Places to see if you are in Chandigarh

Touted to be India’s first planned city, Chandigarh is the capital of the states of Haryana and Punjab. The city as compared to any other city in India is much more organized, planned, and executed in terms of architecture. It is said that the foundation of the city was laid keeping in mind its existence after a decade. The city’s proximity to New Delhi, the national capital of India, and Shimla which is another famous tourist place attracts lots of tourists an all-round year.

While approaching the city, one can witness the lower ranges of the Himalayas also known as the Shivaliks, hosting the temple dedicated to goddess Chandi thus giving the name of the city. If one has a couple of days in hand, the city provides a lot of things to do.

It was sometime back when I got to visit the city for a short trip, I was searching for a decent budget-friendly hotel offering some good services. It was when, I stumbled across Treebo hotels, with various options available I booked my stay in Treebo Ocean located at Phase 5 offers pretty decent rooms with a courteous staff and prompt services all at affordable rates.

Rock Garden:

One of the major attractions in Chandigarh is the well-renowned, Rock garden. The rock garden demonstrates that a well-determined effort can do wonders. The garden was built by Nek Chand who thought to build a small garden by clearing the forest area. That is when he built some sculptures from recycled and waste products and gradually people started acknowledging the efforts and the beauty of the garden.

Rose Garden:

This is one of the biggest rose gardens in India and hosts the annual rose festival. The garden is well maintained and a perfect spot to be in if you are an admirer of nature’s beauty.

Sukhna Lake:

The lake was formed as part of a water conservation project by building a dam across the seasonal water stream Sukhna that flows from the Shivaliks. It has gradually turned into a recreation spot for the locals and a tourist spot for travelers providing a jogging track, amusement park, and cafeteria. Watersport lovers can enjoy rowing and yachting. People can also hire a bicycle and witness the beauty of the lake.

The Secretariat: 

The Secretariat building is an architectural beauty. Being a high-profile place, the entry is restricted, and only after proper verifications and security checks you can get entry. These checks and approvals take from 30 – 50 minutes, so if you have some spare time with proper documents (can be obtained from the tourist reception center at sector 17) and are okay to wait for the security checks do visit the place.

The Capitol and the High Court: 

In addition to the Secretariat, the Capitol and the High court building are also accessible to the general public only after obtaining permission from the tourist center and security checks. Once you get the clearance the visitors can witness the well-built and heavily guarded buildings.

Pinjore Garden:

Also known as Yadavindra garden, it is situated approximately 20 km from Chandigarh on Chandigarh-Shimla road. The garden is famous for its design inspired by Mughal workmanship. The garden also houses a mini zoo, nursery, and Japanese garden. The gardens are very popular for picnics amongst the local population.

Cactus garden: 

Cactus garden is situated around 8 km from Chandigarh and covers an area of around 7 acres. Cactus garden is known for its rare & endangered species of Indian succulents. The garden houses around 3000+ species of cactus. Since its inception in 1987, the garden has been drawing huge crowds year on year.

International Doll Museum

This doll museum is located in sector 23, Chandigarh. This doll was established in 1985, by the Rotary Club of this city. It is one of the best doll museums in the world. The dolls in this museum are collected from the whole world. There are around 250 kinds of dolls in that museum some are from Russia, Korea, Denmark, America, Spain, England, and many more. It is very much enjoyable for children.

Pinjore Garden

Pinjore Garden is also known as Yadavindra Gardens or Mughal Gardens. This garden is made in 100 acres of land. It is one of the special “places to visit in Chandigarh”, for couples. It is a type of small Japanese garden. Mainly after sunset, the musical fountains are switched on, which are in different colors, making the view very stunning. Couples may enjoy this place. It is a beautiful picturesque spot.

Terraced Garden

Terraced garden was established in 1979. It is spread in an area of around 10 acres. This garden is a beautiful place to visit with your family and enjoy with them. This garden is located near sector 33 of Chandigarh. There are many musical fountains with children and parents can enjoy. Some different types of flowers are also grown there, which makes the scene more stunning.

Chattbir Zoo

Chattbir Zoo is established in 1977. It is located around Zirakpur, a town in Chandigarh. Another name of this zoo is Mahendra Chaudhury Zoological Park. There are so many animals to see. Some migratory birds are also there. For children, it is the best place to visit in Chandigarh. This zoo is spread over an area of around 202 acres. It is the best ‘places to visit in Chandigarh’, for the enjoyment of children. The safari is also available there.

Museum and Art gallery: 

The museum is situated in sector 10 and is one of the major attractions in Chandigarh. The museum houses artifacts from various eras including relics, coins, and sculptures from the Harappa era to the fossils of dinosaurs found in and around the area. The art gallery houses paintings of ancient and modern values.

Accessibility – How to reach…

The city is well connected from various parts of the country and some cities have direct flights to Chandigarh. In addition, travelers can opt for various bus services ranging from state transport buses to private buses.

The visitors can also use the hop-on-hop-off bus service to explore the city. Apart from the buses, there are a lot of other modes of travel available, take an auto-rickshaw or a cycle rickshaw and enjoy the beauty of the city. There are some companies that offer cycles on rent.