus, including those of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh (December/January) are holy days. People throng to the gurudwaras, shabad (verses from the Granth Sahib) are sung and langars (community kitchens) set up to serve food to one and all.

Shopping

Chandigarh is a city of sprawling malls and only occasionally does one spot a handicrafts emporium. There is as such no 'traditional' Chandigarhi item to shop for, but you can browse for the famous curly-toed jootis, embroidered Punjabi dupattas (stoles) in jewel colours, and woollens. Good hunting grounds are Phulkari, the Punjab government emporium (SCO 27, Sector 17E), Black Partridge, the Haryana state emporium (SCO 104-105, Sector 17), Weaver (SCO 18-19, Sector 9D), Handloom Emporium (Sector 17), Leathera (Sector 17, 22 and 35) and Charma Shilpa (SCF 8, Sector 22 D). Like every other tourist, keep an evening reserved for the famous Sector 17 shopping area. Lined with shops and restaurants, this is where the young and trendy live it up.

Travel Tips

• If going in summer, stick to cool cottons.
• Go light on Punjabi food; the oil and ghee can churn even the hardiest of stomachs.
• When entering gurudwaras, leave your shoes outside and cover your head.

Emergency info:

Tourist Receiption Centre , Chandigarh Airport: 2656027
Tourist Receiption Centre , Chandigarh Railway: 2658093
Punjab Tourism Dev. Centre, Chandigarh: 2699140
Railway station: 2658093
Airport:2657784
Money Exchanger (RBI): 2702271, 2702279
Regional Passport office: 2606889
General Hospital of Emergency: 2768201, 2768202

Check below links for booking hotels:
1. JW Marriott Hotel Chandigarh
2. Taj Chandigarh
3. Hometel Chandigarh


Check below links for Transportation:
1. Book your Cab here
2. Book your Airlines here
3. Book your Railways here