Top Tourist Places to visit in Chandigarh
Among the famous places in Chandigarh, some of the most visited places are:
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Rock Garden: The sculpture garden in Chandigarh was founded by a government official Nek Chand in 1957 and was officially inaugurated
for the public in 1976. He started the garden secretly and now it is spread across an area of 40 acres. It is hard to believe but the whole garden is unique as it is
built of industrial and home waste and with the items that have been thrown-away like bottles, glasses, bangles, tiles, ceramic pots, sinks, electrical waste, broken
pipes, etc. The garden has several man-made interlinked waterfalls and many other sculptures made of scrap. The garden is a must visit place in Chandigarh among
several places to see in Chandigarh.
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Zakir Hussain Rose Garden: As the name itself suggests, the garden has 50,000 rose-bushes of 1600 different species spread across 30
acres. The botanical garden was created in 1967 and has been named after Zakir Hussain who was India's former president. The garden is Asia’s largest rose garden.
Other than roses, the garden also has medicinal plants like bel, bahera, harar, camphor and yellow gulmohar. The garden hosts a Rose Festival annually in February or
March. The Zakir Hussain Rose Garden is perfect place for photographers to get some fantastic clicks.
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Shanti Kunj: Located in Sector 16, just opposite to the Rose Garden, Shanti Kunj garden offers a serene and pollution-free ambiance to
its visitors. The garden has many medicinal plants and trees which provides respite to the visitors in scorching heat of the summer season. Shanti Kunj is also a place
for joggers. There is also a natural water stream in the garden. Visitors can also enjoy training programs on national integration, youth empowerment, spiritual
awareness that happen occasionally in the garden. The place is a perfect go-to-place for families, couples and friends.
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Pinjore Gardens: Built in the 17th century, Pinjore Gardens is located 20 km from Chandigarh. The gardens is built in the Mughal
Gardens architectural style and is spread over an area of 100 acres. This tourist attraction is accessible by public as well as private mode of transportation, and is
a treat to the eyes at night. As history suggests, the garden was built for Aurangzeb by the ruler’s foster brother architect Muzaffar Hussain. There is also a Pinjore
Garden Site Museum which was established by Haryana State Directorate of Archaeology & Museums. Its greenery, waterfalls, Rajasthani–Mughal style architecture, and
adjoining monuments like the Shish Mahal and Hawa Mahal make it a must visit place in Chandigarh.
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Sukhna Lake: Sukhna Lake is a man-made lake which covers an area of over 3 km. Located at the foothills of the Himalayas, the lake is
a reservoir which was created in 1958 by Le Corbusier and the Chief Engineer P L Verma by creating a dam out of a seasonal stream coming down from the Shivalik Hills.
The beautiful manmade lake is one of the most important tourist places in Chandigarh. The lake offers a breathtaking view to its visitors.
Chandigarh Sightseeing by Bus: Bus can be convenient for people who do not want to spend extravagantly on their travel. It
is not just cheaper but also gives you a clear picture of the place you are travelling. Being one of the cleanest cities of India, it would not be a problem for
visitors to travel by bus in Chandigarh. There are hop-on hop-off double-decker tourist buses in the city run by Chandigarh Tourism for Chandigarh sightseeing.
Visitors can also check Chandigarh packages for discounts. The buses visit famous
Chandigarh points of interest on a day tour.
Chandigarh Sightseeing by Car: While buses are a cheaper option for Chandigarh sightseeing, cars are convenient and provide
privacy to a visitor whether one is travelling with family or friends. In a car, you have the liberty of stopping at any Chandigarh points of interest and can explore
the place yourself at leisure. Don’t worry even if you don’t have your personal car as there are agencies in the city that can provide you cars on rent. This is also
one of the best options to travel as you can visit only those places which you want to unlike the bus service.
Weekend Getaways from Chandigarh:
If you are planning to spend some
holidays in Chandigarh, try to explore
nearby areas also. Chandigarh is in close proximity to many hill stations like Kasauli, Solan, Shimla and more. One can use a weekend and visit these places.
Tourist places near Chandigarh within 100 km
The two prominent places within 100 km of Chandigarh for a perfect weekend getaway are Kasauli and Solan.
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Kasauli: Situated in Himachal Pradesh, the town is in close proximity to Chandigarh and is only 58 km from the ‘city beautiful’. The
beautiful hill town houses colonial-era houses, orchards, green-roofed Christ Church, forests of horse chestnut and Himalayan oak. Enveloped by the sky, the town is
perfect for tourists who look for a calm and serene ambiance for their stay.
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Solan: Solan is a district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh and is also referred as the Mushroom city of India because of the
vast mushroom farming in the area. The place is 67 km from Chandigarh. Solan has a rich heritage and was named after the Hindu goddess Shoolini Devi. It can also be
called as a heritage city because of the long list of heritage buildings like Jatoli Temple, Mohan Shakti National Heritage Park and Dolanji Bon Monastery among others
situated in the district.
Tourist places near Chandigarh within 200 km
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Shimla: Capital of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla is 113 km away from Chandigarh. Nestled amidst beautiful trees and tall mountains, the
city is one of the most favourite and most visited tourist spots in the country.
Weather
in Shimla remains pleasant throughout the year. One should surely take out time for this amazing place.
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Mussoorie: Mussoorie is 195 km from Chandigarh and is one of the most visited hill station in Uttarakhand. Being nicknamed as ‘Queen
of the Hills’, the town offers a breathtaking view of its hills covered with a blanket of green trees. It has peaks, falls, gardens, lakes, and temples, which makes it
a perfect place to relax and enjoy with your loved ones.
Tourist places near Chandigarh within 500 km
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Manali: Manali is a resort town which is located in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh and is 306 km from Chandigarh. The popular
tourist destination is also a gateway to Lahaul and Spiti district. The famous tourist attractions in Manali are Hidimba Devi Temple, Solang, Rohtang Pass, Bhrigu
Lake, Pandoh Dam, Manali Sanctuary, Beas River, Hamta Pass and Great Himalayan National Park.
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Amritsar: Located in Punjab, Amritsar is famous for Golden Temple which is the holiest gurdwara of the Sikhs. Amritsar is named after
the sacred Amrit Sarovar Lake which surrounds the city. Pilgrims bathe in the lake. The city is 227 km from Chandigarh.
Places to Stay in Chandigarh:
As Chandigarh is one of the cleanest and pollution free cities in India, tourists love to come here. From luxurious to pocket-friendly hotels, the city has every
option of accommodation.
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5-star accommodations in Chandigarh: JW Marriott Hotel, Taj Chandigarh, Hotel Mountview and The LaLiT Chandigarh are some of the 5-
star accommodations in Chandigarh with spacious rooms and above reproach hospitality.
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4-star accommodations in Chandigarh: Some of the 4-star hotels in Chandigarh are Turquoise, The Fern Residency, Hotel Orbit and Hotel
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3-star accommodations in Chandigarh: Lemon Tree Hotel, Hotel Emerald, Hotel Oyster, and Hotel City Heart Premium are some of the 3-
star hotels in the city that offers all the modern amenities to its visitors.
Budget accommodations in Chandigarh: Hotel Golden Plaza, Hotel City Palace, Hotel Amar Palace, Hotel Surya Palace and Hotel
The Diamond Chandigarh are some of the budget friendly hotels that offer basic amenities at reasonable costs.There is no dearth of hotels in the city. Choose wisely
according to your budget and have a memorable stay at
hotels in Chandigarh.
FAQ's
Q. What is the best season with less rush to visit Chandigarh?
A. October is the best time to visit Chandigarh as the place is less crowded in this month.
Q. What are the places that one should not miss when visiting Chandigarh?
A. The places in Chandigarh that one should not miss are Sukhna Lake, Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, Rock Garden, Pinjore Gardens and Open Hand Monument.
Q. Is Chandigarh safe for foreigners?
A. Yes, Chandigarh is considered one of the safest cities of the India. The city is safe for foreigners.
Q. What to do in Chandigarh in one day?
A. One can go on a city tour in one day. Tourist buses are available in Chandigarh that takes you on a city tour and make sure that you visit all the prominent tourist attractions in the city.
Q. Which hill stations/beaches are near Chandigarh?
A. Kasauli is the nearest hill station to Chandigarh which is only 58 km.
Q. What one should know before going to Chandigarh?
A. Traffic rules are very strict in Chandigarh. Also, smoking in public is an offense and you may be challaned for it.
Q. What are the places to visit in Chandigarh and Panchkula?
A. The places to visit in Chandigarh and Panchkula are Morni Hills, Cactus Garden, Ramgarh Fort, Mansa Devi Temple and Nada Sahib.
Q. What are the places one can visit in Chandigarh at night?
A. Whistling Duck, The Great Bear, MOB and Hops n Grains are some of the best places to head to enjoy Chandigarh’s nightlife. One can also visit Aroma hotel for late night meal.
Q. What are places in Chandigarh that one can visit with family?
A. Thunder Zone Amusement & Water Park, International Dolls Museum, Sukhna Lake, Nek Chand's Rock Garden and Chattbir Zoo are some of the places in Chandigarh that one can visit with their family and kids.
Q. What are the places to visit in Chandigarh in May?
A. Places to visit in Chandigarh in May are Sukhna Lake, Roopkund Trek, Pinjore Garden, Government Museum and Art Gallery, Botanical Gardens and Shanti Kunj.
Q. How to make the most of a 2 day trip to Chandigarh?
A. To make the most of a 2-day trip, one can plan Chandigarh sightseeing on the first day and go for shopping at sector 17 or local markets of sector 15 and sector 22 on the second day. There are also many famous eating places that one can visit.
Q. What are the hidden things in Chandigarh?
A. Some of the hidden things in Chandigarh are Government Museum and Art Gallery, Garden of Fragrance, Fun City and International Dolls Museum.
