Chandigarh is considered to be the most fascinating and well planned cities known for its fabulous architecture and the kind of lifestyle which people enjoy here. It is not only the capital city of Punjab and Haryana but it is also the Union Territory which makes Chandigarh an important city. The credit of this modern city goes to none other than Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru as he dreamt of a city which was designed in a unique style and Chandigarh is one of them. Even the French architect Le Corbusier tried his best to create such an exclusive design.

You will come across a perfect blend of beauty as well as serenity which makes the city more popular. Equal importance is given to preserving the environment and ensuring that people enjoy the natural beauty of this city. Being India’s first city to have a modern architecture, Chandigarh is known for its greenery, lively atmosphere and prosperous economy. That is why it is referred as “THE CITY BEAUTIFUL”.

Location

Exploring Chandigarh is definitely a fun filled experience for the tourists. Located on the foothills of the Shivalik Range, this city covers an area of 114 sq kms. The city is situated at an altitude of 365 meters and surrounded by three important destinations include Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. There are no dense forests in Chandigarh but still you can find small patches in different locations.

Famous Places to See in Chandigarh

Government Museum and Art Gallery

This museum is considered to be the most well known owing to the exclusive collection that you will find here. Some of the collections include miniature paintings, objects, Gandharan sculptures, Pahari sculptures and lots more.  Most of the collection belongs to the time of 1948 when Indian was going through the phase of partition. Out of the entire collection, about 40% of the collection has come from Lahore Museum. Government Museum and Art Gallery was started in the year 1968 and has a beautiful campus that attracts the people. There are four sections of this museum including art gallery, Chandigarh architecture museum, the national gallery of portraits and national history museum.

Capitol Complex

Capitol Complex is designed by none other than the famous architect Le Corbusier who also laid the foundation of this city. This complex is not just a monument or a piece of architecture but it is also the seat of the government in Punjab and Haryana state. The entire complex is divided into three wings namely the Legislative Assembly, the High Court and the Secretariat. All the three wings are designed with top class architecture that enhances its beauty.  Large Piazzas are the greatest attraction of these buildings.

Rose Garden

Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, covering an area of 30 acres is one of the largest gardens of Asia. It has more than 1600 species of different flowers especially the roses. The garden is the best example of creativity at its best as lawns are carved out in lovely shapes. It is located in sector 10 and was planned by Dr. M.S. Randhawa who was a nature lover and loved to set up gardens and lawns. Owing to the huge varieties of roses, a Rose Festival is also organized during the end of February or the start of March. Around 20,000 visitors come and enjoy the finest roses which you will not find anywhere else.

International Doll Museum

If you are fond of dolls and puppets, you will surely like the International Dolls Museum where you will explore a wide variety of dolls and puppets that are brought from different countries. In total the museum has the exhibits of 25 countries and people are really fascinated by the collection. On Sundays, the museum is closed.

Weather and Best Time to Visit in Chandigarh

When it comes to the weather conditions of Chandigarh, you will find that summers are really hot and humid while the monsoons are unpredictable. Winters are very chilly but you will surely love the fog and the cool atmosphere. In case you are planning to come to Chandigarh, mid-August to November is the right time. This is the time when the weather is moderate and you can enjoy the city to its fullest.

Most of the visitors consider autumn and winters to be the perfect time as Chandigarh can be best explored during this time. The weather conditions are just perfect when it is neither too cold nor too hot. As soon as the summers pass by, the monsoon season brings a lot of relief as summers are very humid.

Therefore you can also visit Chandigarh in mid August when monsoon season just makes its way. As the temperature drops down, the climate is cool and you will be able to enjoy the streets and the nightlife of this city. Many tourists plan their trip during the monsoons to enjoy the rains and lovely atmosphere prevailing here.

How to Reach

By Air

The Chandigarh airport is situated only 12 kms from the main city. From here you can catch flights to all important cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and other destinations.

By Train

Chandigarh has a railway station which provides excellent connectivity to smaller cities as well as major destinations. If you are coming from Delhi, you can go for Shatabdi Express or Himalayan Queen which offers a comfortable journey. These trains run daily, hence you can plan your trip accordingly.

By Road

The road connectivity network in Chandigarh is possible via two routes, one is NH 21 (Ambala-Kinnaur) and the other is NH 22 (Chandigarh-Leh). There are excellent bus services that run in different regions of Chandigarh; therefore you can reach any place without any problem. Some of the best buses that run on different routes are deluxe, air condition, semi deluxe and ordinary buses as well.

Shopping in Chandigarh

Shopping in Chandigarh can be the best way to explore the local culture and traditions of this city. If you love to shop around, Chandigarh is the ideal place as you will find lots of interesting things that are worth buying. On weekends the markets are usually crowded with people, all enjoying with their friends or family members. The atmosphere of this city is livelier and you will really have a great experience.

One of the most popular shopping areas in Chandigarh is sector 17, also called as the City Centre. You can find everything here, from handicrafts to jewelry, handlooms and other special stuff.  Some of the collections are also brought from other states and countries as well. The Punjabi dupattas are colorful and can be matched with traditional attires. Do not miss the chance of trying the traditional cuisines, jams and juices which are just incredible.