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Chandigarh is called 'The City Beautiful .
Chandigarh, the capital of the northern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana, was designed by the Swiss-French modernist architect, Le Corbusier. His buildings include the Capitol Complex with its High Court, Secretariat and Legislative Assembly, as well as the giant Open Hand Monument. The nearby Rock Garden is a park featuring sculptures made of stones, recycled ceramics and industrial relics. ― Google
Area: 114 km²
Elevation: 321 m
Weather: 29 °C, Wind E at 6 km/h, 55% Humidity weather.com
Founded: 1953
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
1)-Capitol Complex- The UNESCO World Heritage Site
It’s one of the most monumental Architectural Compositions of Modern Architecture by Le Corbusier arising out of unique geo-political and cultural setting.
It has been given a status of UNESCO World Heritage.
The Capitol Complex is strategically located at Geographic and Topographic “Head” of the city against theback-drop of Shivalik Hills
3 Concrete Buildings:- The pillars of Democracy facing each other
----The Assembly
----The Secretariat
----The High Court, also consists of High Court Museum.
4 Monuments
----The Open Hand Monument:- With the philosophy of “open to give, open to receive” it is the official emblem of the city symbolizing peace and reconciliation.
----The Tower of Shadows:- Tower of shadows This unique monument highlights Le Corbusier’s preoccupation with the sun’s influence on man’s daily life and the architectural challenges presented by the complex
Climate of Chandigarh.
----Geometric Hill:- A huge earth tilled hill, which has its lower half in concrete relief work, and the top covered with grass turf. The relief is in the form of Corbusier’s diagram of daily balance of light and darkness, which in his words "rules man's activity”.
----The Martyr’s Memorial:- A memorial to the martyrs of Punjab partition and consists of a square enclosure with one side elongated into a ramp.
General Information
Address : Sector-1, Chandigarh (U.T.)
Guided Tours : 10:00 a.m.; 12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m.
Entry Fee : Free of cost (ID proof required)
Timings :
The Capitol Complex is open Daily.
Monday to Friday - 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (One can visit inside the buildings)
Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (View from outside only)
Rock Garden
The Rock Garden Chandigarh is a 35 acre eco-friendly garden, built solely by home waste and other Industrial items.
Sculptures are created using items such as bangles, ceramic pots, tiles, bottles and Electric waste.
Garden is a mixture of Landscape, architecture, sculpture and mythology.
NEK CHAND, founder of Rock Garden, started creating this garden secretly during his spare time in 1957.
The Layout of Garden is based on the fantasy of a Lost Kingdom. It has 14 different chambers like the forecourt.
The Teej festival, when the Rock Garden assumes a festive look, holds a special attraction for tourists.
PHASE 1:- Toilet fixtures, broken glass pieces and broken tiles have been used to create figures of humans
and animals
PHASE 2:- Once you enter you will feel entering a small traditional Indian village representing beautifully carved huts, temples pathways etc.
PHASE 3:- It’s inspired by Roman architecture; swings are hanging for people to enjoy the beauty. Waterfall, Aquariums where we can get glimpse of fishes wandering around.
Open Air Theatre:- An open seating ground with stairs.
Laughing Mirror Display; Camel and Train ride.
Must visit to Dolls museum.
Souvenir Shop.
Food Court
GENERAL INFORMATION
Address : Uttar Marg, Sector-1, Chandigarh (U.T.)
Open : Daily
Timings : 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM (1st April to 30th September)
9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (1st October to 31st March)
Entry Fee : Adults – Rs. 30/-
Children – Rs. 10/-
Time Needed : 2 to 3 hours
Sukhna Lake
Sukhna Lake is a 3 sq. km rainfed lake created in 1958 by damming the Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream coming down from Shivalik hills.
Sukhna Lake is a sanctuary for many exotic migratory birds like- Siberian Duck, Storks and Cranes during winter month.
The Lake is declared National Wetland by Government of India.
It’s a venue for many festive celebrations like Mango festival during monsoons.
The Sukhna Lake, has longest channel for rowing and yachting events in Asia.
Boating:- 2 types of peddle boats - 2 seater and 4 seater, Shikara boat, Solar cruise.
Ticket Counter for purchase of tickets.
Charges -
Portrait Making:- Portrait artists makes the sketches. Charges- Rs. 200 to Rs. 500
Amusement Park:- Train rides, bull ride and other joy rides for children.
Eating point:- CITCO Cafeteria, Chef Lakeview and other eating shops to munch on food.
Peep in the Souvenir Shop:- One can buy gift items
Walk of Art:- Display of various sculptures to enhance the beauty of Sukhna Lake.
Garden of Silence:- Meditative space at the end of Sukhna Lake. Features seated Buddha.
Sukhna Lake Park:- Scenic green space featuring manmade Lake with paddle boats, a jogging trail, bird watching; Sunrise and sunset view.
Sukhna Interpretation Centre:- Indian Art Museum to sensitise and educate visitors about environmental conservation
Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary:- It’s reserved for the Conservation of flora and fauna. Flowers, shade-giving trees are planted and tree cover in reserved forest area.
Information panels displays details about flora and fauna.
Visit of Migratory Birds in winters.
Sukhna Museum:- Sukhna Museum displays photography exhibition of Sukhna Lake.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Address : Sector-1, Chandigarh (U.T.)
Open : Daily
Timings : 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Entry Fee : Free of cost
Government Museum and Art Gallery
One of the most prominent museums of India that speaks about Indian history and partition.
Established in 1947, with unique architecture.
It was set up to encourage appreciation of values embedded in art and bring it close to the lives of people through interpretation of its rich collection and innovative programmes.
Gandhara Sculpture
Pahari and Rajasthani Miniature paintings
Ancient Rock Idols, Coins, Metal idols
Child Art Gallery
Souvenir Shop
GENERAL INFORMATION
Address : Sector 10C, Chandigarh (U.T.)
Open : Tuesday to Sunday
Timings : 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM
Entry Fee :
Person Above 12 years - Rs. 10
Camera Ticket - Rs. 5
Person Below 12 years/School Groups and Senior Citizen - Free
Natural History Museum
Museum is organised into 5 galleries
The Exhibits in the museum covers 5000 years of Indian History from Indus valley civilisation to present day.
It has an open air sculptural artworks on display.
Evolution of Non gallery- It models the fossils and dioramas of home species like Neanderthals, Home erectus etc.
Dinosaurs of India gallery- The gallery take to the Mesozoic era to Triassic period to the evolution of Jurassic period.
Evolution of Life gallery- It depicts the gradual transformation of earth, stretching over billions of years, into a place conducive to hold and nurture life.
Redefining the past- Fossils are on display from Masal area.
Our Mother Earth Gallery- It displays massive chunks of rocks of various types and ages.2 Storeyed Cyclorama- Depicting evolution of Life on Earth
Dinosaur Gallery- Real fossils
Evolution of Man from hominid cousins and Ancestors
Collection of Astronomy and geology
GENERAL INFORMATION
Address : Sector 10C, Chandigarh (U.T.)
Open : Tuesday to Sunday
Timings : 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM
Entry Fee :
Person Above 12 years - Rs. 10
Camera Ticket - Rs. 5
Person Below 12 years/School Groups and Senior Citizen - Free