Chandigarh India Travel Guide

Chandigarh History and Geography

In 1947, when India gained its independence, India also got partitioned into India and Pakistan. The state of Punjab was also partitioned, with the western front of Punjab going into Pakistan. This portion included the capital, Lahore, which left East Punjab without a capital. The government of Punjab then started a site for their new capital, and ultimately found a massive tract of land on the foothills of Shivalik. With the backing of the then Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as a special project, the site was christened as Chandigarh, meaning fortress of the Goddess of power, Chandi.In the late 1940s, Indian architects weren’t capable of handling a project of this scale, so the government hired the American architect Albert Mayer. But, Mr. Mayer was unable to complete the mammoth task and withdrew from the project, severing connections between the Government of Punjab and America. The search for a new architect ended with the appointment of the French architect Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, his cousin Pierre Jeannere, and the English couple of Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew. This team made the plan in weeks and handed it over to the government of Punjab, leading to the creation of this magnificent city.

Chandigarh Attractions and Things To Do

There are many places to visit in this beautiful city. One attraction is the Chandigarh Rock Garden, which is spread over an area of sixty-four acres. You won’t find any flowers in this garden, as the whole garden has shapes of people, bulls, birds, and animals made completely out of rocks and garbage waste like broken glass, cans, bottle caps, etc. You can also visit the Bougainvillea Garden. Stretched on an area of 20 acres, this beautiful garden is a treat for the eyes. When you go to sector 23, you can visit the International Doll Museum. The collection of hundreds of rare dolls from almost all the countries of the world makes it a rare sight. You can also visit the Museum of the Evolution of Life. It’s a one of a kind science museum located in sector 17. Or you can also try your hand at water sports activities like yachting, water skiing and boating at the only man made lake of Chandigarh, the Sukhana Lake.

Chandigarh Excursions

If you want to recharge your spirits, you can take a seventy-seven kilometer trip to the hill station of Kasauli. Situated at a height of 1,928 meters, it is one of the quietest hill stations in India. At a distance of twenty-two kilometers from Chandigarh is the Bhima Devi Temple, which dates back to the 11th century. You would be able to see unearthed idols at display in this temple. You can travel a mere fifteen kilometers to visit the Chattbir Zoo, with a dense population of lions and tigers, along with hundreds of species of mammals, birds and reptiles. It has safari buses that drive you all over to view the animals. One of the prime excursions spots from Chandigarh is Shimla. This capital of Himachal Pradesh attracts tourist from all over the world.

Chandigarh Shopping

The whole city of Chandigarh is divided into sectors, with each sector having its own bazaars and malls. But the major shopping arena is sector 17. No vehicles are allowed into this area. It has become a shopper’s paradise, with the whole area full of malls and bazaars. You can get anything and everything is this sector. Another shopping area worth a mention is the one in Sector 15.

Chandigarh Cuisine

Chandigarh has its own share of multi-cuisines restaurants. You would be able to taste the best quality of Punjabi dishes here. Do not forget to try the traditional Sarso-da Saag and Makki-di-Roti.

Chandigarh Nightlife

Chandigarh is a very modern city with a large number of decent lounge bars and pubs. You won’t have to worry about wasting an evening away getting bored. The best part is that most of the pubs are pretty evenly dispersed in the city, although sector 17 has a few more. Pubs like Down Under are a hit among the youngsters because of the good food and booze there. You can also try the Lava Pub in the Taj Chandigarh, with lava lumps of all sizes lying around the place. This forty-seater bar is a nice experience, though the rates are a bit on the higher side. Most of the other pubs in Chandigarh offer good value for money.

Chandigarh Getting There

Chandigarh is a good holiday destination. Being a dual capital, it naturally is very well connected by the three modes of transport - bus, rail, and air. The best time to visit this splendid modern city is after October.