Chandigarh, the dream city of India's first Prime Minister, Sh. Jawahar Lal Nehru, was planned by the famous French architect Le Corbusier. Picturesquely located at the foothills of Shivaliks, it is known as one of the best experiments in urban planning and modern architecture in the twentieth century in India.
Chandigarh derives its name from the temple of "Chandi Mandir" located in the vicinity of the site selected for the city. The deity 'Chandi', the goddess of power and a fort of 'garh' laying beyond the temple gave the city its name "Chandigarh-The City Beautiful".
The city has a pre-historic past. The gently sloping plains on which modern Chandigarh exists, was in the ancient past, a wide lake ringed by a marsh. The fossil remains found at the site indicate a large variety of aquatic and amphibian life, which was supported by that environment. About 8000 years ago the area was also known to be a home to the Harappans.
Since the medieval through modern era, the area was part of the large and prosperous Punjab Province which was divided into East & West Punjab during partition of the country in 1947. The city was conceived not only to serve as the capital of East Punjab, but also to resettle thousands of refugees who had been uprooted from West Punjab.
With the partition of India in 1947, the old British province of Punjab was divided into two parts. The larger western part, including the Punjabi capital of Lahore, went to Pakistan. The eastern part was granted to India, but it was without an administrative, commercial, or cultural centre. Consequently, plans to find a suitable site for the capital of the new Indian Punjab were undertaken soon after partition. The Indian government considered several options—including Amritsar, Jalandhar (Jullundur), Phillaur, Ludhiana, Shimla (Simla), Ambala, and Karnal—and selected the present site of Chandigarh in 1948. It was hoped that a magnificent new state capital, scenically located at the foot of the Himalayas, would become a symbol of modernity, would heal the wounded pride of Indian Punjabis, and would house thousands of mostly Hindu and Sikh refugees who had fled from Muslim-dominated Pakistan.
In March, 1948, the Government of Punjab, in consultation with the Government of India, approved the area of the foothills of the Shivaliks as the site for the new capital. The location of the city site was a part of the erstwhile Ambala district as per the 1892-93 gazetteer of District Ambala. The foundation stone of the city was laid in 1952. Subsequently, at the time of reorganization of the state on 01.11.1966 into Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pardesh, the city assumed the unique distinction of being the capital city of both, Punjab and Haryana while it itself was declared as a Union Territory and under the direct control of the Central Government.
| Administrator | Area | People | Languages official | Languages additional |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V.P. Singh Badnore | 114 km2 | 1,055,450 | English | Hindi, Punjabi |
For all the nature lovers out there this is like a dream come true. Located in Chandigarh’s Sector-16, the famous Rose Garden boasts of 825 types of flowers. It’s quite a popular attraction where people can witness the beauty of these colorful flower beds. It’s a mesmerising sight to see so many flowers at once and is one of the most popular places to visit among couples. If you want to make the best of your trip, make sure you visit this beautiful place.
Location: Jan Marg, 16B, Sector 16, Chandigarh, 160016
Timings: 6:00 AM to 10 PM (All days of the week)
Entry Fee: INR 50 per person
Sukhna Lake is the most picturesque location in Chandigarh. A man-made stretched across 3 km. and one of its kind acts as a perfect place for joggers and walkers. Apart from all this, the lake acts as the perfect spot for picnics. If you are visiting Chandigarh with your family this has to be on the top of your list for places to visit.
Location: Sector 1, Chandigarh 160001, India
Timings: 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Everyday)
Entry Fee: Free
Located in Sector-1 of Chandigarh, this is the classic example of best out of waste. Rock Garden is a huge hall that displays sculptures made out of waste and was designed by a road inspector named Nek Chand in 1957. No matter who you are going to Chandigarh with, be it, family, friends or your loved one, make sure you include this in the list of your places to visit.
Location: Sector 1, Chandigarh, 160001
Timings: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (April- September),
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (October- March)
Entry Fee: Adults- INR 5; Children- INR 3
A vibrant, beautiful Mughal garden made in the 17th century stretched over a massive area of 100 acres and a great place to be really close to nature, Pinjore Garden is a must visit place on your visit to Chandigarh. These world-famous gardens are known for their lush greenery and captivating fountains and definitely offer a sight to behold.
Location: Ambala-Shimla Highway, Pinjore, Haryana 134102
Timings: 7:00 AM-10 PM
Entry Fee: INR 20
If you are a history buff and looking for top places to visit in Chandigarh then you must include Government Museum And Art Gallery in your list. The museum was established in the year 1968 and it displays a commendable collection of traditional artifacts, miniature paintings, and stone sculptures. Some of the artifacts showcased here were earlier conserved in the Central Museum of Lahore and after the construction of this museum post the partition, they were brought here.
Location: #502 sector, 10C, Chandigarh, 160011
Timings: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm (Closed on Monday)
Entry Fee: Rs.10 per person
If you want to please your eyes with something beautiful then you must visit the Japanese Garden which is located in Sector 31A in Le Corbusier planned city, Chandigarh. While exploring the garden, you will find several pagoda towers, a buddha idol, small waterfalls, and many other structures that add to the beauty of this garden. There are two phases of Japanese Garden that are interconnected via an underground tunnel which is decorated with beautiful artworks which is why it is included in the list of the top tourist places in Chandigarh.
Location: Sector 31 A, Sector 31, Chandigarh, 160030
Timings: 4:30 am – 11 pm
Entry Fee: Free
| University | Location | Type | Established | Specialization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panjab University | Chandigarh | State | 1882 | General |
| Punjab Engineering College | Chandigarh | Deemed | 1921 | Technology |
| Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research | Chandigarh | Deemed | 1962 | Health |
