Chandigarh in Punjab

Chandigarh represents a symbol of planned urbanization and is famous for its gardens like the Rose Garden and the Rock Garden.

Chandigarh is a modern city and the capital of Punjab designed by the Swiss-French modernist architect Le Corbusier.
Chandigarh represents a symbol of planned urbanization and is famous for its gardens like the Rose Garden and the Rock Garden. The calm and serene atmosphere of Chandigarh has a dense cover of green. Forests, which provide sanctuary for various animal species, surround the city.
Sukhna Lake, which lies south of the Rock Garden is home to a variety of birds including migratory ones.

Best places to visit in Chandigarh

Rock garden
The Rock Garden is one of the must visit places in Chandigarh.
The park spread over an area of 25 acres, it has been designed as an open-air exhibition hall using urban and industrial wastes by Nek Chand, a former Road Inspector in Chandigarh. Nek Chand started the garden secretly near Sukhna Lake in 1957.
The site where the rock garden stands today was a dumping ground and from here Mr. Nek Chand picked many waste materials and eventually shaped them into some amazing structures of humans and other forms.
This garden has several interlinked man-made waterfalls, puddles and various sculptures made from scrap like plastic bottles, auto parts, clay, coal, marbles, forks, frames, tiles, ceramic pots, electrical waste and accessories like bangles. The sculptures mostly resemble animals and humans, but some are great examples of abstract art.
This garden is a vision of the kingdom of Sukhrani, started by Nek Chand.

Sukhna Lake
Sukhna Lake is one of the most prominent tourist attraction in Chandigarh. This beautiful manmade lake that stretches over 3 Km surrounded by the blue sky and Shivalik mountain range presents a breathtaking sight.
You can choose to boat, stroll or simply sit and relax here.
If you want some alone time, visit the dead-end of the lake. To reach the end point, you pass through a fabulous boulevard of trees with a golf course on one side and staircases to different entry points to the lake on another.

Sukhana Wildlife sanctuary
Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected wildlife sanctuary spreading over an area of 2600 hectares. It forms the part of Sukhna lake catchment area falling in Shivalik hills. Apart from the Sukhna Lake there are around 150 small and large water bodies in the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary attract migratory birds and have a rich population of resident bird species.
Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary is an abode of wide variety of Mammals, birds, reptiles, butterflies and micro-organisms. Sambar, Spotted Deer, Pangolin, Wild boar, Jackal, Small Indian Civet, Jungle Cat, Porcupine, Hanuman Langur, Rhesus Monkey, Indian Hare, Common-Mongoose, Common rat, and Squirrel are the prominent animals found in this sanctuary. There are more than 150 varieties of birds including aquatic birds which include Peacock, Red jungle fowl, Grey partridge, Cuckoos, Night jars, Golden Oriole, Kingfisher, Swifts, Hoopoes and various sparrows. There are varieties of reptiles including snakes like Cobra, Rat snake, Common Krait, Russell's viper, Indian Python and common Monitor, Turtle etc.

Rose Garden
Rose Garden is the largest of its kind in Asia and also one of the most popular tourist attractions in Chandigarh.
Spread over an area of 30 acres, the park exhibits some of the rarest and exquisite varieties of roses and is said to be home to 1600 varieties of flowers. The rose plants have been planted in carved-out lawns and flower beds. The place is a sight to behold when the flowers are in full bloom.
The other major attraction of the garden is more than 32,500 varieties of trees and medicinal plants. Some of the medicinal plants that can be spotted here are bel, bahera, harar, camphor and yellow gulmohar. The garden is designed like a park and contains long stretches and curves of walking path which makes it comfortable for people who are jogging and exercising.
The best time to visit the Rose Garden is from February to March. During this season the garden becomes colourful with variety of roses and the mesmerizing fragrance has an enthralling effect.

Pinjore Gardens
Pinjore Gardens is a beautiful Mughal Garden made in 17th Century located in the city of Pinjore. The garden expands over a massive area of 100 acres and is a beautiful place to unwind with nature in the ever-growing concrete city. The Pinjore is a popoluar destination in Punjab for its well-maintained greenery, refreshing fountains and mesmerising water bodies.
During Baisakhi, between April and June, the Garden serves as the venue of the annual Mango Festival. It doesn't just have a vast expanse of beautiful flora but also houses a mini zoo, a serene Japanese garden, a splendid nursery and some areas that serve as picnic spots.
The best time to explore the gardens is in the evening time. The entire garden is lit up after sunset in such a way that the ambience of the garden changes completely.

Nirjhar Vatika
Famous for its lush green ambiance it is frequented by people of all ages seeking solace in its serene environment. The artificial waterfall in the garden is a center of activity for children. It forms a small lake that draws the attention of visitors for its beauty.
The bridge on the lake is created with boulders. It is a treat to watch children as well as adults crossing it with apprehension in a playful way.
You can take a walk around the garden, rest on the green lands or enjoy a family picnic here.

Mahendra Chaudhary zoological park
Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park, is one of the largest zoological parks in North India sprawling over an area of 505 acres. The open countryside all around the zoo provides vast opportunity to the naturalists to take a close look at nature and natural resources in original form.
The zoo comprises of around 1240 animals as well as birds which belong to around 103 species living in over 100 enclosures.
The Asiatic Lion reserves and the Royal Bengal tiger are the major point of attraction of this place. Tourists are carried in an incarcerated motor means of transportation to the Royal tiger's shelter to relish its attraction. The sight of Royal Bengal Tiger roaming freely in its near-natural habitat makes your visit worth it.
The Zoo has a magnificent deer safari where Sambar, Spotted Deer, Black Buck and even Hog Deer roam together in a habitat. The Deer Safari is spread over an area of 12 hectors. Lion Safari gives a thrill of life to the visitors where king of the jungle roams freely. The Lion Safari is spread over an area of 8 hectors of natural forest having lion houses on edge. A Large number of Peacocks also roam freely inside the lion safari which gives an added attraction to the visitors. An artificial lake in the zoo is a unique feature and attracts large number of migratory birds during the winter months.

Topiary park
This park is mainly designed for making fun and enjoyment for the children. The plants belong to the bush and creeper family has been curiously shaped in the form of various animals like elephants, bears and other animals that makes the children really happy. The exotic collection of ornamental and other decorative plants add the charm of the park.

Mansa Devi temple
Mata Mansa Devi Temple is a Hindu temple situated at Bilaspur village a famous shrine in Panchkula and also one of the top places of pilgrimage in Chandigarh.
The temple is dedicated to goddess Mansa Devi, a form of Shakti. According to the Hindu mythology, the head of Devi Sati had fallen over here.
Mansa Devi Temple basically houses two temples. The temple that is located near the parking lot is said to be the main temple. It was established in the year 1815 AD by Maharaja Gopal Singh of Manimajra. The main temple is the Patiala temple which was got constructed by Karam Singh, the then Maharaja Patiala in 1840. This temple had the patronage of Manimajra Princely State.