Attractions In chandigarh
Attractions in Chandigarh
A union territory of India, Chandigarh is a shared capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana. This meticulously planned
city is known for its urban architecture, beautiful gardens and museums. Before you actually plan a trip to this clean and
green city, take a look at the things that you can explore here.
Architectural Gems
The master plan of the city was created by the famous Swiss-French architect, Le Corbusier and the iconic Capitol Complex is
the finest examples of his architectural excellence. Set against the backdrop of Shivalik Hills, this UNESCO-listed complex
comprises government buildings, namely the High Court, Legislative Assembly and the Secretariat. While here, you can also
see the symbolic Open Hand Monument, which is considered as the official emblem of the city.
The sacred ISKCON Chandigarh is another such place, which is known for its astounding architecture. Besides, offering
prayers here, you can spend some peaceful time amidst the lush greenery of the temple compound.
Gardens and Parks
Although the city holds a number of gardens that are frequently flocked by the people of Chandigarh as well as tourists, it
is Nek Chand's Rock Garden or simply Rock Garden, which stands at the top of the list. This unique garden is not just famous
for its lush expanse, but for an impressive collection of sculptures made out of scrap material and waste, such as glasses,
bangles, tiles, ceramic pots, broken pipes and sinks. Several man-made, interlinked waterfalls further enhance the beauty of
the garden.
The enticing Zakir Hussain Rose Garden houses 50,000 bushes of rose belonging to approximately 1600 different species. It is
also the site of the annual Rose Festival, held during February or March. The unique Japanese Garden is a recent addition to
the attractions’ list of the city. Built in 2014, this themed garden consists of a small pond, statues of Lord Buddha,
pagoda towers and waterfalls.
Other gardens that you can consider visiting include Rajendra Park, Terraced Garden, Garden of Fragrance, Bougainvillea
Garden and Butterfly Park.
Lake and Zoo
Created in the year 1958, Sukhna Lake is a man-made marvel. While here you can enjoy boating on its placid waters or simply
sit along its bank to admire Shivalik Hills at a distance. Similarly, Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, just a kilometre from the
lake, is a great place for bird watching and wildlife spotting.
A must-visit for wildlife enthusiasts is ChattBir Zoo, which is home to numerous mammals, birds and reptiles. Royal Bengal
tiger, white tiger, Indian gazelle, Indian boar, Indian Python and marsh crocodile are a few species that you can see here.
You can also head to the serene Chandigarh Botanical Garden & Nature Park, which spans over an area of about 176 acres with
15 botanical divisions. Those, who want to spend some time in the lap of nature, can also plan a day trip to Nepli Reserve
Forest.
Museums
To learn about the culture and history of Chandigarh, you can head to any of the popular museums in the city. Consisting of
three different sections, namely the Natural History Museum, National Gallery of Portraits and Chandigarh Architecture
Museum, the Government Museum and Art Gallery is sure to give you a glimpse of the artistic development of the city and
relevance of Chandigarh in the history of India. Besides, the Museum of Evolution of Life is a great place to know about the
Indus Valley Civilisation.
Dedicated to architect Le Corbusier, Le Corbusier Centre is a history museum, which exhibits sketches, documents and
photographs of the celebrated architect. The one-of-a-kind International Dolls Museum exhibits an intriguing collection of
dolls and puppets from around the world.
Other Must-Visit Places
In case you want to add a dash of fun to your Chandigarh trip, simply head to the popular Funcity – one of the biggest
amusement parks in North India. Indulging in numerous rides and water slides here can be a great way to escape from the hot
weather of Chandigarh in summers. You can also spend a whole day of fun and activities at Thunder Zone Amusement and Water
Park.
In the late evening hours, visiting the Musical Fountain in Sector 17 could be a rewarding experience as this spot is known
for its captivating music and laser shows.
Shopping Hubs
To satisfy the shopaholic in you, you can explore the bustling market of Sector 17, which is dotted with an array of
clothing retail outlets, international brand stores, movie theatres, restaurants and pubs.
Those, who want everything under one roof, can head to the gigantic Elante Mall, TDI Mall or City Emporium Mall.
A map of Chandigarh could come in handy if you want to explore the city on your own.
