Welcome to the City Beautiful- Chandigarh

The Modern City of India- Chandigarh

Hey folks! I am not sure if you have heard about this small city which happens to be the capital to two states of India i.e. Punjab and Haryana- Chandigarh. Also known as THE CITY BEAUTIFUL.

You would be stunned to know that this is the first modern built city after Independence in India. Not such a tourist attraction place but yes I went there and believe you me, it's nothing like the other cities of India. Free from skyscrapers, tall buildings, busy and crowded traffic, and the bustling streets; this city is a great stop to those who want to see the total contrast of India and affirmatively for those who have a keen interest in studying or inquisitive about the architecture here.

A bit into the history of the city I learned was when I went to Le Corbusier Centre in sector 19. Yes! The city is totally divided and numbered into sectors from sector 1 to sector 56 except for the fact that there is no sector 13 because it was still considered an unlucky number back then too! (Do you believe the same?) And furthermore, the sectors are split into four parts that are A, B, C & D. For example, the address forms like:

#57, sector 5B, Chandigarh. That’s it! Isn’t it short and easy to remember? Just fix in mind the sector number and you are good to go to any part of this city.

Being on the top 20 cleanliest cities of India, I was drawn by the wide roads, the special cycle tracks, the same height of the buildings mostly be it the flat system or the large bungalows, the different type of markets in residential and the on the main roads.

I soon realized that this is a stop or a halt or a weekend type city to break the monotony of your trip. For example, if you are traveling by surface from Amritsar to Delhi then travelers and tourists are given here a night to draw up or if you are traveling from Delhi to the hills and need a day to relax then this city serves as mid-point. This makes the people living here easy to go to hills or other states nearby now and then. I met a bunch of students here and for them, a one-day road trip to the nearest hills Kasauli and sometimes even Shimla (Both in Himachal Pradesh) is very common.

Highlights of the City:

· Le Corbusier Centre (Sector 19 B): I know this might sound very boring to you to as to why should you visit a museum, but this place marks the starting to learn the best about the city. The sectors, the plan, the idea behind it. The very stimulating fact that it was a dream of our then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru that helped in the making of it. The pictures here give a great idea and makes you walk to the past to see it from scratch. It was the refugees too who got no land after the partition that they settled in large numbers over here.

Inside the Cousier Museum.

· Rock Garden ( Sector 1): This garden is a large area filled with weird, unrecognizable and amazing hand-made sculptures in a natural cum artificial set up which left me puzzled on one side and stunning on the other. There is no appropriate or correct interpretation of this place. The man behind this (Nek Chand Saini) left it on us how we would depict which is the best part! There are passages, small doors, rocky paths, natural trees, and shrubs, discarded ceramics and tiles turned into beautiful graffiti walls, artificial waterfalls.

· The Capitol Complex (Sector 1): Now if you google up this place, you will find nice, tall buildings and monuments, but when I actually went there, this was way too grand and outstanding. On learning about the rule of small buildings of both residential and commercial, this site is contrast and rich in its grandeur. Interestingly, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The notable fact is the play of light and shadow here which keeps the buildings cool at almost all times of the year. This site holds three main governing bodies of the Punjab and Haryana. The first one is the Punjab & Haryana High Court.

Punjab & Haryana High Court

The next is The Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and third is the Secretariat. Addition to these are the small monuments that are of special importance too. Starting with the Open Hand Monument which is a beautiful 360-degree rotating hand symbolizing ‘Open to give and Open to receive' ideas, thoughts, and love.

The fun fact is that this is also the official symbol of the city. As you move towards the Assembly Hall, there are three other pieces too. On to the left-hand side is Geometric Hill under which the remains are buried and the outer side showing the study of day and night done by the architect. Ahead is the Tower of Shadows which is a great scientific and mathematical experiment done the Architect Corbusier that shows the relationship between shadow and sun in a year when different angles are used. To the exact right is the Martyrs Memorial Ramp- a tribute to the Punjab soldiers died during the battles of Partition and of the state.

Please Note that to visit Capitol Complex, you firstly need to deposit and get scanned your ID proofs to enjoy the proper tour of this place i.e. done by the Guides here with Tourism Police as this place is a Government site and security and safety is the first priority here. Also, it is free of cost tour!

· The Gardens of the city: This city is home to a number of parks and gardens all over. Starting from Rose Garden (sector 16), Terraced Garden (sector 33), Bougainvillaea Park (sector 3), Hibiscus Garden (sector 36), Topiary Garden (sector 35), and many more but I mentioned which I personally visited and yes really did like. That makes it a ‘Garden City’ too just like the architects’ vision.

· Sukhna Lake (Sector 5): Now, a small man-made lake wasn’t something I had imagined in this city. Made after damming the Sukhna Choe (Choe is called stream) here, this lake is stretched around for 3kms with the rule of no vehicle (except vehicles) on the main walking path. Famous for both sunsets and sunrises here, it is a popular stop to spend your evening in boating, walking. Running, exercising or even just enjoying the food at open restaurants here. On further reading about this place, I came to know that this is also an important site for annual kayaking competition. But swimming or fishing is not allowed here! Quite deep about 16ft maximum at the backside and 8ft deep in the starting, it was once a suicide point too but now police patrol is stronger and then you can't come after 10pm at night.

· Sector 17 Plaza: Popularly called as ‘the heart of Chandigarh' as this is the city center and had always been an extremely crowded area. But to my surprise, I didn't see much of it. It was mostly concentrated in one particular area only. Buildings have been abandoned to a large extent because of so many new and big brands and likewise shifted to the one Big Mall in the city- Elante in Industrial Area Phase-1. But nevertheless, go, have a visit if you are here for more than a day and see people enjoying shopping from the shops as well from street vendors, have a taste of delicious Indian street food here. Relish coffee at the Indian Coffee House considered as one of the oldest restaurants here. Enjoy a musical night at the Fountain Show which starts late in the evening at around 7 PM. Go inside the Neelam Theatre, the first and the oldest and single screen running theatre of Chandigarh and watch how different is it from the multiplexes of today!

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· Architectural Exclusive: If you are extremely interested in architecture or want to study and learn about more of the city architecture then the following are the best and important places too:

a) Pierre Jeanerette Museum – The residential house of Corbusier’s brother who was an important part of the team (House No. 57, sector 5B)

b) Chandigarh Architecture Museum - Plans and layouts of architects and the teams including the history (Sector 10C)

c) Sector 22- The first sector to be built (opposite sector 21)

d) Capitol Complex – Heritage and masterwork are done by architects (sector 1)

e) Le Corbusier Centre – Office of the Architects Team (Sector 19B)

f) Chandigarh Architecture College – (Sector 12D)

g) Gandhi Bhawan, Panjab University - A lotus-shaped museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi (Sector 14)

Not the best of attractions that you find in other cities of India this place still holds a very peaceful touch to it. Devoid of bad traffic jams, pollution, dirt and tall skyscrapers, this is a beautiful, peaceful small city of India.

Let me know your experiences if you have already visited or wish to go!

Miles to go ;)