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Chandigarh

Chandigarh pronunciation (help·info) (Punjabi: °¡¹, Hindi: ¡¢¼, pronunciation: /tS@n.d.i:g@*./) also called The City Beautiful, is a city in India that serves as the capital of two states: Punjab and Haryana. However, administratively, the city is not under the jurisdiction of either state, it is administered by the Centre government and hence classified as a union territory. The Governor of the Punjab is the Administrator of Chandigarh.

Nek Chand's rock garden
Cricket at The Open Hand
The Rose Garden
High Court front entrance
  • Rock garden designed by Nek Chand. One day 36 years ago, Nek Chand, a humble transport official, began to clear a little patch of jungle to make himself a small garden area. He set stones around the little clearing and before long had sculpted a few figures recycled from materials he found at hand. Gradually Nek Chand's creation developed and grew; before long it covered several acres and comprised of hundreds of sculptures set in a series of interlinking courtyards. After his normal working day Chand worked at night, in total secrecy for fear of being discovered. When they did discover the garden, local government officials were thrown into turmoil. The creation was completely illegal - a development in a forbidden area. However, rather than demolishing the garden, they decided to give Nek Chand a salary so that he could concentrate full-time on his work, plus a workforce of fifty labourers. The park is open daily from April to September between 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. Between October and March, it is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 6 p.m.
  • Sukhna lake Located in Sector 1, the Sukhna Lake is an artificial reservoir. A popular place to hang out, one can expect to find residents of the city jogging or strolling along the banks. There is a walking path, a cafeteria, shops and a mini-amusement park and paddleboats. The Sukhna Lake was created in 1958 by damming the Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream that flows down from the Shivaliks. Storks and cranes make migratory stops at the lake. The lake, incidentally, has Asia's longest water channel for rowing and yachting.
  • Rose garden: The city houses the largest rose garden in Asia.It also hosts annual rose festival which is quite popular among local population.
  • The Capitol Most of the capitol complex, is fenced off due to tight security, the open hand is accessible and from there you can see the main buildings, albeit in the distance. If you want a closer look at the Capitol, you need permission from the Tourist Bureau, in the ‘Deluxe Administration building’ in Sector 9. Please note the capitol and bureau are only open on mon-fri. The tourist bureau is not well signed, you’ll need to ask, it’s in the single story building out the back. Bring your passport and prepare for the beginning of the most amazing experience in Indian bureaucracy. All in all I spent three hours in total of which 50 minutes was spent looking at architecture. The tourist bureau gives you three letters giving you permission to visit the three main buildings of the Capitol complex, The Secretariat, the High Court and the Assembly.
  • The High Court - The letter is fine for looking around the High Court just show to security at the entrance, around the back, but if you want to take photos you need to surrender your camera, and head in to fill out some more forms in the protocol office, and the take the forms back to security to get your camera back. It’s worth it as the building is amazing, and extremely photogenic. You can’t take any photos indoors.
  • The Secretariat - To check out the Secretariat, it’s a little harder. First you need to find ‘reception’, which is just a small building out the back and show them your letter to get a visitor permit, then you need to see security who will let you in, then you need to see the main security officer inside, who will send you up to the registrar who will then send you back to the main security office. Thankfully you are escorted through most of this confusing, overly complex procedure, usually by a junior soldier with large machine gun. Whole process takes about 30 mins to an hour. Once it’s all clear you can go up to the roof, check out the geranium gardens, and take in an expansive view of all of Chandigarh. Then they’ll let you have a look out the front, which is more interesting.
  • The Assembly - Ran out of time, so make sure you have a whole clear weekday to appreciate all the capitol buildings.
Pinjore Gardens
  • Pinjore Gardens - Pinjore Gardens, also called Yadavindra Gardens are 20 km from Chandigarh, 15 km from Panchkula, on the Chandigarh Shimla road. Taxis and buses ply regularly between Pinjore and Chandigarh. Pinjore lies on the foothills of the lower Shivalik ranges. The fascinating Mughal Gardens one of the most popular picnic spots. A mini zoo, plants nursery, a Japanese garden, historic palaces and picnic lawns await tourists.
Videos:

Everyday life in Chandigarh, part 1 of 2
in India. This is part 1 of 20 of a total playtime of 1 hour 20 minutes. Showing everyday life in Chandigarh...india chandigarh


Parties in Chandigarh
of a total playtime of 1 hour 20 minutes. This shows some party scenes in the trainee community of Chandigarh....india chandigarh party trainees


Everyday life in Chandigarh, part 2 of 2
in India. This is part 2 of 20 of a total playtime of 1 hour 20 minutes. Showing everyday life in Chandigarh...india chandigarh


India: Chandigarh Sector 15 part 2
Chandigarh, India...chandigarh india 15


Chandigarh Rock Garden
of Chandigarh is perhaps the world's most poignant and salient statement of the possibility of finding beauty in the unexpected and accidental." Carl Linquist...Chandigarh india



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Chandigarh Roads at Night
Night Time Traffic in Chandigarh....Chandigarh Roads


Chandigarh Roadshow
Hey! thats the first eva roadshow in India related to Blogger!!...blogger roadshow chandigarh



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Chandigarh from My Camera
Some glimps of Chandigarh...chandigarh india


India: Chandigarh Sector 15 part 1
Sector-15...chandigarh india 15


nek chand's rock garden Chandigarh India
a quick tour of the sculpture park made from recycled materials and natural rock formations. Initially built on land not belonging to Nek Chand, it is now one


Chandigarh Rly Station
A goods train arrives at 5 am at Chandigarh Rly station with Mynahs raising a ruckus in the background...Chandigarh Train Station


Chandigarh Rock Garden 2
of Chandigarh is perhaps the world's most poignant and salient statement of the possibility of finding beauty in the unexpected and accidental." Carl Linquist...Chandigarh india


Rickshaw ride in Chandigarh
smooth roads made the ride enjoyable. In the picture is the dividing road of sector 32 & 33....Rickshaw Chandigarh Road travel Lifestyle India


chandigarh roads
From http://vagabond-wanderer.blogspot.com. chandigarh roads "dharmendra tolani"...chandigarh roads


Chandigarh
Sector 17, Chandigarh...Chandigarh


chandigarh sukhna lake
From http://vagabond-wanderer.blogspot.com. chandigarh sukhna lake...chandigarh sukhna lake


chandigarh rose garden
From http://vagabond-wanderer.blogspot.com. chandigarh rose garden...chandigarh rose garden




Nearest places of interest:

Raj Bhavan
Raj Bhavan
Dharamsala
Allama Iqbal International Airport
Sukhna Lake
Mussoorie
Amber
Raj Bhavan

Popular places:

Mumbai
New Delhi
Chennai
Kolkata
Bangalore
Hyderabad
Pune
Jaipur